Tuesday 14 July 2009

A dearth of Common Crossbills

WENDOVER FOREST

An extensive search of the Forest drew a complete blank on Common Crossbill and produced very little in the way of birdlife other than 3 noisy family parties of FIRECREST and a single fledged COMMON WHITETHROAT.

Butterflies put on a good show though and at the tall Buddleia bush at SP 891 081, SILVER-WASHED FRITILLARIES were performing in the warm late afternoon sunshine (between 3 and 5 individuals, all in excellent condition). There were also several COMMAS, exceptional numbers of LARGE WHITE (100+, especially in the meadow on the right of the track up from Hale Lane), ESSEX, LARGE and SMALL SKIPPERS, SMALL WHITES, a few worn GREEN-VEINED WHITES, a SMALL COPPER, 15+ MARBLED WHITES, several MEADOW BROWNS and very large numbers of RINGLETS.

CHILTERN HILLS

A singing male YELLOWHAMMER was on the wires by 'Brunsgreen Cottage' at SP 901 062

THE LEE

Highlight in this very picturesque village was a pair of SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS with 2-3 fledged young in trees opposite the church (at SP 899 044) and adjacent to 'The Olde Cottage' garden, where possibly they bred.

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