TREE PIPIT at the Dukes Gully

The TREE PIPIT was found whilst I was hunting for butterflies in the "Duke" gully. On the wing were Dukes, green hairstreak, common blue, dingy and grizzled skipper, small heat and brown argus (lifer for me). Whilst searching the gully I saw a pipit in song flight from the lone holly "tree" just east of the gully, about halfway up the western slope of the beacon. Having only bins with me I put a call out to Dave Bilcock asking him to come and check whilst I ran back to the car to get my scope. The pipit was frequently perching and singing from the holly and also a bare branched hawthorn about 30 yards south of the holly (Ian Williams).

30 APRIL - LOCAL MEGA - EURASIAN SPOONBILL flies through

At about 8.30 tonight Steve Rodwell and I had a EURASIAN SPOONBILL fly through Wilstone. It circled low over the reservoir looking for somewhere to land before flying off over towards Wilstone village at about 8.37. We tried to get several locals on to it but to no avail. Steve managed to get the scope on it and aged it as an adult as there was no black on the wing tips. I tried to get record shots but due to the fast failing light failed.We lost the bird to view heading out in a northerly direction. (Ian Williams)

30 APRIL - Sparrowhawk repeatedly taking College Lapwing chicks

A beautiful sunny day with a stiff chilly NE wind.

I just saw the 2 BAR-TAILED GODWITS flying off as I got to the top of the steps at Wilstone at about 6.30am. Also had excellent views of the Blue-headed (type) Wagtail perched on the closest post singing away. A Common Sandpiper there as well and 2 Black Terns. Met up with Francis Buckle and Chris King at College Lake and had 3 Greenshank showing well before they were spooked by a Sparrowhawk which swooped in and took a Lapwing chick despite being attacked by all the furious Lapwings. We had earlier seen the Sparrowhawk make an aborted attempt at a chick but that time it was chased off. Apparently this bird has made several attempts in previous days and will no doubt take several more chicks, as they have nowhere to hide until the grass grows up a bit more - 2 Little-ringed Plover there and 3 Common Buzzard.

We found 2 Small Blues and a Small Heath and wandered up to look at the White Helleborines that are just coming into flower.We went back to look at the Wagtail at midday and it was still showing well. Also a Swift and a Hobby there. 2 Ringed Plover flew over Wilstone heading towards College.

Finished the day watching the Tree Pipit for an hour with Ian Williams and Mike and Rose in the evening sunshine. The bird was showing really well, singing and song flighting (Charlie Jackson)

TREE PIPIT still present

The singing male TREE PIPIT that I had briefly glimpsed on 29 April at the S Bend at Ivinghoe Hills was located in the same area by Ian Williams on 30 April (LGRE)

30 APRIL - male COMMON REDSTART along the Dry Canal

The male GRASSHOPPER WARBLER still singing at Rushey Meadow Saturday morning plus a male COMMON REDSTART on the Wendover Arm close to the Yellowhammer colony (Johne Taylor)

30 APRIL - RING OUZELS in Inkombe Hole

After getting the Greenshank, Common Sand and 2 LRPs at College Lake early morning I then headed up the hills hoping for some migrants.

Walking all the way round the Beacon the best I could find was 2 male Northern Wheatears and a flyover Yellow Wag. The wind was too strong for any butterflies to be on the wing so I moved across to Steps Hill where it was a bit more sheltered and soon got 3 Duke of Burgundy, a Grizzled Skipper and 3 Dingy Skippers. Reaching the top end of Incombe Hole a stunning male Greenland Wheatear was halfway up the slope and I was surprised to see a male RING OUZEL out in the open at the bottom of the slope. I quickly got a record shot before two people who were walking along the bottom flushed it into the bushes. It eventually came out in the open again just before Don Otter arrived and we had good views for a while before it was joined by a second browner bird as they worked their way slightly up the righthand slope. Just before we left Don spotted a stunning Green Hairstreak in the grass (Rob Andrews)

30 April - more BAR-WITS

Wilstone: Single female BAR-TAILED GODWIT (pictured above) on bales 5:30am. Another 13 flew through at 05:45 seen by Roy and finally Roy and Ian watched a male fly in 06:25 which the resting female joined and both birds headed off NE. 2 BLACK TERNS also present and male BLUE-HEADED WAGTAIL remains near cress beds.

College Lake BBOWT: Paul saw the flock of 13 BAR-TAILED GODWITS from Wilstone, heading east over the main lake. A Greenshank initially seen over Wilstone by Ian and Roy arrived on the marsh at 06:30 and was still present at 8am (also photographed above). Paul also saw another 3 Greenshank fly over the main lake heading east at 06:55 (David Bilcock)