Heavy showers early this morning had me thinking more waders. However, that was not to be so maybe later. New bird this morning was an adult BLACK-NECKED GREBE that initially associated with Tufted Duck but was by itself when I left. Otherwise 4 Ruff, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 8 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper and Greenshank spread over the reservoir made counting them too much effort (Roy Hargreaves).
Thursday, 25 August 2011
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Wilstone this evening..........
WEDNESDAY 24 AUGUST
WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
The morning started cloudy and calm with variable winds. A weak front then pushed in from the west bringing light drizzle for a while, quickly replaced by much brighter, warmer conditions and an increasing SW wind....
Despite a good crop of waders elsewhere (eg, Turnstone, Euff, Dunlin and 5 Greenshank all dropping in at Little Marlow today), the only new arrival at Wilstone was a very brief transitional SANDERLING (RH, SR), which had disappeared by 0745 hours.....
JT, SR and I did a comprehensive search of the reservoir this evening with the following results -:
Waders still present on the mud included the two juvenile BLACK-TAILED GODWITS (see Dave Bilcock's excellent images above), the four juvenile RUFFS (see Lucy Flowers fabulous shot above), just 9 COMMON GREENSHANK, 3 Common Sandpipers and 1 Green Sandpiper, whilst the main spit between the jetty and bank still held 8 adult RINGED PLOVERS and 2 juvenile LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS.
Wildfowl continue to increase with at least 112 Common Teal and a whopping 48 Northern Pochard, whilst Little Egrets remain at 15 and Wigeon at 9.
Two late COMMON SWIFTS were noted, along with 65 Sand Martins and 30+ House Martins. Two Jays were feeding at the back of the hide.
WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)
The morning started cloudy and calm with variable winds. A weak front then pushed in from the west bringing light drizzle for a while, quickly replaced by much brighter, warmer conditions and an increasing SW wind....
Despite a good crop of waders elsewhere (eg, Turnstone, Euff, Dunlin and 5 Greenshank all dropping in at Little Marlow today), the only new arrival at Wilstone was a very brief transitional SANDERLING (RH, SR), which had disappeared by 0745 hours.....
JT, SR and I did a comprehensive search of the reservoir this evening with the following results -:
Waders still present on the mud included the two juvenile BLACK-TAILED GODWITS (see Dave Bilcock's excellent images above), the four juvenile RUFFS (see Lucy Flowers fabulous shot above), just 9 COMMON GREENSHANK, 3 Common Sandpipers and 1 Green Sandpiper, whilst the main spit between the jetty and bank still held 8 adult RINGED PLOVERS and 2 juvenile LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS.
Wildfowl continue to increase with at least 112 Common Teal and a whopping 48 Northern Pochard, whilst Little Egrets remain at 15 and Wigeon at 9.
Two late COMMON SWIFTS were noted, along with 65 Sand Martins and 30+ House Martins. Two Jays were feeding at the back of the hide.
Early morning SANDERLING
This morning I reversed my route and did the hide first instead of the jetty, which proved fortuitous. Two of the Miswell Farm Little Owls were out this morning and twelve Red-legged Partridge were in the field south of the Dry Canal and west of the footpath.
From the hide the four juvenile Ruff and two juvenile Black-tailed Godwits were still present – as were Greenshank and Common Sandpipers. From the hide I could see Ringed Plover on the Jetty spit and so headed round to the Jetty to count them from there. The walk between yielded 1+ Yellow Wagtails flying over. From the jetty it took little while to count the eight Ringed Plover and two Little Ringed Plover as they were spread along the spit. While looking at a few of the Ringed Plover I noted another wader fly in to join them at 7:10 – it was a moulting adult Sanderling (see my image above). It proceeded to run about as SANDERLING do while I phoned a few people. Fortunately David was back from Mexico and put out a text. Steve Rodwell managed to get down to see it, but unfortunately at 7:35 I heard it call and watched it fly off high in a southerly direction (Roy Hargreaves).
