Due to other birding constraints, I have had little time to get to the reservoirs of late, but Roy, Dave and Ian have been 'doing' them regularly over the past month with little 'new' turning up. Dave Bilcock had a flock of 21 Pintail one afternoon but they were not seen again, while at least 5 different MEDITERRANEAN GULLS have been seen including a single first-winter last night and a 'new' adult that Dave and I saw this evening. The first-winter drake GREATER SCAUP remains present on Startop's End Reservoir and is now looking rather dapper as he attains his first spring plumage. The pair of Egyptian Geese are still around, as well as 4 wintering BITTERNS, while Nuthatch, Coal Tit, 2 Marsh Tits, Lesser Redpoll and up to 38 Siskins have all been recorded.
The first COMMON STONECHAT of the spring appeared on Friday and was still present today, flitting along the fenceline between Cemetery Corner and Wilstone (see images below).
A selection of images from recent visits follow -:
Our first of the season, following just two records of 3 birds in 2015. Three are wintering at Pitstone Hill too, while Dave had an additional migrant male in the Ivinghoe Sheep Paddocks on Saturday
Both Egyptian Geese still around
Startop's End drake GREATER SCAUP now in full finery
Common Teal numbers now in sharp decline....
17 Eurasian Wigeon on Startop's taking advantage of the new stone wall
Up to 5 Dabchicks have overwintered on Startop's
One of 3 Yellowhammers in Cemetery Corner yesterday
