MANOR FARM PITS (NORTH BUCKS) (SP 805 421)
(Easily accessed off of the main Old Wolverton road and just over a mile
from the A5; park at the main entrance to the Manor Farm business complex and
walk north to the Country Park trail currently under construction)
I was looking forward to visiting this site as all the hype surrounding it
surely was exaggeration - but it wasn't. This new complex of gravel
extraction and shallow scrapes on the River Great Ouse valley certainly is the
'real deal' and a fantastic magnet for migrating birds. The main pool is in
excellent shape and the surrounding areas (whilst wet and fresh) are
certainly attractive for migrant passerines.
I spent a couple of hours tasting the avian delights of this new site and
working out the best ways in which to observe it. The following species were
seen, the highlight being a migrant LITTLE GULL.
Mute Swans (10 including 5 first-years)
COMMON SHELDUCK (pair)
Common Teal (pair)
LITTLE RINGED PLOVER (1+)
*GREEN SANDPIPERS (4)
COMMON SANDPIPER (1) (my first county bird of the year)
Common Snipe (2)
Black-headed Gulls (3)
**LITTLE GULL (an adult in winter plumage arrived from the west at 1427 and
was then pursued by the Black-headed Gulls and chased off whilst I was on
the phone to Simon and flew strongly and high SE along the river valley at
1430).
Sand Martin (3)
Barn Swallow (6)
Meadow Pipit (2)
**WATER PIPIT (a bird in transitional plumage was frequenting the
rain-sodden shallow pools to the east of the main pit. It was typically mobile and
flew up calling several times, disappearing to a hidden extraction pool at
the NE of the site)
*WHITE WAGTAIL (male on the eastern edge of the pit and on the bunds)
*YELLOW WAGTAIL (3 gaudy males on the bunds)
*NORTHERN WHEATEAR (highly mobile male on bunds)
Goldfinch (8)
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