Frampton Marsh

On route to Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve, I stopped off at the excellent RSPB reserve at Frampton Marsh for a few hours. Many birds were too distant to photograph, or against the sun.  A few of the better photos are shown below.
The more interesting birds seen were:  Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpipers, Little Stints, Spotted Redshanks, Marsh Harrier.  There were huge numbers of wildfowl, in particular Wigeon.

Tree Sparrows - One of the first birds seen,from inside the visitor centre,
as they visited a feeding station.

View along the sea wall.

Excellent wader habitat.

Spotted Redshanks - A good number were present.

Spotted Redshank

Little Stint - One of several seen.

Brent Goose Surprise

I arrived at Little Marlow GP about 8am.  I started looking along the west side of the sand spit and photographed the increasing number of eight Snipe.  Adam Bassett arrived a short time later and we both started to scan the rest of the sand spit.  Just as my eyes came upon a dark shape, Adam called "Brent Goose".  There on the neared sand spit was a Dark-bellied Brent Goose.  The first at this site since November 2013 and the first I have seen here for many years.

Other wildfowl have arrived in recent days including Teal and Wigeon, plus some Snipe.  There were few summer visitors still present with a few House Martins and Swallows.

Dark-bellied Brent Goose

Common Snipe - Some of the 8 now present. 

Teal - A good number have arrived in the past few days with about 40 now present.
Wigeon are also present in numbers.  Both species still in eclipse plumage.

Ruff at Little Marlow

This was a late afternoon visit after a light shower and with thunder rumbling around the area.  I hoped the weather might have forced something in but we seemed to be on the edge of the rain. However I was still pleased to find a Ruff, which is the first I have seen at Little Marlow since 2009!

It seemed to always have it's head down when I took a photo!

It was later intimidated by some of the Gulls and Lapwings and moved to a different part of the sand spit.  It was still present when I left at 18:10.

Also present were 4 Snipe, 5 Teal, 3 Shoveler and 84 Egyptian Geese.

Farmoor Reservoir

I decided to join the Bucks Bird Club field trip to Farmoor Reservoir, Oxfordshire.  The previous day a Red-necked Grebe, Black-necked Grebe and Common Scoter were reported, so I was hoping that these would remain.
Fortunately all three did stay and even more fortunately, they were reasonably close to the edge (The Grebes ) of this very large water body.  We also saw one or two Ringed Plovers, several Common Sandpipers a small party of Yellow Wagtails and one or more Yellow-legged Gulls, plus the usual species.

Red-necked Grebe - This individual followed us for some distance along the bank.
The first I have seen for a few years.

Black-necked Grebe - Feeding along the same stretch of water as the Red-necked.

Ringed Plover - 1 or 2 were present

Black Tern at LMGP

On 28th August four Black Terns dropped into Little Marlow GP for a feeding stop.  It was noticeable that three of the birds kept together and left the forth to go it's own way. The three birds left overnight leaving the lone bird to stay (until at least 4th September).  I tried but failed to get any photos on 28th, as the birds were continually in flight and distant.  However on 1st September the lone bird was regularly perching at reasonably close range and I managed a few photos.

Little Egret and Black Tern

Black Tern photographed from the west bank.

Dunlin - This juvenile was also present for several days.

Black-headed Gulls - Note colour ringed bird "White 507".
This bird was ringed on 27/03/2011 aged as a 3cy+ female at Svanemollebugten, Copenhagen, DENMARK. Since ringing there have been six sightings from the same area. It has also been seen at LMGP on the following dates 12/10/12, 15/10/12, 26/10/12, 06/12/14, 20/12/14, 09/01/15, 02/03/15, 19/10/15, 30/11/15, 07/12/15, 02/03/16 and 7/3/16, plus 1/09/16.  

White 28P2

Black-headed Gull - This Colour ringed bird "White 28P2" was present again after several recent sightings. This was ringed at Hosehill GP (Berkshire) in June 2015 and was previously seen at LMGP in July 2015 and June 2016.

Birds and Butterflies

A sunny morning at Little Marlow GP.  The birding was fairly quiet but two Common Snipe were new in.  Two Common Sandpipers were flying around the edge of the lake and avoiding the sand spit, which is often where they like to feed.  Nice to see four Little Egrets present still after the successful breeding this year.  

Common Snipe.  - Maybe more hidden.

Grey Heron - Capturing the sun! 

Three of the Little Egrets

Linnet - One of two seen close to the public footpath along the N of the lake.

Treecreeper - Seen along the W side of the lake close to where they were breeding.
Fairly quiet this time of year but this one gave away it's presence.

Probing for insects under the bark.

Clouded Yellow - Unfortunately I could not get an open wing photo.  Seen to the N of the lake.
Four days earlier 4-6 were present in an area nearby.

Small Copper - The first I have seen for ages.

Small Copper

Common Blue - Several seen.