WATER PIPITS

Roy Hargreaves had TWO different WATER PIPITS at Wilstone Reservoir this morning, but otherwise little to report from there in the past week

WAXWINGS briefly in LONG MARSTON

THURSDAY 29 NOVEMBER


Well after the floods, now comes the deep freeze..........

It was a heavy frost this morning and with clear blue skies and winter sunshine throughout the rest of the day, temperatures really struggled, reaching a high of just 3 degrees C

On his way to work, Steve Rodwell noticed a single WAXWING perched high on the hedgerow just beyond and opposite the entrance to LONG MARSTON CRICKET CLUB (HERTS) along Cheddington Lane at SP 902 159. Mike Campbell, who lives in neighbouring Cheddington, arrived shortly later and found 2. Having not seen one in Hertfordshire this year yet, I set off in hot pursuit, but by the time I got there (25 minutes later), the two birds were nowhere to be seen - they had flown off.

The hedgerows and fields to the east were swarming with winter thrushes, including some 500 Redwing and 400 Fieldfare; a single Reed Bunting was also in this area.

Nearby, about a mile north of HORTON (BUCKS) on the B488, a dead Chinese Water Deer was in the centre of the road at SP 916 215 - the first one I have recorded in this area.

Stopping off in WOBURN (BEDFORDSHIRE) to glance at the traditional Leighton Street Pink Sorbus berry-bearing trees, I was delighted to see no less than 31 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS - affording outstanding views to all those present, including residents, photographers and birdwatchers alike. Not one colour-ringed bird with this group either, and at least 8 first-winters. They were favouring the shrubs at numbers 45 and 47 and were a delight to watch and photograph - spooking frustratingly each time a few vehicles passed. The odd bird was getting 'drunk' and allowing closer approach. Some argy-bargy going on though, so photographers do need to be respectful of each other and avoid rushing up to the birds as they alight. A pretty sizeable turnover of watchers too - these birds really are popular.

Being the greedy person that I am, I could not resist a drive over to KEMPSTON (BEDS), where on the Woburn Road Industrial Estate (accessed along Wolseley Road), up to 76 WAXWINGS have recently been present (DJO, MJP, et al). Nothing like that number in the half-hour or so that I cruised the trading estate - just 13 showing well in ADAMS CLOSE.

Being back in Bedford, I decided to have another go at reaching PRIORY COUNTRY PARK (BEDS) and this time I succeeded. Adorning wellington boots, I managed to traverse the remains of the swollen Ouse and reach the NE corner of the main lake - and there the first-winter SLAVONIAN GREBE was showing well - hugging the East shore and diving frequently for food. Also 13 Great Crested Grebes on the lake, some 36 Tufted Duck and just 8 Northern Pochard. Amongst the 15 or so Mute Swans were two orange ringed birds - '500' and '44GM'.

At CHURCH END (BEDS) in their normal grazing fields at SP 962 365, I counted no less than 19 Chinese Water Deer.

I then received a call from JT informing me of a rare duck on HILFIELD PARK RESERVOIR (HERTS). So, being on the M1 anyway, I made my way down, getting delayed by over half an hour as a car overturned between Junctions 5 & 4. The duck in question was a juvenile COMMON SCOTER and was still present at 1600 hours. I also located two different adult MEDITERRANEAN GULLS in the 3,000 or so Black-headed Gull roost, and a single adult YELLOW-LEGGED GULL.

Aylesbury WAXWING flock rises to 24

In Gatehouse Way by the Micha Building, the WAXWING flock increased to 24 birds today. Peter Brazier obtained this series of images published below - just look at the size of the crowds....

and Chris Hinton obtained thies excellent series of shots

Meanwhile at Wilstone, a very quiet weekend - David Bilcock reporting just 6 Common Goldeneyes, 2+ Pintail, a handful of Common Snipe, 2-3 piebald Coots and the continuing WATER PIPIT

Plenty of Fieldfares

Managed a brief visit to Wilstone reservoir this afternoon. Concentrated on the shoreline and surrounding fields. No sign of the Water Pipit (but that's not unusual). 2 Grey Wagtails and 3 Pied Wagtails. A Common Buzzard and a Little Egret were perched in seperate trees, north-west of the reservoir. Approx 200+ Fieldfare and Redwing around the reservoir (80% Fieldfare, I'd estimate). 120+ birds in the field/bushes by the new overflow on the NW bank. Another 80+ birds in cemetery corner woods and along the back of the dry canal. The Marsh Tit looked lovely in the sunshine and was very vocal (on the track leading from cemetery corner woods up to the dry canal). 2+ Lesser Redpoll feeding on seedheads along the dry canal. A small flock (10+) of Goldfinches with 3+ Chaffinches were also feeding on seedheads around cemetery corner.


Lucy Flower Birding

WAXWING circus continues

All 20 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS spent long periods feeding on the berry-laden bushes in Aylesbury today, showing well from at least 0830 to 1400 hours. The flock includes three first-winters. They were again favouring the same two berry busges adjacent to the Micha building in Gatehouse Way.


There were large numbers of admirers, both birders and general public, as well as local journalists, including a team from the Bucks Herald. This is a very busy road, so parking is limited. Lots of great photographs were taken by the myriad of photographers on site.

I expect the flock number to rise considerable over coming weeks

WAXWINGS now up to 18 in AYLESBURY

Looks like many of the smaller WAXWING flocks in our area are all joining up as Paul Boult has just 'phoned to say that there are now 18 birds where I saw them yesterday on Gatehouse Way, Aylesbury. So Rob (RDA), your assumption is correct, clearly more than one flock and explains why I could not find the first-year bird previously photographed. Well worth the visit, as by sitting in your vehicle, you can obtain brilliant views of these birds. If you walk around though, they will most likely fly off. There is enough berries in the area to keep Waxwings supplied for several weeks

Today's view from the Drayton Bank Hide

Simon Gardner obtained this nice image of one of the Gatehouse Way WAXWINGS whilst I took the following shots from the Wilstone hide.....