From the hide the four juvenile Ruff and two juvenile Black-tailed Godwits were still present – as were Greenshank and Common Sandpipers. From the hide I could see Ringed Plover on the Jetty spit and so headed round to the Jetty to count them from there. The walk between yielded 1+ Yellow Wagtails flying over. From the jetty it took little while to count the eight Ringed Plover and two Little Ringed Plover as they were spread along the spit. While looking at a few of the Ringed Plover I noted another wader fly in to join them at 7:10 – it was a moulting adult Sanderling (see my image above). It proceeded to run about as SANDERLING do while I phoned a few people. Fortunately David was back from Mexico and put out a text. Steve Rodwell managed to get down to see it, but unfortunately at 7:35 I heard it call and watched it fly off high in a southerly direction (Roy Hargreaves).
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
Evening Update
Mike Hirst located two juvenile BLACK TERNS this evening on Wilstone, whilst other new arrivals included four additional Ringed Plovers (and thereby increasing to 7) and the juvenile Little Ringed Plover was still by the jetty (per Steve Rodwell)
Forecasted rain did not materialise
Migrants on the move - Whinchats, Yellow Wagtails and juvenile Willow Warblers (Sally Douglas)
TUESDAY 23 AUGUST
Well, according to leading weatherman Michael Fish, the Chilterns Reigion was supposed to have received thunderstorms and flash flooding from about 2am this morning but it never materialised. Instead, we got a switch in the wind from Northeast to East, overcast conditions and just a little bit of light drizzle......
Expecting a real feast of rarities locally, I was out nice and early but it was all largely to no avail - the reservoirs seemingly not picking up a single new migrant other than a Wheatear. The saviour however was Master Adam Bassett - and his unprecedented arrival of LITTLE TERNS in the South of the county (Buckinghamshire). These birds remained all day to the delight of many........
THE TRING RESERVOIRS (HERTFORDSHIRE)
(Several visits during the day, both morning and afternoon)
WILSTONE
Surprisingly nothing new in the way of migrants arrived overnight other than a single NORTHERN WHEATEAR on the North Bank.......
Remaining waders included the 3 juvenile RUFFS and 1 REEVE, the 2 juvenile BLACK-TAILED GODWITS (now located on the SE shore), 3 adult RINGED PLOVERS (perhaps tundriae), Green Sandpiper, 13 COMMON GREENSHANKS and 330 Lapwing, as well as 14 Little Egrets.
The Black Tern had departed and there was little change in wildfowl numbers - 5 Wigeon, 18 Gadwall and a marked increase to 78 Teal.
In the Cemetery Corner field, there were a gathering of 22 Chaffinch and a single Linnet and a migrant juvenile Willow Warbler was working its way along a hedgerow (see image above).
MARSWORTH
Almost birdless - 2 Mute Swans and 2 Great Crested Grebes
STARTOP'S END
The 2 adult WHOOPER SWANS remained, as did 4 Mute Swans, whilst 6 Great Crested Grebes were also counted and 3 Little Egrets were feeding on the mud. RED-CRESTED POCHARDS now numbered 4, comprising of 2 eclipse drakes, a female and a single juvenile. The main Coot flock numbered 194 whilst a pair in the NW corner (one parent being one of the piebald individuals) was feeding two very young chicks.
TRINGFORD
Tringford hosted 9 roosting Grey Herons, just 1 Great Crested Grebe, 22 Tufted Ducks and a further 70 Coot
COLLEGE LAKE BBOWT (BUCKS)
Just what has happened to College Lake? The water levels are very high and both the marsh and main lake are birdless - just 2 Mute Swans noted.
SECURITY WARNINGS
Whilst at Wilstone this afternoon, I had an altercation with an East European who was illegally 'spinning' with a fishing rod and was attempting to capture a Mute Swan. I asked him what he was up to and he claimed to not understand but after informing him ''no, no, no'', he quickly made off in a white van registration ''T 420 CRV''
I must also inform you all to be extra vigilant when parking - a car was broken into at Marsworth today and Steve Rodwell also had his car window smashed relatively locally on Friday afternoon
Well, according to leading weatherman Michael Fish, the Chilterns Reigion was supposed to have received thunderstorms and flash flooding from about 2am this morning but it never materialised. Instead, we got a switch in the wind from Northeast to East, overcast conditions and just a little bit of light drizzle......
