Recording Area Annual Totals

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



Tuesday 29 December 2015

Another local mega: now a juvenile ICELAND GULL at Hedgerley Landfill, Beaconsfield

29 December 2015

Early afternoon today saw HEDGERLEY LANDFILL produce an adult YELLOW-LEGGED GULL, a juvenile ICELAND GULL, 27 Great Black-backed Gulls and at least 362 Herring Gulls - the first Iceland at the site for many winters.....







Nearby, at Beaconsfield M40 Services Lake, the pair of MANDARIN DUCKS are still present




Monday 28 December 2015

Despite the warmest December on record, BRAMBLING roost numbers 89....


Rhododendron scrub: favoured by Bramblings and Chaffinches to roost








I did the finch roost at the Penna in Penn Wood on Christmas Eve, counting 89 BRAMBLING and 137 Chaffinch in by 3.30pm - not a bad count considering the exceptionally mild December weather





Up to 100 Starling, 28 Fieldfare and 15 Redwing remain in the field at Lower Weedonhill Farm

















Still 26 SISKIN in the riverside Alders at Shardeloes, while up to 8 LESSER REDPOLL continue to visit my Little Chalfont garden

Otherwise, typically quiet in the Chess Valley

Monday 14 December 2015

Local Mega: GLAUCOUS GULL on Hedgerley Tip at Beaconsfield

Larid obsessive Steve Rodwell did his usual Sunday jaunt up to Hedgerley Landfill yesterday afternoon and stumbled upon a juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL in the myriad of large white-headed gulls loafing. I shot straight over there on seeing Steve's message and located it in the darkening gloom, along with 6 different CASPIAN GULLS - two adults, a 3rd-winter, a near-adult and two first-winters. There was also an impressive 81 Great Black-backed Gulls present, as well as the best part of 500 Herring Gulls, the vast majority Scandinavian Argentatus. Just 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were in the throng!

I returned today to get better views, as well as photographs. A similar number of birds was present, including 4 of the CASPIAN GULLS and 38 of the Great Black-backs. There hasn't been a Glaucous Gull on the tip here for many winters so I was mighty chuffed to see this one....