While carrying out my breeding bird survey at Burnham Beeches I came across a pair of Firecrests. One of them decided to have an extended preen in view which I managed to video. This species is no longer a rare bird in this part of the country and other birds have been located in the area.
A decent number of Lapwings were at Little Marlow GP today.
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| I counted 514 in this photo after something had flushed the whole flock. |
Crossbills had been reported at Great Hampden for some weeks. I decided to take my U3A group there on 17th Jan and we saw several birds. I went back the following day but failed to get any better photos as they remained high in the trees. Fantastic to see these scarce Bucks birds.
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| Crossbills - High in Larchs - Digiscoped photo |
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| The same two Crossbills taken with my Sony RX10 |
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| Crossbills - Four of the flock of about ten |
This Glossy Ibis was found about 13:30 on 13th January 2024. With only eight previous county records for this species and a new one for my local patch list, I was keen to see it. I was on site by about 14:15 and after wading through some remaining floodwater and the bird was still present. about 70 metres away. The bird was disturbed a but came back to the same area of flooded meadow. However a dog walker eventually flushed the bird and it flew across the river into Berkshire where it remained for some time.
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| Glossy Ibis - On the riverside meadow |
First seen in nearby Widmer End on 27th December 2023, the flock apparently moved to Hazlemere where the moved around in the Elder Way area. The flock frequently moved around, often breaking up. By 11th January the maximum count was 75. I visited on 9th January and saw at least 53 birds together.
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| The flock waiting to descend on a berry covered tree. |
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| At one point a small group of Waxwings dropped down just above my head and I managed these closer images. |
I spent the morning of 7th November twitching a Little Crake that was found by a photographer the previous day at Linford Reserve. This was a UK and Bucks tick for me so a nice bird to see.
A very skulking bird, it didn't appear for about an hour after I arrived in the Otter hide. Plenty of other birders there enjoying the great views that the bird eventually gave.
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| It was difficult to get a clear view of the bird! |
A walk around the southern part of the lake and the riverside meadows. Photos taken with Sony RX10.
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| Goosander - A nice drake found earlier that morning by Adam Bassett. Rather distant and in light rain. |
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| Meadow Pipit - About six of these were i the partly flooded meadow. Several landed in the bushes. This bird was not visible in the camera viewfinder so I just focussed on the bush. |
