BEWICK'S SWAN family group continue to grace cut-off pool in NW corner

Just to follow up on Ian's post, the EURASIAN WHITE-FRONT was still present between about 9:30 and 10am, although it seemed rather restless. Francis Buckle and I watched it make a couple of sorties over towards Marsworth/Tringford Reservoirs, before circling back to the water in cemetery corner. The BEWICK'S SWAN family were settled in the lagoon in the West corner (a few record shots attached). From the hide, looking right, the 5 Dunlin were still out on the mud, mixed in with 100+ Golden Plover. Francis and I didn't check on the Brent Goose (Lucy Flower)

This morning at Wilstone

A flying visit first thing before work provided the adult EURASIAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE in the field behind the jetty with the greylag flock, 5 Dunlin on the spit and the family party of 4 BEWICK'S SWANS (Ian Williams)

BAR-WIT does an overnight bunk whilst a single WHITE-FRONT arrives this afternoon

TUESDAY 15 NOVEMBER

Up and out at dawn in the hope of connecting with Chaz Jackson's Bar-Wit of last night (I had missed every one in April and May). As it was, it had departed overnight.......

It was a beautiful day, unbelievable for mid November, with SE winds bringing a ridge of high pressure accompanied by both clear blue skies and wall-to-wall sunshine; temperatures reached a balmy 16 degrees C.....

WILSTONE RESERVOIR

I made two visits today - one from 0715-0815 and another from 1445-1700 hours. These were my observations.........

Great Crested Grebe (11)
Little Grebe (a first-winter under the bridge on the canal at Drayton Beauchamp)
Atlantic Great Cormorant (adult ringed 'CAU' roosting on bund - see Dave Bilcock's image above)
Cormorants, presumably Sinensis (22 on bund)
Mute Swan (37 present, including 1 first-winter)
Whooper Swan (usual two adults)
*BEWICK'S SWAN (the family party of 4 still present and this afternoon favouring the cut-off pool in the NW corner)
*EURASIAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (flew in from the east mid-afternoon and joined the 65 Greylag Geese on the bund; it was a full adult with strong underpart blotching, an extensive white forehead blaze, deep orange legs and a pale pink bill)
Greylag Geese (flock of 65)
*DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE (the juvenile that first arrived on Sunday was still present in exactly the same place in the grass field adjacent to Rushy Meadow, best viewed from the Dry Canal)
Gadwall (3)
Northern Shoveler (127)
Eurasian Wigeon (282)
Common Teal (151)
NORTHERN PINTAIL (just 1 drake again)
Northern Pochard (106)
Tufted Duck (38)
Common Goldeneye (4 female-types still present)
*PEREGRINE (at first light, a male made several stoops at the wader flock before being chased off by the resident sub-adult Lesser Black-backed Gull)
Red-legged Partridge (Roy had a covey of 14 in fields by the Dry Canal)
Coot (614 on Wilstone)
European Golden Plover (same flock - 411 click-counted still)
Lapwing (389)
DUNLIN (4 this morning and 5 this evening on the bund)
Black-headed Gull (post-roost flock of 311)
Common Gull (single adult with the Black-heads)
Pied Wagtail (12)
Meadow Pipit (26)

MARSWORTH RESERVOIR

A Green Woodpecker was yaffling from the Black Poplars whilst 74 CORN BUNTINGS roosted

COLLEGE LAKE BBOWT

Very quiet and no sign of any Bewick's Swans - the main marsh held 10 Mute Swans, 105 Wigeon and 14 Gadwall

CHESS VALLEY, CHESHAM (BUCKS)

Two LITTLE EGRETS present this morning, in trees just east of Bois Mill

BAR-TAILED GODWIT at Wilstone this evening

Had time to visit Wilstone late afternoon as it was getting very gloomy. There was a Bar-tailed Godwit asleep amongst the Golden Plover Flock on the spit. Also 2 Dunlin present. 4 Bewick Swans still present (2 ads, 2 juvs) and the 2 Whoopers. The Water Pipit was about and 150 plus flock of Fieldfare went over. The Dark-bellied Brent was present in the fields behind the Reservoir. A flock of 12 Redpolls in the garden I was working in near Berkhamsted nr Shooters Way (Charlie Jackson)

BEWICK'S SWANS still present early morning, and DBBG

Everything from yesterday was still there – at first. The Brent Goose was in the same field as on Saturday. I actually saw it fly a bit this morning and there appears to be nothing wrong with it. The 10 Bewick’s were also still present when I first arrived and were flying around at 7:45, but settled again. However at 8:15 six of them flew off towards Tringford/College Lake – it was grey and overcast this morning and visibility wasn’t too good. The four other Bewick’s remained until about 8:50 and then flew off in a south-easterly direction (seen from by Rushy so may also have stayed local). Also saw an adult Peregrine on the mud and Water Pipit by jetty. Also five Dunlin together from the jetty with the Golden Plover (Roy Hargreaves)

More images from today - John Foster

BEWICK'S SWANS (Ian Bennell)