Monday, 22 September 2008

18 SEPTEMBER 2008



18 SEPTEMBER 2008

(A very calm day but cloudy, with temperatures reaching a high 68 degrees F)

WILSTONE RESERVOIR
(1618-1749 & 1805-1820 hours)
The highlight of the visit was two COMMON KINGFISHERS, showing very well fishing from the concrete edge of the reservoir just south of the jetty (see Mike Lawrence's images of Kingfisher above)
Great Crested Grebe (16)
Little Grebe (8)
LITTLE EGRET - 4 birds still present
Mute Swan - dranmatic decline to just 27 birds
WHOOPER SWANS - both adult pair still present
Gadwall (11), Common Teal, Eurasian Wigeon & Northern Shoveler (33)
Northern Pochards - 45+
RUDDY DUCK - adult drake and female-type
NORTHERN PINTAIL - 4 remain
*MOORHENS - census revealed 84 birds
*WATER RAIL - 3 birds encountered: 2 near Cemetery Corner and another to the right of the hide (SR)
COMMON SNIPES - 4 feeding on mud at edge of reeds
**MEDITERRANEAN GULL - a first-winter was roosting with the Black-headed Gulls on one of the muddy islands (SR, LGRE)
HOBBY - adult and juvenile remain (SR)
Common Buzzard - 1 over
COMMON KINGFISHERS - 2 birds showing very well
Barn Swallow (2)
CHINESE WATER DEER (1)
Common Chiffchaff - 3
HOUSE SPARROWS - 29 were counted in hedgerow by Wilstone Great Farm, with 8 in Drayton Beauchamp village
STARTOPSEND RESERVOIR
Mute Swans - 2 adults with 5 cygnets
Northern Shoveler (3)
*YELLOW WAGTAILS - 5 on bank
MARSWORTH RESERVOIR
Great Crested Grebe - pair with two very small, stripey young in tow
Northern Pochard (1 drake)
COMMON KINGFISHER
Grey Wagtail
*CETTI'S WARBLER - 1 very vocal bird in reeds
Common Chiffchaff

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