15 October - CARBO'S back

One of our regular Atlantic (carbo) Great Cormorants has returned for another winter. Today 'CUA' was on the rocks along the Drayton Bank in the center of Wilstone. This is the 6th winter it has returned to Wilstone since arriving as a juvenile back in December 2005 (David Bilcock)

15 October - first SCANDINAVIAN ROCK PIPIT of the Autumn

A SCANDINAVIAN ROCK PIPIT was near the car park steps late this morning feeding on the reservoir bank below the fisherman (pictures above). By mid afternoon it had moved around to the jetty area.

Otherwise usual ducks present and 2 small flocks of swallows through (17 and 8) (Dave Bilcock)

15 October - Ivinghoe Hills

David Bilcock and I spent three and a half hours on the hills this morning. Little passage stuff, but still some good birds.

On Ivinghoe Beacon David picked up a RING OUZEL in a bush, this turned into 4 then 5 and then another joined them that came in from quite high and was presumably passing over. So six in total, 1 male, 2 female and 3 1st wints. We enjoyed these birds for about an hour with no-one flushing them, superb views of wonderful birds. Two single Fieldfare then a flock of 31 flew in.
On Steps Hill there were at least 30 Brambling in the White Beam trees, mainly on the Northern slope, with c20 in one tree alone- fantastic.

Startops Res ( Herts ) produced a large number of Pochard, 1 Red-crested Pochard and a Little Grebe.

Back in Rowsham I found that the farmer had finally cropped a very large Corn on the cob field. This field was absolutely full of birds, including many Skylark and Yellowhammer. In addition a flock of Siskin went over and then a large flock of Fieldfare went West (Mike Wallen Birding).

13 October - Ivinghoe Hills - much quieter

Much quieter this morning apart from two exuberant COMMON RAVENS that flew low overhead as Chris King and myself walked towards the sheep pens. A flock of c50 Linnets in the rough ground near the pens and a few Skylarks and a couple of Yellowhammers on the slopes above. Steps Hill though was alive with Redwings, and a Fieldfare was heard and also Bramblings heard but not seen in this area across from the CP. At least 1 showy RING OUZEL (male) in Incombe Hole (Francis Buckle)

12 October - male HEN HARRIER - Ivinghoe

Driving up to the Beacon at c09.00 this morning (12 October) I saw Mike Wallen at the 'S' bend who waved and came over and told me what a fantastic morning he had had! He mentioned there was a RING OUZEL in a bush on the slopes above the sheep pens so Chris King and I made our way there and were watching it when I noticed a slim fairly large BOB at about 300yds flying towards the Beacon Car Park. I quickly got Chris on it and 'phoned Mike Wallen. It was a male HEN HARRIER and Mike made his way to the CP but before he was able to get there it veered away and flew out of sight down the valley. We carried on up the slope and watched another ouzel (a bright male) feeding in grass on the slope. Further on we had two together in a bush and another on the slopes across the road from the 'S' bend (so at least 3). Many Skylarks and Redwings on the slopes above the sheep pens (Francis Buckle)

RING OUZELS still

Two first-winter RING OUZELS were still present in Incombe Hole early afternoon, favouring the berry laden bushes at the top end (Mike Wallen had earlier seen four birds). There were also 1 REDWING, 15 Song Thrushes, 11 Common Blackbirds and 6 Mistle Thrushes.

There were also a few immigrant Chaffinches in the area but little else of note

Lee Evans and Francis Buckle

RING OUZEL fall

Thursday Morning (30 September)

I started on Steps Hill and Ivinghoe Beacon and it was a very different day to yesterday. Passage over was by no means heavy except for a movement of Skylark, but highlight was 4 RING OUZELS this morning. A real arrival of Song Thrush and a few Redwing.

Ring Ouzels were 1) Over my watchpoint just after sunrise, calling, flew into the fog down the West side of Steps.

2) A single bird in the bushes just beyond the S bend towards the Beacon, but in half an hour watching these bushes I never saw it. At one point I stood Still for 10 minutes after it 'chacked', as soon as I took another step it chacked again, you've got to admire them !

3) + 4, ( male and female ) together in the area of extensive hawthorn and White Beam trees, 300metres North of the car park, I saw the male at about 25ft as I rounded a bush, I nearly bumped into it ! Neil Foster joined me and saw these. They then crossed the path into Beeches and may have left these with other thrushes which moved West towards Income Hole.

Mike Wallen Birding