BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY 30 MAY 2011
After what seemed like an age, a band of heavy rain moved across the region yesterday afternoon and evening on the fringe of an Atlantic Front that moved northeastwards. This managed to 'down' numerous passage waders, including impressive numbers of SANDERLING, a PURPLE SANDPIPER in Oxfordshire and a number of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES. Incredibly, one of the latter was forced down into Rookery Pit - the first ever to be twitchable in Bedfordshire and sparking off a major local twitch..........
ROOKERY PIT SOUTH (BEDFORDSHIRE)
Keith Owen stumbled upon the male RED-NECKED PHALAROPE in Rookery at 1145 hours, about half an hour before the belt of rain moved in. It was joined by a single SANDERLING. Keith immediately contacted Steve Blain and others of his momentous find and within minutes Andy Plumb had broadcast it to the county's keenest.....
I happened to be in West Wycombe at the time so it was a very hasty retreat but in just under the hour, I had made it to the damp pitside, joining MJP, Dave Odell, Pip Housden, SB, LC, BC, Mike Ilett, Cliff Tack, Richard Woodhead and others by the second railway bridge. The phalarope was still present and feeding along the east shore, swimming in and out of the shallow muddy bays. By now, it was drizzling and in the poor weather conditions, a further 5 migrant SANDERLINGS had dropped in, as well as 2 summer-plumaged Dublin and 2 apparent Tundra Ringed Plovers. There were also a few Common Redshank to be seen.
As with most waders in the pit, the phalarope could only be viewed at great range and it was not possible to make out finite feather detail. LC had been closer and had managed a few shots and from what I could ascertain, the lack of contrast and intensity in the plumage and the presence of a pale supercilium suggested that the bird was a male. It constantly fed in the shallows and took short flights on occasion but was still present until 1500 hours when I departed (and much later when Darin Stanley visited at 1945 hours).
Red-necked Phalarope is a surprisingly massively rare bird in Bedfordshire with just ONE record mentioned in Steele-Elliott (1904) - a female shot on the glebe pond at Houghton Conquest on about 1 June 1890. (note the close proximity of date with our bird). Since then, only TWO have been discovered -:
2) A female in breeding plumage present at Priory Country Park during the morning of 30 May 1991 and observed from a distance of just 10 feet ! (observer unknown - photographed)
3) A juvenile seen very briefly by Jack O'Neill at Dunstable Sewage Works on 31 August 1995.
In addition, two phalaropes watched very distantly at Stewartby Lake on 12-13 September 1969 were considered to be most likely this species by observers.
So, as you can see, a very rare bird in the county indeed and a new species for virtually everyone, and representing my 259th species in the county and my 170th species of the year.
In addition to the waders, the 3 RED-CRESTED POCHARDS were still present (two drakes).
PITSTONE QUARRY (BUCKS/HERTS)
The two transitional plumaged SANDERLINGS that Don Otter had found a short while earlier were both still present when I visited in heavy rain late afternoon, wading between the far Bucks section of the drained lagoon and the closer Hertfordshire section. There were also two Common Redshank present and a pair of displaying Little Ringed Plovers, as well as the territorial pair of Common Shelduck and the female Mandarin Duck with 6 (out of an original 9) surviving young.
WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
Despite the continuing rain, I tried to locate the Spotted Flycatcher in the Black Poplars in Cemetery Corner but failed in my quest. This section of dense vegetation between the Poplars and the old boathouse did yield an impressive number of breeding species though with Great Spotted Woodpecker (adults feeding two young), Song Thrush, Blackcap (family parties plus 6 singing males), Common Chiffchaff (singing male), both Great and Blue Tit (family parties), Chaffinch (one brood being fed) and Goldcrest (singing male).
Over 1,000 Common Swifts were still hawking for insects over the surface.
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Monday, 30 May 2011
SANDERLINGS in Pitstone Quarry
Don Otter discovered these two SANDERLINGS in Pitstone Quarry today, both birds favouring the drained lagoon to the right and spending time in both the Bucks and Herts section of the pit. They were still present mid-afternoon (LGRE), Dave Bilcock obtaining the excellent images above.
The pair of Common Shelduck were still present, female Mandarin Duck with just 6 (of 9) surviving young, two Common Redshank and a displaying pair of Little Ringed Plovers.
