All 3 BITTERNS still, and SCAUP

All 3 EURASIAN BITTERNS roosted in Marsworth Reedbed again this evening but worryingly NOT a single Corn Bunting came in and less than 20 Common Starlings. A single Common Snipe was present.

On Startop's End, the first-winter drake GREATER SCAUP is still present, showing well in the Buckinghamshire section this afternoon....

Three EURASIAN BITTERNS wintering in Marsworth Reedbed

I first found all 3 EURASIAN BITTERNS on 7th December, all roosting in the reedbed at the west end of Marsworth Reservoir - the Hertfordshire end! Two are to be found on the southern edge, opposite the hide, and the other on the western fringe, all building platforms on calm evenings between 1600 and 1630 hours.....

Local Mega: GREY KNOT for 80 minutes!!

Sunday 13 December

Wilstone Reservoir

Roy Hargreaves was counting Golden Plover for his local WeBS count when he came across a 'grey' KNOT in amongst the flock at around 1000 hours. He quickly notified Dave Bilcock and within the hour, both Ian Williams and I had joined the two observers in the Drayton Bank Hide, Stuart Wilson popping by too. Fortunately the bird stayed around for a while, presumably due to the dank conditions, but like the majority of local Knots, it flew off strongly west into Buckinghamshire, disappearing high over Drayton Beauchamp at 1120 hours. An excellent record......

Otherwise, not too much of note -:

The long-staying COMMON SHELDUCK was still present, up to 10 Little Grebe, a single female Common Goldeneye, 2 Little Egret, just 107 Wigeon, 140 Golden Plover, 11 Mute Swan, 37 Pochard, 15 Great Crested Grebe, 71 Lapwing and 548 Coot

Over on Startop's End Reservoir, the first-winter drake GREATER SCAUP first seen by Dave Bilcock in late November remains present, looking ever more dapper.....

The young drake SCAUP as it is now (below) and how it was on 28th November when first turned up!

BONXIE on Wilstone - bird of the year and of course, I missed it!

GREAT SKUA at Wilstone Reservoir Sunday 15 November 2015

Cracking find by Dave. When I arrived at 8.30 it was about 80m off the jetty but as Dave, Mike and I got to the jetty it took off and stayed just a few metres over our heads for at least 10 minutes battling against the wind before landing on the water about 20m away. It then took off again over the jetty before eventually drifting to the field behind where it attacked the Canada Geese. It flew back towards the water before dropping on the grass bank just 10m from us where it stayed for a few minutes before finally flying back towards the field  before drifting towards Tringford. Last seen distant heading northwards past Ivinghoe Beacon.....

 

A selection of the some of my better photos attached (Photo 1 uncropped!).

 

Ian Williams

RING-NECKED DUCK still on Startop's

Not much to report I am afraid at the reservoirs, although the drake RING-NECKED DUCK continues on Startop's.....

A couple of RING OUZELS remain on Ivinghoe Beacon, as well as a pair of COMMON STONECHAT, while light passage continues of Chaffinch, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Common Starling, Woodpigeon, Redwing and Continental Song Thrush...