Expecting a real feast of rarities locally, I was out nice and early but it was all largely to no avail - the reservoirs seemingly not picking up a single new migrant other than a Wheatear. The saviour however was Master Adam Bassett - and his unprecedented arrival of LITTLE TERNS in the South of the county (Buckinghamshire). These birds remained all day to the delight of many........
THE TRING RESERVOIRS (HERTFORDSHIRE)
(Several visits during the day, both morning and afternoon)
WILSTONE
Surprisingly nothing new in the way of migrants arrived overnight other than a single NORTHERN WHEATEAR on the North Bank.......
Remaining waders included the 3 juvenile RUFFS and 1 REEVE, the 2 juvenile BLACK-TAILED GODWITS (now located on the SE shore), 3 adult RINGED PLOVERS (perhaps tundriae), Green Sandpiper, 13 COMMON GREENSHANKS and 330 Lapwing, as well as 14 Little Egrets.
The Black Tern had departed and there was little change in wildfowl numbers - 5 Wigeon, 18 Gadwall and a marked increase to 78 Teal.
In the Cemetery Corner field, there were a gathering of 22 Chaffinch and a single Linnet and a migrant juvenile Willow Warbler was working its way along a hedgerow (see image above).
MARSWORTH
Almost birdless - 2 Mute Swans and 2 Great Crested Grebes
STARTOP'S END
The 2 adult WHOOPER SWANS remained, as did 4 Mute Swans, whilst 6 Great Crested Grebes were also counted and 3 Little Egrets were feeding on the mud. RED-CRESTED POCHARDS now numbered 4, comprising of 2 eclipse drakes, a female and a single juvenile. The main Coot flock numbered 194 whilst a pair in the NW corner (one parent being one of the piebald individuals) was feeding two very young chicks.
TRINGFORD
Tringford hosted 9 roosting Grey Herons, just 1 Great Crested Grebe, 22 Tufted Ducks and a further 70 Coot
COLLEGE LAKE BBOWT (BUCKS)
Just what has happened to College Lake? The water levels are very high and both the marsh and main lake are birdless - just 2 Mute Swans noted.
SECURITY WARNINGS
Whilst at Wilstone this afternoon, I had an altercation with an East European who was illegally 'spinning' with a fishing rod and was attempting to capture a Mute Swan. I asked him what he was up to and he claimed to not understand but after informing him ''no, no, no'', he quickly made off in a white van registration ''T 420 CRV''
I must also inform you all to be extra vigilant when parking - a car was broken into at Marsworth today and Steve Rodwell also had his car window smashed relatively locally on Friday afternoon
Monday, 22 August 2011
A Red Letter Day in the Local Area
MONDAY 22 AUGUST
With a steady SSE breeze blowing and part-cloudy skies, I knew today was going to be special - it had that feel to it. Being bereft of any avian enjoyment since Friday, I was ready for action and committed a day to slogging the local patches - and furthermore Steve Rodwell was back and work and out of play.........
WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTFORDSHIRE)
(0940-1320 hours)
Despite feeling very warm, there was enough dark clouds in the sky to thwart migrating birds over the Chilterns and as usual in such conditions, today the reservoirs acted as a magnet.....
Looking to the skies throughout the morning, it soon became apparent that many raptors were migrating, mostly in a west or SSW direction. Pride of place went to an adult OSPREY that came through late morning, being slowly harassed by corvids as it flew at great height slowly west and then SSW across the reservoir. I picked it up initially over Wilstone village (from the Drayton Bank Hide) and managed to get all other 8 occupants in the hide on to it before it drifted away towards Drayton Beauchamp. Two different juvenile MARSH HARRIERS also came through, neither even pausing to check out the mud or reedbeds, and simply flying from NE to SW and making a beeline for the Wendover escarpment. A steady stream of Red Kite and Common Buzzard was apparent (at least 16 of the former and 11 of the latter, the Common Buzzards of which all were juvenile) with 2 Sparrowhawks (probably of local origin) also seen.