Wilstone Reservoir was relatively quiet - the drake Wigeon still, female Teal, 2 Little Egrets, over 1,000 Common Swifts and Spotted Flycatcher (RH, DB, LGRE)
Friday, 27 May 2011
GARGANEYS washed out; an invasion of COMMON SWIFTS; a bumper crop of FIRECRESTS and ADONIS BLUES on the wing
FRIDAY 27 MAY
Thursday evening saw a heavy deluge of rain in the Chilterns, with localised flooding in some areas. As such, it seems like one local nesting pair of Garganey have been washed out and forced to move on. I spent the afternoon birding, seeing the two GARGANEY, large numbers of FIRECRESTS, an incredible number of COMMON SWIFTS and a bumper crop of ADONIS BLUES..........
WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
Joined JT, Chris, Francis Buckle, Jeff Bailey and others on the bank at Wilstone Reservoir and to 1500 hours at least, the pair of GARGANEY were still present. Jeff had initially noticed them to the right of the Drayton Bank Hide early afternoon whilst Joan had watched them disappear into the Willow scrub to the left. Studying where JT had last seen them, I eventually relocated them, the two birds being harassed by Grey Herons, Coots and Mallards. They remained on view for a few minutes before disappearing back into the scrub. They are most likely the pair which set up territory at another site in the county but were most likely flooded out by last night's weather.
A single adult OYSTERCATCHER was a new arrival, whilst two of this week's four Little Egrets were on view on the west shore.
COMMON SWIFTS were the other exceptional phenomenon - they were everywhere - the largest number recorded this year - at least 5,600 birds being counted at one stage (the plume stretching from Tringford to the west side of Wilstone). There were also large numbers of hirundines present, particularly HOUSE MARTINS, but also 50 or so SAND MARTINS.
Of breeding birds, both families of Great Crested Grebe were still surviving (two stripy young and one), Coots with 6 and 4 chicks respectively (368 adults in total), 5 Mute Swans, 2 Greylag Geese, 8 Gadwall, 33 Tufted Duck, 16 Northern Pochards, 57 Common Terns and 1 Grey Wagtail.
COLLEGE LAKE BBOWT (BUCKS)
Still managed to dip Hobby here despite both Francis and Chris connecting earlier; HOUSE MARTINS were in abundance with over 85 present, COMMON SWIFTS also (100+) and a handful of Sand Martins.
The OYSTERCATCHER pair were still tenderly caring for the two surviving chicks (both now growing well), whilst Lapwing young numbered at least 8. The LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS now had a single chick but there was no sign of any fledgling Common Redshanks (just four adults). A single Mute Swan was present.
WENDOVER FOREST (BUCKS)
I did a comprehensive survey of Wendover's FIRECREST population from the Hale end and was very pleased to find bumper numbers present this season. A total of 22 birds was recorded, including 14 singing males. Two family parties were recorded - one pair feeding young just yards inside the first gate by the Forestry Cottages (in the ivy-covered trees to the right of the entrance track) and another pair on the fringe of the main wood. A cluster of singing males was present to the left of the main track just with its junction with the ''Short Cut'' whilst several more were singing from Douglas Firs along the cut.
A male Yellowhammer was singing by the road, whilst other species noted in the forestry included Coal Tit (2 males), Common Treecreeper (pair feeding young), Robin (two pairs feeding young), Goldcrest (3 singing males), GARDEN WARBLER (singing male), WILLOW WARBLER (singing male) and Common Chiffchaff (just 1 male).
RADNAGE (BUCKS) (SU 789 979)
The extensive meadow to the east of St Mary's Church in Radnage has now become the premier site for ADONIS BLUE butterfly in our region and this evening in clearing sunny skies, I counted 33 specimens in the transect (many of which were quite worn and abraded). They were feeding on the yellow flowers at the upper part of the slope closest to the wood and were highly mobile. There were also a number of Common Blue and Small Blue on the wing as well as Small Heath and Dingy Skipper (7 of the latter).
The churchyard held a pair of Bullfinch, with Red Kite and Common Buzzard overhead and a singing Common Chiffchaff.
ACCESS: Park sensibly by the church at SU 785 977 before walking through the churchyard and along the trail to the third meadow on the slope before the woodland belt.
Thursday evening saw a heavy deluge of rain in the Chilterns, with localised flooding in some areas. As such, it seems like one local nesting pair of Garganey have been washed out and forced to move on. I spent the afternoon birding, seeing the two GARGANEY, large numbers of FIRECRESTS, an incredible number of COMMON SWIFTS and a bumper crop of ADONIS BLUES..........
WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
Joined JT, Chris, Francis Buckle, Jeff Bailey and others on the bank at Wilstone Reservoir and to 1500 hours at least, the pair of GARGANEY were still present. Jeff had initially noticed them to the right of the Drayton Bank Hide early afternoon whilst Joan had watched them disappear into the Willow scrub to the left. Studying where JT had last seen them, I eventually relocated them, the two birds being harassed by Grey Herons, Coots and Mallards. They remained on view for a few minutes before disappearing back into the scrub. They are most likely the pair which set up territory at another site in the county but were most likely flooded out by last night's weather.
A single adult OYSTERCATCHER was a new arrival, whilst two of this week's four Little Egrets were on view on the west shore.
COMMON SWIFTS were the other exceptional phenomenon - they were everywhere - the largest number recorded this year - at least 5,600 birds being counted at one stage (the plume stretching from Tringford to the west side of Wilstone). There were also large numbers of hirundines present, particularly HOUSE MARTINS, but also 50 or so SAND MARTINS.
Of breeding birds, both families of Great Crested Grebe were still surviving (two stripy young and one), Coots with 6 and 4 chicks respectively (368 adults in total), 5 Mute Swans, 2 Greylag Geese, 8 Gadwall, 33 Tufted Duck, 16 Northern Pochards, 57 Common Terns and 1 Grey Wagtail.
COLLEGE LAKE BBOWT (BUCKS)
Still managed to dip Hobby here despite both Francis and Chris connecting earlier; HOUSE MARTINS were in abundance with over 85 present, COMMON SWIFTS also (100+) and a handful of Sand Martins.
The OYSTERCATCHER pair were still tenderly caring for the two surviving chicks (both now growing well), whilst Lapwing young numbered at least 8. The LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS now had a single chick but there was no sign of any fledgling Common Redshanks (just four adults). A single Mute Swan was present.
WENDOVER FOREST (BUCKS)
I did a comprehensive survey of Wendover's FIRECREST population from the Hale end and was very pleased to find bumper numbers present this season. A total of 22 birds was recorded, including 14 singing males. Two family parties were recorded - one pair feeding young just yards inside the first gate by the Forestry Cottages (in the ivy-covered trees to the right of the entrance track) and another pair on the fringe of the main wood. A cluster of singing males was present to the left of the main track just with its junction with the ''Short Cut'' whilst several more were singing from Douglas Firs along the cut.
A male Yellowhammer was singing by the road, whilst other species noted in the forestry included Coal Tit (2 males), Common Treecreeper (pair feeding young), Robin (two pairs feeding young), Goldcrest (3 singing males), GARDEN WARBLER (singing male), WILLOW WARBLER (singing male) and Common Chiffchaff (just 1 male).
RADNAGE (BUCKS) (SU 789 979)
The extensive meadow to the east of St Mary's Church in Radnage has now become the premier site for ADONIS BLUE butterfly in our region and this evening in clearing sunny skies, I counted 33 specimens in the transect (many of which were quite worn and abraded). They were feeding on the yellow flowers at the upper part of the slope closest to the wood and were highly mobile. There were also a number of Common Blue and Small Blue on the wing as well as Small Heath and Dingy Skipper (7 of the latter).
The churchyard held a pair of Bullfinch, with Red Kite and Common Buzzard overhead and a singing Common Chiffchaff.
ACCESS: Park sensibly by the church at SU 785 977 before walking through the churchyard and along the trail to the third meadow on the slope before the woodland belt.
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Late ARCTIC TERNS
Late this afternoon 2 ARCTIC TERNS were present amongst the Common terns at Wilstone. One of these although superficially looking like an adult had traces of dark feathering of its lesser coverts aging it as a 2nd summer bird, the other was an adult (David Bilcock).
Monday, 23 May 2011
21 May
College Lake: The Oystercatcher pair appear to have lost one of their chicks as only 2 seen.
Pitstone Quarry: 1 Ringed plover and 5 LRPs present
Wilstone: The female hepatic cuckoo was sat in the trees in the centre on the reservoir. Also present were 2 Spotted Flycatchers in cemetery corner.
Pitstone Quarry: 1 Ringed plover and 5 LRPs present
Wilstone: The female hepatic cuckoo was sat in the trees in the centre on the reservoir. Also present were 2 Spotted Flycatchers in cemetery corner.
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
RING-NECKED DUCK images
Three "atmospheric" pictures digiscoped from the hide this evening The bird came very close to the hide at dusk and was continuously active. In addition to the photos, I also took a bit of video footage in which any hint of the evening light was of course radically removed. The bird was still present when I (and Roy Hargreaves) left at 21:15 or so. (Jan Hein Steenis)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
