Great Missenden Abbey

I was pleasantly surprised to find a Common Sandpiper flying low over the water at the Abbey lake, it being only my third record of this species here, the other being two together way back in 2014.

With the lake being small in size and plenty of people around the birds are usually quite confiding, plenty of activity today.

Two pairs of Coot were feeding young.

Canada Goose getting all worked up.

Tufted Duck

Lesser Black-backed Gull eyeing up the young Coots.

A successful dive for the Little Grebe.

Gadwall.

Pied Wagtail.

Grey Wagtail.

Images : Copyright © Don Stone.

Otmoor

I recently spent five hours at the RSPB Otmoor reserve in Oxfordshire, I can't remember when I last visited this exceptional site as it's been so long. It was well worth the visit with some crackin' birds seen including White Stork, Glossy Ibis, Curlew, Marsh Harrier, Cuckoo and countless Hobbies.

White Stork

Curlew

Marsh Harrier

 

Hobby

Reed Bunting

Grey Heron nesting in the reed bed

Images : Copyright © Don Stone

Moorhen.

Moorhen feeding it's young on a local river.

 

Canada Goose sat on it's nest nearby.

Images : Copyright © Don Stone.

Great crested Grebe

A pair of Great crested Grebes are busy raising their family on a nearby reservoir, very attentive parents.

Images : Copyright © Don Stone.

College Lake Nature Reserve

Redshank 

 

Lesser Scaup

Coot

Snipe

Images : Copyright © Don Stone.

Redpolls

It's been an excellent Winter for Redpolls in the garden with the first bird appearing on Christmas Day... a top Christmas Present, since then there's been a steady increase in numbers up to a maximum of 12 on the 13th March. They were heard singing on the 6th March & on subsequent days up until the last sighting on 5th April. On a few occasions their Siskin cousins joined them.

Images : Copyright © Don Stone