Recording Area Annual Totals

97 Species in 2013, 99 in 2012, 94 in 2011, 108 species were recorded in 2010;



Thursday 5 November 2009

'Bonfire Night' - big increase in NORTHERN POCHARDS




THURSDAY 5 NOVEMBER

Another rather winter-like day, with cool NW winds and the occasional shower. Rather slow and uneventful although picked up later when I discovered a new Red Kite roost. Also large influx of Northern Pochards.

CHESHAM FISHING LAKES AND POW-WOW LAKE

Little Grebe (1)
Grey Heron (1)
Mute Swans (2 adults on Pow Wow with another on the main fishing lake)
Atlantic Canada Goose (1)
Mallard (12)
GADWALL (there were 5 - 4 drakes - on the Pow Wow Lake - an important wintering site for this species)
NORTHERN POCHARD (very dramatic local increase with 21 birds present)
Tufted Duck (18)
Coot (42 on the main fishing lake, 4 on the smaller of the two and four more on the Pow-Wow Lake)
Moorhen (12 on Pow Wow and 5 on the Fishing Lakes)
Song Thrush (1 by the river)
GOLDCREST (vocal female showing well in Ivy by road - very scarce of late)
Jackdaws (a surprising number of birds back on territory on the chimney pots)
Jay (1)
Goldfinch (8)
SISKIN (1 flew over calling at the Fishing Lake causeway)

Red Fox (a fairly manky vixen running around the Fishing Lake)

CHESS RIVER VALLEY

The long-staying OSPREY was present again today, seen perched and then flying west from Sarrattmill Bridge at TQ 035 980 (per Anna Marett). I searched for it but did not see it.

Grey Heron (4)
LITTLE EGRETS (all four birds visible today and feeding together on the river 200 yards east of Bois Mill - a favoured feeding locality in winter)
Mute Swans (20 present including a newly arrived first-winter)
Atlantic Canada Geese (155 feeding together in fields but no sign of the lone Greylag)
Mallard (27)
Tufted Duck (5)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (single adult over)

Green Woodpecker (1)
REDWING (just 1 noted - in tree by Latimer Place)
*FIELDFARE (flock of 17 went south)
Jay (3)
MARSH TIT (vocal individual in bushes 50 yards from Neptune Falls)

TYLERS GREEN AREA

Discovered a new local RED KITE roost containing 13 individuals - one crying bird flew in almost as it was dark

PENN WOOD (with Kevin Holt)

Kevin has recorded 3 BRAMBLINGS in the finch roosts in the past few days, with a single tonight at the south end of the South Paddock. I did not see it as I arrived too late and only noted a handful of the 35 roosting Chaffinch and 20 or so Greenfinch. Two GOLDCRESTS were noteworthy as were 41 REDWINGS, the latter roosting in the wood.

As dusk approached, a Muntjac Deer barked and up to 5 territorial TAWNY OWLS started calling (one seen briefly in silhouette as it moved between trees). One bird was in Penn Wood and the others in tall Copper Beech trees in Charcoal Grove opposite at SP 920 955.

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