Mid Bucks Wildlife

Monday, September 1, 2025

Greenfinches.

Greenfinches have been visiting the garden in good numbers with up to 20 being seen on several occasions.

Friday, August 15, 2025

28th July : Crossbills.

I made three visits to the Great Hampden woods where up to 150 Crossbills have been seen. First visit I drew a blank, second visit was far more rewarding, when as I entered the wood I found one resting high up in the canopy, a bit further in twenty or so were preening, feeding & flitting through the tree tops.

I'd heard that there was a pool somewhere in the woods that they were drinking from, noticing the birds dropping down some distance away, I eventually located them on some low branches just above the pool that was out of sight.

On my third visit the weather was dull, only managed to see one bird, though it did provide this atmospherical photo.

Sunday, August 10, 2025

Garden Butterflies

It's been an excellent year for butterflies in the garden with 20 species recorded so far, some how I don't think that number will increase, unless a Painted Lady shows up, as that is the only species missing from the garden life list, a few of those are photographed below.

Friday, July 11, 2025

26th June : Montagu's Harrier.

After hearing that a Montagu's Harrier had been seen yesterday near Ivinghoe & never having seen one before. I decided to continue my Churchyard Wildlife tour in that area with Stewart, checking possible fields for the Harrier as we went. First stop was Pitstone Church, followed by Pitstone Hill from where it's kind of possible to see down in the pea field from where it had been hunting....but no luck, did chance upon a pair of Whitethroats collecting food for their young.

Next stop the field behind Ivinghoe Windmill... no luck. Onto Ivinghoe Church, pleased to find Swallows have bred here.

Onto Cheddington Church, some thing a bit different here as a Cormorant went over.

Knowing there was a large Wheat field nearby, thought this would be the ideal place to stop for a lunch break & keep an eye out for the Harrier at the same time. We parked up at 1-30pm in the gateway with a view straight down the track to the distant hedgerow. At 1-55pm I glanced down the track, caught a glimpse of a brown bird with a white rump being buffeted by the wind, shouted to Stewart who was sat outside the car, "Harrier, Camera, I'm not moving" but in the commotion it was lost to view. Shaking I quickly rang Mike & Graham who put the word out, within five minutes Mike Campbell turned up, followed by Lee Evans & others. What followed was a waiting game as we were entertained by a pair of Yellow Wagtails that were nesting in the Wheat nearby, a Corn Bunting 'jangled' from the over head wires, Skylarks sang as a Hare frolicked along the track, 'til at 2-37pm the Female Montagu's Harrier reappeared as it quartered either side of the distant hedgerow, remaining in view until 3-20pm when it made it's way across the field towards us, over Cheddington Road & Westend Hill & was gone.

Thursday, May 8, 2025

27th April : Stonechat.

A nice male Stonechat, along with another pair on Compton Downs in Berkshire today. Also plenty of Common Whitethroats & a single singing male Corn Bunting.

Thursday, May 1, 2025

22nd April : Tufted Duck & Gadwall.

Had a phone call from a farming friend today telling me he has an unusual pair of ducks on his pond. Popped around to take a look, turns out to be a pair of Tufted Ducks, along with a pair of Gadwall, bit unusual for a small farm pond, still it is that time of year when birds are on the move, when anything can turn up anywhere.