This morning the recent run of goose sightings continued with three EURASIAN WHITE-FRONTED GEESE in with the Greylag flock by the new overflow. While I was there they flew into the field that borders the west corner of the reservoir and back to the water again. Otherwise little else – the seven/nine Common Goldeneye I saw yesterday had either dispersed or a few had left. I also saw at least four Red Kites around the reservoir and at Miswell Farm.

I also had a female Brambling in the garden with the Chaffinches – possibly the same bird as on Monday (Roy Hargreaves)

And yet another species of rare goose at Tring - EURASIAN WHITE-FRONT

Roy Hargreaves discovered three EURASIAN WHITE-FRONTED GEESE on Wilstone Reservoir this morning, mingling with the resident Greylag Geese. They were present until mid-morning at least (per Brendan Glynne)

DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE - images

Myself and Roy Hargreaves visited late this afternoon to watch the gulls and this DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE was just off the car park steps. In fact it must have been the first bird Roy saw as I was still setting up my 'scope when he picked it out. After a while it joined up with a small flock of Greylags and on several occasions took flight and did a few circuits of the reservoir. Including one when it ventured in to Bucks air space, just as Rob Andrews turned up. Couple of pictures above when it was reasonably close. Last seen sat in the middle of the reservoir off the jetty, as it got to dark to see (Dave Bilcock).

G.P.'s

Saturday - early afternoon - 5 EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER flew across the Tring-Dunstable road near Ivinghoe Beacon (Don Otter)

BRENT GOOSE in gull roost

This evening David Bilcock and I turned up at Wilstone to check the gulls and unexpectedly found a DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE among the gulls. It flew around several times – including a very brief foray into Bucks before returning to settle on the water. It may have been there when we left, but we can’t be certain about that. No gulls of note were seen, but a single Little Egret was again roosting on Drayton Bank.

For the past two nights the gulls have been dispersed all over the water’s surface – going through them all methodically is difficult and time-consuming (Roy Hargreaves)

MED in roost - Thursday night

1 second-winter MEDITERRANEAN GULL (the individual with much black on the primaries), 255 Common Gulls. Also 1 Little Egret. No sign of the Bittern at Marsworth (Steve Rodwell)

First EGYPTIAN GEESE of the year

A party of 3 EGYPTIAN GEESE flew in to Wilstone Reservoir this morning (per Roy Hargreaves) - the first occurrence of this species this year (image by kind courtesy of Mike Lawrence)