GREAT GREY SHRIKE still showing well at Slapton

MONDAY 19 JANUARY

 

At the meadow just east of BOIS MILL, 5 Little Egret were together today, sharing the brook with 2 Mute Swans; all 3 of the latter were still at CHESHAM WATERSIDE

Spent ages searching BERKHAMSTEAD GOLF COURSE & COMMON for both Lesser Redpoll and Siskin but failed in my quest - just Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit and 2 Jays - adjacent FRITHSDEN BEECHES adding Bullfinch (2), Common Buzzard, Nuthatch (2), Common Treecreeper (2), Jay (2), Redwing (26) and another Great Spotted Woodpecker

This herd of 47 Fallow Deer was opposite ASHRIDGE COLLEGE

A flock of 70 EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER (and 2 Lapwing) were at WELL FARM, just SW of DAGNALL, whilst DOWN FARM near ALDBURY held 6 Yellowhammers and a Red Kite

 

No sign of any Grey Partridges around Horton Village but NE of SLAPTON BRIDGE, the GREAT GREY SHRIKE was still showing very well both sides of the Grand Union Canal just north of bridge 118 (see images below); a single Skylark and a few Redwings here too

At GUBBLECOTE, 68 Rook in the vicinity

 

While 3 Tree Sparrows have been at Long Marston and a drake Pintail at WILSTONE this weekend, all that was at the latter this afternoon were 1 Mute Swan, 377 Coot, 33 Great Crested Grebe, 7 Little Grebe, 270 Teal, 258 Wigeon, 36 Gadwall, 107 Tufted Duck, 120 Pochard, 130 Shoveler and the 3 female GOLDENEYE

 

At STARTOP'S END, 13 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Mute Swan, 93 Coot, 8 Teal, 13 Pochard, 22 Tufted Duck and the drake Gadwall, while on TRINGFORD, all 10 RED-CRESTED POCHARD remained, 188 Coot, 8 Mute Swans, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Egret and a Song Thrush. In the cow field at the back, a single Meadow Pipit with 4 Pied Wagtails.

 

A Grey Wagtail and Bullfinch by the SEWAGE WORKS, where both a Reeve's Muntjac and Wood Mouse had been run over

Last knockings at the MARSWORTH ROOST failed to reap the Barn owl (seen Saturday evening), but 71 CORN BUNTINGS roosted (pitiful total for midwinter), just 3 Common Starlings, 4 squealing Water Rails, Green Woodpecker, 6 Shoveler, 2 Tufted Duck, 12 Pochard, 3 Great Crested Grebe, Common Buzzard and Sparrowhawk

GREAT GREY SHRIKE still being seen NNE of Slapton Lock

Entering its 8th week on site, the GREAT GREY SHRIKE remains in its winter territory NNE of Slapton Lock - new pictures here kindly provided by Michael Nott (top 4) and Ian Williams

MED GULL

Dave Bilcock and Steve Rodwell had an adult winter MEDITERRANEAN GULL in the Wilstone roost this evening, but there was no sign of it when I arrived and joined the two of them shortly later; at least 1,500 Black-headed Gulls roosted, an impressive 203 Common Gulls and 4 Lesser Black-backeds

On Tringford, a flock of 11 RED-CRESTED POCHARDS was present for its 7th day

NE of Cheddington, the wintering GREAT GREY SHRIKE remains present, showing well on wires and hedgerows east of the canal half a mile NNE of Slapton Lock...