Mid Bucks Wildlife

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Lapwings

I visited Gallows Bridge Farm Nature Reserve which is always a good spot for breeding Lapwings and they seem to be having another decent Spring.

Located on a small island, this bird was sitting on it's nest on 14th April.

There was plenty of airborne threats from Crows and this Marsh Harrier, which the Lapwings always "Mobbed" if it came near.

Returning on 5th May, it was good to see that there was a tiny chick on the island where I saw the adult sat on the nest during my previous visit. (can just about see the chick in the bottom left hand corner in this photo).

Several larger chicks running around.

Friday, May 15, 2026

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.

Thursday, May 14, 2026

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