Montagu's Harrier in Bucks!

 A female Montagu's Harrier was reported in the Ivinghoe/Cheddington/Long Marston area on 25th June although it appears it had been seen over several days.  It was seen every after that but was extremely elusive and eventually is was considered that the best time and place to see the bird was early morning or in the evening on a large field between Cheddington and Long Marston.

I visited the site early on 27th June and stayed for about 7 hours and failed to see it.  I then tried again on 30th June and after a wait of almost two hours, the bird fly SW across the field and disappeared into Herts.  About eight of us were present and saw the bird.  This was a county tick for me and many other people.

The Harrier field on the Cheddington to Long Marston Road.

Montagu's Harrier - a good view of the underwing

The white rump can be seen in this photo.

More distant but showing a view of the upperwing.

Brown Hare - several were present.

Yellow Wagtail - There was a lot of breeding activity from our viewpoint with a good number breeding in this one field

Skylark - Also lots of Skylarks singing and flying around. 
Nice to get one almost in full view!

Egypt and Dorney Woods

 A early morning walk (6:45 star) in Egypt and Dorney Woods certainly produced large numbers of singing birds.  Several Tit species, plus Blackbird, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff and Blackcap.  I was particularly interested in the scarer species to photograph and the only ones I found were Treecreeper and Spotted Flycatcher.

Treecreeper - Not a rare species but not that common and often hard to find. 
 Merlin picked this calling bird up high in the trees.

Spotted Flycatcher - Again at a territory in Dorney Wood

Barn Owl at Flackwell Heath

I don't often do local walks late in the evening but a sighting of a Barn Owl a few weeks ago by two of my granddaughters prompted me to investigate.

Barn Owl leaving it's likely breeding site.  The first photos were taken on 15th June

Then on 19th June I visited the site again and was pleased to see two birds flying around.

Homefield Wood

 A visit to Homefield Wood near Marlow produced a lot of singing birds, all fairly common.  The best bird species was Marsh Tit which is not common in this area.

Marsh Tit - More than one family parties were present but always difficult to photograph!

Great Tit - A juvenile

Small Skipper 

Light Emerald Moth

Sparrowhawk - Just as we were leaving this Sparrowhawk sored overhead

Common Tern Ringing

 Every year we arrange for the Common Terns to be ringed by the Hughenden Ringing Group.  Pete and Steve from the group worked together to fit BTO and colour rings to the Common Terns and BTO rings to the Black-headed Gulls.

Simon and Steve collecting the chicks from the rafts

Common Tern - the 20 or so adults Terns were not happy on the intrusion.

Black-headed Gull - Also showing is displeasure at the disturbance.

Common Tern being fitted with a green colour ring
with characters between F13 and F27

Black-headed Gull just after being fitted with a BTO ring.

Spotted Flycatcher in Dorney Wood

 There are very few records of this species from this area, so it was nice to catch up with this bird which seems to be settling down to breed.  Easily missed in woodland with a fairly quiet high pitched call.  The song reminds me of Willow Warbler.

Spotted Flycatcher

Lancashire BBS

I tagged along with my daughter Katherine while she was doing a BTO Breeding Bird Survey near Scarisbrick, Lancashire.  So a 7am start on site was called for!

On route we had to drive across Curlew Road which had several Corn Buntings in the grass verges.  We could only stop briefly as it was a single track road and other cars were using it (at 6:45 on a Sunday!).

The trip was very enjoyable with a lot of birds seen, albeit most of them common species.  The first half of the route was through a rural village and mixed farming area and the second part along the side of the Liverpool to Leeds Canal.  It just happened that dozens of fishermen lined the route as they were setting up for a match!  That didn't seem to affect the survey though.

The highlights of the day were a family of Sedge Warblers being fed by the parents along the canal and a some Corn Buntings seen at close range along a narrow farm lane.  It was interesting to see Oystercatchers and Shelducks in the farmland area, as this is not something that is a regular occurrence in Buckinghamshire!

Corn Bunting - Perched a few feet from the road and taken from behind the car door!

It was breezy and the vegetation kept blowing in the way.

Great Spotted Woodpecker - The only one we saw. 

Mistle Thrush - We had several sightings of this species, including a family party.

Sedge Warblers - Two youngsters waiting to be fed.

Adult just leaving after feeding one of the youngsters.

Ferrybridge

Ferrybridge is always worth a look, particularly at this time of year when the Little Terns are busy on their dedicated breeding area.  There is always a good chance of some waders and apart from the Ringed Plovers shown below, I also saw two Avocets, a Bar-tailed Godwit and several Dunlin.

Click on the photos to enlarge.

Ringed Plover - About 10 Ringed Plovers were present close to the cafe when I arrived.

Wheatear - Moving along the shingle towards the Little Tern colony, I soon came across a Wheatear.  There were at least three present.

Little Tern Colony - Viewed from a distance.  The colony is protected by fences to keep out
predators as well as people.  During the breeding season the hut is manned by volunteers.

Little Terns nesting.  The nests were dotted about over a fairly wide area. 
Apparently there are 50-60 adults present and so far 20 nests occupied. 
More should be taken up in the next few weeks.

Little Tern - Flying over Chesil Bank and out to sea to fish.

Kestrel - This avian predator is harder to stop as has caused major problems in the past.  This one was only 100 metres from the colony!