WAXWINGS in Aylesbury

MONDAY 19 NOVEMBER


Well rain was forecast but it never actually arrived. The SW wind freshened up though, and all day was grey and overcast. Whilst Chris Heard had an excellent and highly productive morning in neighbouring Berkshire, I fared contrastingly badly in Bucks. I started off by checking a number of rural sites not that far from home looking for more Waxwings but drew a blank but did locate some nice new feeding areas for finches, etc..........

HUNT'S GREEN AREA (BUCKS)

Found an excellent field at SP 885 040 literally caked full of feeding birds including 404 Jackdaws, 104 Rooks, 6 Red Kites and 75 Chaffinches

AYLESBURY AREA (BUCKS)

The resident PEREGRINE pair were both roosting on the town hall building, the female standing at the edge of the platform.

Close to where the A41 link road joins the Roman Road near COLLEGE FARM, 3 Little Egrets were feeding on flooded fields SE of the carriageway.

At the GATEHOUSE WAY INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, a flock of 11 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS was showing extremely well from 1322-1356 hours, visiting the heavily laden berry bushes adjacent to the Micha building at SP 807 142. All eleven individuals appeared to be adults and none was ringed.

WILSTONE RESERVOIR, TRING (HERTS)

Much the same as recent weeks with the wildfowl weighing in at 45 Mute Swans, the 2 adult Whooper Swans, 58 Greylag Geese, 77 Mallard (including the female with the orange fishing float speared through the side of its face), 298 Teal, 128 Wigeon, just 8 Shoveler, just 2 drake PINTAILS, 202 Tufted Duck, just 7 Pochard, all 5 female-type COMMON GOLDENEYES again and 2 Little Egrets (roosting on the bund).

A Common Kingfisher was fishing in the section behind the hide, with 25 Redwing here and there, 3 Skylark west, Jay and of course, the WATER PIPIT showing well in the small bay adjacent to the jetty.

A Mr T. Birch of Markyate High Street left his bag and belongings in the Drayton Bank Hide

QUEEN MOTHER RESERVOIR (BERKSHIRE)

RED-NECKED GREBES are a rare bird these days so when CDRH found one and 'phoned me about it first thing this morning, I felt that I better make time and get down and see it before the day was out.

After being very flighty throughout the morning, this afternoon it had settled down and was showing very well just offshore of the Yacht club, diving intermittently in the company of 8 Tufted Ducks. It was a first-winter, having moulted most of its juvenile head feathers. Present until at least 1545 hours when I left.