Tuesday, 17 November 2015

BONXIE on Wilstone - bird of the year and of course, I missed it!

GREAT SKUA at Wilstone Reservoir Sunday 15 November 2015

Cracking find by Dave. When I arrived at 8.30 it was about 80m off the jetty but as Dave, Mike and I got to the jetty it took off and stayed just a few metres over our heads for at least 10 minutes battling against the wind before landing on the water about 20m away. It then took off again over the jetty before eventually drifting to the field behind where it attacked the Canada Geese. It flew back towards the water before dropping on the grass bank just 10m from us where it stayed for a few minutes before finally flying back towards the field  before drifting towards Tringford. Last seen distant heading northwards past Ivinghoe Beacon.....
 
A selection of the some of my better photos attached (Photo 1 uncropped!).
 
Ian Williams














Tuesday, 27 October 2015

RING-NECKED DUCK still on Startop's

Not much to report I am afraid at the reservoirs, although the drake RING-NECKED DUCK continues on Startop's.....










A couple of RING OUZELS remain on Ivinghoe Beacon, as well as a pair of COMMON STONECHAT, while light passage continues of Chaffinch, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Common Starling, Woodpigeon, Redwing and Continental Song Thrush...











Tuesday, 20 October 2015

RING-NECKED DUCK still present

The drake RING-NECKED DUCK is still present on Wilstone, along with 3-4 drake Pintails, 500+ Common Teal, 78 Wigeon, 90 Pochard and up to 800 Coot. Up to 5 BLACK-TAILED GODWITS remain, a single RUFF, 2 Green Sandpipers, 9 Common Snipe and 9 Little Egrets....













Tuesday, 6 October 2015

RING-NECKED DUCK relocated on Startop's End Reservoir

Dave Bilcock relocated the drake RING-NECKED DUCK on Startop's End Reservoir on Sunday morning, the bird remaining present with up to 133 Northern Pochard until this evening at least. With much better weather today, I finally managed to get some decent shots of the bird and due to the ongoing scrub clearance work, spent much of its time in the extreme SE corner of the reservoir - the controversial Buckinghamshire section....