Monday, 11 August 2014

BLACK TERN on Friday















The first BLACK TERN of the autumn - a moulting adult - was found by Jeff Bailey on Friday and within a short while had been seen by Sally and her son and I - still showing well on Startop's End Reservoir. It spent long periods resting on the bales and was still in fairly good plumage other than the white forehead.


The view from the Drayton Hide - the spit now covered in a mass of Lapwing and Black-headed Gulls

















The long-staying Greenshank




Gadwall numbers now up to 34 individuals...





Lapwings up to 216



Common Redshank on Friday



Pair of Red-crested Pochard still resident on Startop's

Friday, 8 August 2014

Passage GREENSHANK

Steve Rodwell and I had a thorough look at Wilstone yesterday, the highlights being a juvenile COMMON GREENSHANK, 4 juvenile COMMON SHELDUCK, 2 Green Sandpipers and a Common Sandpiper (see images below).

The water level is dropping fast now and among the more regular species present, noteworthy were 2 Little Grebe (adult & juvenile), 11 Great Crested Grebe (including 2 broods - a 1 & a 3), 14 Little Egrets (including the 4 juveniles still in the Drayton Bank nest), 106 Mallard, 20 Gadwall, 15 Teal, 3 Shoveler, 7 Northern Pochard (including a green nasal-banded female from NW France), 7 Red Kite, Sparrowhawks (active nest near the hide),  2 juvenile Water Rail, 179 Lapwing, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and 4 Common Chiffchaffs.























Images above: the Common Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, the 4 juvenile Shelducks and the current view from the Drayton Bank Hide

Monday, 4 August 2014

RED-BACKED SHRIKE summering on Quainton Hills, west of Aylesbury

A male RED-BACKED SHRIKE has been present since the middle of last week on Quainton Hill, favouring the hedgerow that leads west from the West Slopes 100 yards west of the transmitter. The bird has a larder in the hedgerow and is showing well.







Recencies

Last week, Steve Rodwell recorded 3 BLACK-TAILED GODWITS and a SANDERLING on Wilstone but both species only stayed briefly - the latter for just over an hour. Steve and I also noted a juvenile COMMON SHELDUCK on Friday, as well as 2 Green Sandpipers and 2 Common Sandpipers.

Waders trickling through

Wandered round to the hide with Dave Hutchinson. Spit is very exposed and had lots of lapwings and Greylag Geese on it. About 20m of mud to left of hide. A lot of birds on the water. Dave spotted the COMMON SANDPIPER on one of the tern rafts. Juvenile LITTLE RINGED PLOVER also on mud near Drayon Beauchamp corner on way to hide. Shot is heavily cropped. Good to see movement! (Michael Nott)



Monday, 28 July 2014

COMMON REDSTART still at College Lake



The male COMMON REDSTART is still in the same area at College Lake. It was spending most of the time near the water’s edge. It was calling quite frequently and for a few minutes at a time. The call is reminiscent of Willow Warbler call

Couple of shots attached

Dave Hutchinson