Steve Rodwell's BLACK TERN was also still present and was a pristine juvenile (second day). It frequently settled and joined the ever-growing daytime gull roost on the mud left of the hide, which this morning hosted two different very fresh juvenile MEDITERRANEAN GULLS, 216 Black-headed Gulls and 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 25 Common Terns remained too.
Waders were also exciting with the arrival of 4 RUFFS at 0945 (all juvenile, with three males and one female) - joining a throng of 13 COMMON GREENSHANKS (mostly juvenile), two juvenile BLACK-TAILED GODWITS, a single juvenile DUNLIN, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Common Sandpipers and 330 Lapwing.
Since my visit last week, there was also a marked increase in wildfowl numbers with Common Teal up to 43, Shoveler to 17, Gadwall to 18, Wigeon to 8 and Northern Pochard to an impressive 30, whilst 14 LITTLE EGRETS were tricking the last few remaining fish in the shallow SE quarter into submission by their continual foot-paddling.
There was a constant procession of hirundines migrating, with over 190 Barn Swallows south during the morning and 85 House Martins, whilst a Common Chiffchaff was in song in the NW corner and a juvenile COAL TIT was in the Poplars just west of the car park.
A Grey Wagtail and 27 Mute Swans were also noted, as were both Chinese Water Deer......
THE IVINGHOE HILLS ICKNIELD WAY ESCARPMENT (BUCKS)
Having great expectations, I walked from the south end of Aldbury Nowers north and east along the Icknield Way to the east end of Gallows Hill - a distance of over 10 miles in total. Was it worth it - yes - as the highlight was a very vocal and stonking fresh male COMMON REDSTART showing very well in the isolated five Hawthorn bushes on the slope above Brook Statnall's Wood at Pitstone Hill, about 350 yards SW along the Icknield Way from the main car park. It was a gorgeous bird - and so showy.
The only other migrants noted, apart from one flock of 24 Barn Swallows, were 2 juvenile NORTHERN WHEATEARS - one on the fenceline just SE of the trig point at the Beacon and another on the fence by the Sheep Pen.
Two Brown Hares were sighted at Gallows Hill, whilst butterflies included a good number of Meadow Brown and Small Heath, 20 Chalkhill Blues and single Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell.
SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)
As the evening progressed, a thick band of darker cloud cover encroached from the south - a precursor of some seriously wet weather expected overnight. Despite an extensive search, there was no sign of the female Common Redstart - the only migrants apparent being 2 juvenile WILLOW WARBLERS, 5 SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS, a juvenile Blackcap and a Common Chiffchaff.
Of the residents, the female MANDARIN DUCK was still present - this evening venturing out on the grass to graze.....
Also 7 Little Grebes (4 juveniles) (but again no sign of any GCG's), the Mute Swan family (6 surviving cygnets), now 4 NORTHERN POCHARDS (female and 3 drakes), 3 Tufted Duck, Common Kestrel, pair of Stock Dove, 2 Common Magpies, Nuthatch, 3 Great Tits, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 15 Blue Tits, Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker, Goldcrest, 13 Goldfinch and COMMON KINGFISHER
If all goes to plan, tomorrow should be very exciting.........WATCH THIS SPACE
With a steady SSE breeze blowing and part-cloudy skies, I knew today was going to be special - it had that feel to it. Being bereft of any avian enjoyment since Friday, I was ready for action and committed a day to slogging the local patches - and furthermore Steve Rodwell was back and work and out of play.........
WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTFORDSHIRE)
(0940-1320 hours)
Despite feeling very warm, there was enough dark clouds in the sky to thwart migrating birds over the Chilterns and as usual in such conditions, today the reservoirs acted as a magnet.....
