A Goldeneye - At last !!

Goldeneyes used to be seen regularly at Little Marlow.  In the 1980s and 1990s they would often overwinter but these days they are an infrequent visitor, which does not tend to stay very long.  At other sites in the county, and elsewhere in the SE of England, they are common and seen in good numbers.  This is probably due to the shallower depth, as the lake gradually filled with silt from the gravel works over many years.  The depth may have affected the food available for this species.

Goldeneye - This female (or possibly an immature male) was first seen on the 16th and stayed into the following day.  This is the first Goldeneye I have seen at the lake since March 2014, although other people have reported them from time to time.

Hedgerley Tip

A hour or so viewing the Gulls at Hedgerley tip was entertaining even if it did not produced the hoped for Iceland or Glaucous Gull.  Black-headed Gulls formed the majority with 600 or so Herring Gulls and about 60 Greater Black-backed Gull.  Almost no Lessers or Common Gulls.  Lots of Red Kites though.

Unloading waste onto the tip

A wider view of the tip

Gull Mayhem!  A digiscoped photo.

Lesser Redpoll - One of about six that were feeding close to the footpath.

Bonaparte's Gull +

A bit of a slow start to 2016 regarding taking bird photos.  The weather and lack of me seeing any decent birds put paid to that.  I dipped on several nice birds at Little Marlow including Goldeneye, Goosander (both scarce birds there), Mediterranean Gull and Ring-necked Duck!

So when the Bonaparte's Gull was reported again at Wilstone Reservoir (Herts), I thought it would be worth giving that a go.  It had apparently be seen at about 8am but by the time I got there at about 10am,the bird had apparently flown off.  Another dip was looming!  However, as I walked to the area by the jetty, no sooner than I got there then someone had just relocated it.  It was fairly distant but did allow record shots to be taken and for the main ID features to be seen.

The Bonaparte's Gull is the one at the back with a Black-headed Gull towards the front.  Note the black bill and greyish "shawl" at the back of the neck.  When side by side the smaller size of the Bonaparte's was apparent.

The pinkish legs can just about be made out in this photo.

I then moved onto College Lake with Mike and Rose Collard, plus Rob Andrews.  Rob had seen a possible Shag there early morning but it had not been relocated.  It was also thought possible that the Bonaparte's Gull might drop in there as it was seen to head in that direction, from Wilstone, the previous evening.  There were a good mixture of wildfowl to be seen but nothing out of the ordinary and certainly no rare gulls. A group of about 10 Snipe were viewable from "Graham's Hide" as was a mixed group of Blue Tits, Great Tits, Reed Bunting and two Chiffchaff which were feeding on the grassy bank down from the hide.  It seemed a little odd to see two Chiffchaffs feeding in grass.  See photos below.

Chiffchaff close to the waters edge.

Chiffchaff venturing away from cover and feeding in the long grass.

Latest news - The Bonaparte's Gull was seen at College Lake at about 15:45, apparently being found by Dave Bilcock. Well done Dave.  A first for Buckinghamshire!