The only MARSH HARRIER so far

This cream-crown MARSH HARRIER moved quickly through WILSTONE on Good Friday (Ian Williams)

Another year - another GREAT WHITE EGRET

Highlight for just four observers today was a GREAT WHITE EGRET that flew into WILSTONE RESERVOIR just before 0700 hours; it landed in the Drayton Bank heronry and spent 20 minutes or so preening and being hounded by Grey Herons before flying east and relocating to TRINGFORD. It landed in front of the hide there, feeding in the shallows, but flew off again at about 0800 hours when inadvertently flushed. It was not seen again.

 

Otherwise, just a big rise in hirundine numbers (44+ Sand Martin, 16 Swallow), a single Herring Gull through, the 4 EGYPTIAN GEESE still and an increase in Blackcap numbers; COLLEGE LAKE BBOWT held 5 Common Shelduck

 

3 APRIL

 

At PITSFORD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE SCRAPES, David Bilcock and I photographed this returning pair of LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS...

The big news on WILSTONE was the arrival of an adult Bar-headed Goose - the first in over 15 years. Initially hanging out in the centre, it eventually joined the Greylags and showed well in the field behind the jetty. The 4 EGYPTIAN GEESE were still present too, while Ian Williams & I had a pair of COMMON SHELDUCK drop in briefly. Duck numbers were much depleted but did include 29 Shoveler, 10 Gadwall, 3 Wigeon, 22 Teal & 134 Tufted Duck, but Coot numbers were holding up at 256. Still 65 Black-headed Gulls too, and a migrating party of 14 Common Gulls. A single Lapwing flew west, while both Oystercatchers remain. A pair of Red-legged Partridges near the cressbed were new for me for the year, as was a singing BLACKCAP in East Wood. Common Chiffchaffs now numbered at least 6, with the East Wood male still, 3 in the orchard and singles in Hide Meadow and in trees behind the hide.

A GREENSHANK in full breeding plumage saves the day...

THURSDAY 2 APRIL

 

At 0824 hours, a COMMON RAVEN once again flew over my LITTLE CHALFONT garden; also a singing male Coal Tit

 

At GROVEBURY SANDPIT (BEDFORDSHIRE), connected with both SAND MARTIN (6 birds) and BARN SWALLOW (4), while 2 Mute Swans, 11 Greylag Geese, 6 Canada Geese, 15 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 40 Black-headed Gull, 2 first-year Argenteus Herring Gull, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a Common Redshank.

 

The BLACK-NECKED GREBE that had wintered at Dunstable Sewage Works had been relocated on the SHOULDER OF MUTTON POND in WOBURN PARK and was showing reasonably well in front of the island. It was still largely in the same transitional plumage that I had seen it in last time I espied it. My first ever record in the park though....

 

The lake also held 2 pairs of Mute Swan (1 female on nest), 3 EGYPTIAN GEESE, 80+ Greylag Geese, 8 Mallard, a drake Gadwall, 4 lingering Eurasian Wigeon, 3 Shoveler (2 drakes), 21 Tufted Duck and around 30 Coot. A usual selection of woodland species including Red Kite, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Nuthatch, Mistle Thrush and Greenfinch, plus a pair of Pied Wagtail by the pond and 2 Meadow Pipits.

 

At LIDLINGTON, a large crowd had gathered, with just 1 male LADY AMHERST'S PHEASANT showing erratically - very, very occasionally in the ride where the G & M Growers Pheasant feeder had been placed. The usual TAWNY OWL was calling from there, with 2 singing Common Chiffchaffs, LESSER REDPOLL, Common Treecreeper, 4 Fieldfares, Jay and Long-tailed Tits all encountered.

 

COLLEGE LAKE BBOWT excelled once again early afternoon when a COMMON GREENSHANK in full summer plumage was discovered by Mike Campbell. The bird was roosting on a patch of island that could only be viewed from the Octagon Hide (pix below).

Still no 'ringed' Plovers on site but 8 pair of Lapwing either prospecting or nesting, 5 Common Redshank, the Oystercatcher pair and still 10 lingering Common Snipe, while 3 Mute Swan, 8 Common Teal, 2 Shoveler, Little Grebe, COMMON SHELDUCK pair, Grey Heron, 130 Woodpigeon, 7 Common Gull and 4 Linnet were all noted.

 

With Lucy Flower at PITSTONE HILL, ecstatic at finding nesting COMMON STONECHATS - the first in over 40 years in the region. At least 19 YELLOWHAMMER in the area too, and some cracking and very curious CORN BUNTINGS. One Meadow Pipit was in full parachuting display while two others were nearby, with a pair of Linnet back, at least 12 Skylark and an overflying Red Kite.

Very quiet at the reservoirs with no migration to speak of - just 20 Great Crested Grebe, drake Tufted Duck, 2 Mute Swans and singing Common Chiffchaff on MARSWORTH (plus the singing CETTI'S WARBLER in the Bucks section of reedbed) and Little Grebe, Grey Wagtail and 4 migrant male Reed Buntings on STARTOP'S.

 

I spent the rest of the day at MARSTON VALE MILLENIUM PARK (BEDFORDSHIRE) with Jim Gurney, searching for Bearded Tits. We failed dismally but a nice brand of variety with a gorgeous pair of GARGANEY, 8 Teal, 8 Gadwall, 6+ WATER RAIL, a female MARSH HARRIER back on territory, 2 CETTI'S WARBLERS, 2 singing Common Chiffchaffs, Green Woodpecker and some nice male Reed Buntings.

BARN OWL at last and a major arrival of HIRUNDINES...

Mightily chuffed to finally connect with the BARN OWL this evening - the bird flying in good daylight at 7pm when it was seen hunting alongside the Wingrave Road before disappearing over the hedgerow and settling on the Wilstone Great Farm manure pile (see pix below).....

Over at Wilstone, a major arrival of hirundines had taken place, involving 37 SAND MARTIN, 8 SWALLOW and 2 HOUSE MARTINS; no Kittiwakes in the gull roost though - just 56 Black-headed Gulls and 3 Common Gulls.