Looking to the skies throughout the morning, it soon became apparent that many raptors were migrating, mostly in a west or SSW direction. Pride of place went to an adult OSPREY that came through late morning, being slowly harassed by corvids as it flew at great height slowly west and then SSW across the reservoir. I picked it up initially over Wilstone village (from the Drayton Bank Hide) and managed to get all other 8 occupants in the hide on to it before it drifted away towards Drayton Beauchamp. Two different juvenile MARSH HARRIERS also came through, neither even pausing to check out the mud or reedbeds, and simply flying from NE to SW and making a beeline for the Wendover escarpment. A steady stream of Red Kite and Common Buzzard was apparent (at least 16 of the former and 11 of the latter, the Common Buzzards of which all were juvenile) with 2 Sparrowhawks (probably of local origin) also seen.
Steve Rodwell's BLACK TERN was also still present and was a pristine juvenile (second day). It frequently settled and joined the ever-growing daytime gull roost on the mud left of the hide, which this morning hosted two different very fresh juvenile MEDITERRANEAN GULLS, 216 Black-headed Gulls and 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls; 25 Common Terns remained too.
Waders were also exciting with the arrival of 4 RUFFS at 0945 (all juvenile, with three males and one female) - joining a throng of 13 COMMON GREENSHANKS (mostly juvenile), two juvenile BLACK-TAILED GODWITS, a single juvenile DUNLIN, 2 Green Sandpipers, 2 Common Sandpipers and 330 Lapwing.
Since my visit last week, there was also a marked increase in wildfowl numbers with Common Teal up to 43, Shoveler to 17, Gadwall to 18, Wigeon to 8 and Northern Pochard to an impressive 30, whilst 14 LITTLE EGRETS were tricking the last few remaining fish in the shallow SE quarter into submission by their continual foot-paddling.
There was a constant procession of hirundines migrating, with over 190 Barn Swallows south during the morning and 85 House Martins, whilst a Common Chiffchaff was in song in the NW corner and a juvenile COAL TIT was in the Poplars just west of the car park.
A Grey Wagtail and 27 Mute Swans were also noted, as were both Chinese Water Deer......
THE IVINGHOE HILLS ICKNIELD WAY ESCARPMENT (BUCKS)
Having great expectations, I walked from the south end of Aldbury Nowers north and east along the Icknield Way to the east end of Gallows Hill - a distance of over 10 miles in total. Was it worth it - yes - as the highlight was a very vocal and stonking fresh male COMMON REDSTART showing very well in the isolated five Hawthorn bushes on the slope above Brook Statnall's Wood at Pitstone Hill, about 350 yards SW along the Icknield Way from the main car park. It was a gorgeous bird - and so showy.
The only other migrants noted, apart from one flock of 24 Barn Swallows, were 2 juvenile NORTHERN WHEATEARS - one on the fenceline just SE of the trig point at the Beacon and another on the fence by the Sheep Pen.
Two Brown Hares were sighted at Gallows Hill, whilst butterflies included a good number of Meadow Brown and Small Heath, 20 Chalkhill Blues and single Red Admiral and Small Tortoiseshell.
SHARDELOES LAKE (BUCKS)
As the evening progressed, a thick band of darker cloud cover encroached from the south - a precursor of some seriously wet weather expected overnight. Despite an extensive search, there was no sign of the female Common Redstart - the only migrants apparent being 2 juvenile WILLOW WARBLERS, 5 SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS, a juvenile Blackcap and a Common Chiffchaff.
Of the residents, the female MANDARIN DUCK was still present - this evening venturing out on the grass to graze.....
Also 7 Little Grebes (4 juveniles) (but again no sign of any GCG's), the Mute Swan family (6 surviving cygnets), now 4 NORTHERN POCHARDS (female and 3 drakes), 3 Tufted Duck, Common Kestrel, pair of Stock Dove, 2 Common Magpies, Nuthatch, 3 Great Tits, 12 Long-tailed Tits, 15 Blue Tits, Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker, Goldcrest, 13 Goldfinch and COMMON KINGFISHER
If all goes to plan, tomorrow should be very exciting.........WATCH THIS SPACE
Sunday Morning 21 August
This morning the juvenile BLACK-TAILED GODWIT was still present. Also 15 Greenshank, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 LRPs, 1 Dunlin, 4 Common Sandpiper and 3 Green Sandpiper (Roy Hargreaves)
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