Sunday 27 February 2011

27th Feb 2011 - Bucks Birders Website

27/2 : Willow Tit : Manor Farm Quarry.


Calling and working its way along the river near the quarry.

Adam H

Friday 25 February 2011

Friday 24th February 2011 - Afternoon.

13:30 > 15:00
Cloudy, later rain, west wind at times, a balmy 12c.

The single Oystercatcher still on site as were a couple of Common Snipe and the usual Green Sandpipers and Little Egret.

Given recent numbers suprisingly no Goosander or Lapwing today. I guess the steady rise in temeratures this week made the former think of heading further north to breeding grounds and the way the diminishing number of Wigeon (just 12 today) were feeding up I'd guess they will not be far behind. The loose Mute Swan flock up on the hill heading towards Castlethorpe has also gone, spring may indeed be in the air.

Gulls which have been sparse or non-existant over the last couple of visit were back in force today with a circa 500 strong flock arund the site. Nothing of note within, on the whole Black Headed and Common with a handful of Herring Gull.

Over on Cosgrove Lake a few dozen Tufted Duck one or two Pochard and a pair of Great Crested Grebe were on an unusually quiet water for the time of year.

Thursday 24 February 2011

Thursday 24th February 2011 - Evening

17:15 > 17:30
Sun (at last!), westerly wind increasing, 11c

Spring is in the air, not only the mild spell continuing but some sun and the first returning Oystercatcher to boot. One of the usual Green Sandpipers also seen in the vicinity as were just 8 Lapwing this evening.

Goosander numbers still high with 17 on site and 30 or so Wigeon still grazing out on the mud.

Last and probably increasingly least is the Common Buzzard, now so common and confiding i'm probably not going to include him anymore unless he does something out of the norm.

Wednesday 23 February 2011

Wednesday 23rd Feruary 2011 - Evening

17:15 > 17:30
Cloudy, calm, mild at 10c

Quick look in on way home. Goosanders still dominate, now 20 on the main water. Only other birds of note, 50 resting Lapwing.

Tuesday 22 February 2011

Tuesday 22nd February 2011 - Evening

17:00 > 17:30
Calm, cloudy, cool 7c

Just catching the last half hours light of the day post work. Some good areas of mud now showing, fingers crossed that things might look up after last years disruption.

Goosanders again the dominant bird, a flotilla of 18 on the main body with again two clear cut males but a handful of others having plumage that looks to be that of juvenile males. Six Common Teal the only other fowl in this area.

A lone Little Egret picked about in the margins while Lapwing numbers have built up to circa 150. The usual Common Buzzard and that was about it.

Saturday 19 February 2011

Friday 18th Feb 2011 - Afternoon

15:30 > 16:30
7c cold easterly breeze, cloud, odd flash of sun.

Goosanders again the order of the day at Manor Farm. Over 20 in the vicinity. A party of sixteen on the main body of water including just one clear cut male the rest looked to mostly female. A further five on Cosgrove Lake and two pairs on the Ouse itself.

Apart from that not a lot, the usual pair of overwintering Green Sandpipers and a single Common Buzzard were the only other things of note.

(And yes i've got a couple of months of notes to post up, nothing really of note though, watch this space)

Friday 11 February 2011

Friday 11th February 2011 - Afternoon

Dull damp calm and a mild 11c
15:00 > 15:30

An influx of Gulls especially out feeding on the pasture with around 300 on the top field alone and amaybe double that number all told. Mostly Black Headers & Commons but with a sprinkling of Herring Gulls within.

On the water three Teal are a new addition to usual Wigeon flock, now numbering around 30 and the 11 strong flotilla of Goosander, 10 redheads and one lucky male.

Over 120 Lapwing rested till sent skywards and away west by an overflying resident Common Buzzard. Three of the overwintering Green Sandpipers were also observed.

Probably the most notable bird though were Pied Wagtails with around 20 flitting about the site. The portender of better things to come? Heres hoping...

Friday 4 February 2011

Friday 4th February 2011 - Afternoon

15:00 > 15:10
Very strong westerly wing, gale force gusts and a mild 10c.

A very windy day in the valley and it seems everything has gone undercover for the day. After ten minutes battling it I decided to join them.