In Search of a Cuckoo

News came through from local birder Adam Bassett of a recently fledged Cuckoo that was being fed by Reed Warblers.  The Cuckoo was already up in the trees so could have fledged a few days ago and perhaps unlikly to stay too long being it's long migration to Africa.  So I popped down there but despite walking the lehgth of the west bank a few times and checking on adjacent areas, I could not find the bird.

However a few waders on return migration had dropped in overnight, so these were at least some consolation.  Two Common Sandpipers were on the sand spit but distant so I did not attempt to photograph.  A single Dunlin was on the west side of the sand spit and well away from two more along the southern edge of the sand spit, although they did all meet up later.  Adam had seen five Little Ringed Plovers but I only saw three , so maybe two birds had dropped in briefly.

Summer plumaged Dunlin with a juvenile Little Ringed Plover.

Dunlin

Great Crested Grebe - In the backwater by the cottages.

Evening Birding at Little Marlow

This was a fairly quick visit to see if anything new had dropped in during the day.  I did manage to see two Kingfishers, a species that seems scarce here this year.  Nothing exceptional had arrived but there seemed to be a movement of Hirundines moving through with Swallows, Sand Martins, House Martins and Swifts.  The Black-headed Gull pictured below was of interest.

The two fledgling Little Ringed Plovers are growing fast and still feeding along the west bank of the sand spit.

Yellow-legged Gull - The adult seemingly resident here at present.  Not the best photo but you just about make out the red eye ring making it look as though it has a hangover!

Colour ringed Black-headed Gull "Black X.A51".  The bird was ringed in Germany at fishponds of Diehsa, Saxony, Germany on 11th May 2018. It was ringed as a 3rd calendar year (at least) female.  It was also seen at the breeding site on 28th June 2018.

The distance traveled by the above bird.  Almost 1100km!

Two Uncommon Gulls

A late visit with the sun going down and the heat of the day fading.  Firstly I checked on the two young Little Ringed Plovers and they were still being looked after by a parent and clearly growing fast.  Hopefully the worst of the danger period is past.

Then checking out the rest of the sand spit I spotted a small gull that was clearly not the usual Black-headed Gulls but a juvenile Mediterranean Gull.I assume this bird would have been raised in the country but I am not sure where the nearest breeding site is.  They certainly breed along the south coast. 
A short while later I spotted the now regular Yellow-legged Gull sat down on the sand spit.  Considering the small number of gulls present, to see two of the less common gulls was a good result.

Mediterranean Gull - This juvenile had rather a greyish plumage, a greyish hue to the face, greyish legs and a black bill.

It was seen a short while later flying off south towards the Thames.

Yellow-legged Gull - This adult was present again.  Initially sat down but later seen walking.  

More Breeding Birds at Little Marlow

Several birds have successfully raised young this year.  Here are a selection of those I could mange to photograph!

Little Ringed Plover and chick - Showing one of two surviving chicks.  It is thought that the brood was originally at least four but the others clearly lost somewhere along the way.

Great Crested Grebes - A pair on a fairly recently built nest  in the works bay.

Great Crested Grebe - a pair had built a nest close to the west bank supported on some submerged branches (see my post of 23rd June). Unfortunately it seemed to sink a little and they appeared to abandon.  I assume it is the same pair that are now building a nest on a submerged metal frame.  This should be very solid so hopefully a better bet.

Little Egret - An adult on the NW island watching the youndster (below) on the SW island.

Little Egret - Juvenile perched in the island where it was raised.

Oystercatchers - Two of three birds present.  These are two juveniles and the third an adult.  It is unclear as to where they parents bred.

Butterflies at Holtspur Bottom

By way of a change I thought I would visit Holtspur Bottom reserve which is owned by Beaconsfield Council and managed for Butterflies by Butterfly Conservation Upper Thames Branch.  I had not visited the site before despite it only being a few miles from my house.  The single track road is not for the faint hearted.  Ridings Lane is very narrow and with only one passing place in a 600 metre distance!  Just don't meet anyone half way!

The reserve is close to the railway and is on a grassy slope with hedgerows and several paths across it.  Plenty of wild flowers to see also.  No-one else was there during the whole time I was there.

Ridings Lane Tunnel - The railway is high overhead. 
A nice shady place to park.  Almost no traffic.

Not too many birds to see but I thought I heard a Firecrest and definitely heard Bullfinches and Linnets.  As for the Butterflies :-

Marbled Whites were very common with hundreds present. 

Another Marbled White - They seemed reluctant to perch with their wings open.

Brimstone - The only one seen.

Ringlet - Would not land in the open!

Gatekeeper - A few seen.

Skipper Sp - Quite a few Skippers seen with Little and Essex likely here. This is probably an Essex Skipper.
Note the retracted proboscis.

Note the proboscis inserted into the flower..

Six Spot Burnet Moth - and below.

Silver Y Moth.  

White Plume Moth.  When I first saw this I thought it was just a bit of dead plant but on closer inspection I could see it's narrow wings.  See also below.