10th March..... Another Siskin.

The pair of Mallards continue to visit our ponds on a daily basis, they're becoming a little less wary now, but still fly off if I approach to close, so have to make do with photographing them from the upstairs window.

All the regular Finches are still visiting, today their number was increased by a male Siskin hanging onto the sunflower heart feeder in the strong winds, which caused a branch to snap off the Conifer tree. Snow fell early evening.
Don.

5th - 8th March.

On a fine Tuesday morning (5th) my wife and I went to Western Turville reservoir and on to the Wendover canal and the Wendover Wides which is where we came across a very obliging little grebe.

Also a pair of mistle thrush were chasing away a third above us. I was hoping for good views of mandarin but only had a brief glimpse of a pair which quickly disappeared into the vegetation and a drake resting up in amongst the reeds. Mallards were seen in pairs. On the reservoir the cygnet had gone which Don and I on the 17th February had watched the eviction in progress by the adults. Just the breeding pair there now ready for the breeding year to start. Found just one male pochard and a smaller number of tufted duck than seen with Don. Three juvenile cormorants were drying their outstretched  wings perched on a raft. Wednesday, a very wet young male sparrowhawk was in the garden possibly the same as on the 10th Feb. but didn't stay long. Thursday, female siskin back on feeders.

Friday a pair of bullfinches were feeding on the last of the crab apples. The small tree (red sentinel) has been providing food for different species of birds all winter.
Stewart.







Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

7th March..... Heron.

A Grey Heron made a very brief visit to the garden ponds this evening, with Tom managing to grab a quick record shot with his mobile phone.
Don.

                                                                                                                                        Image Copyright : Tom Stone.

4th March..... GWE?

After a call from Don this morning of a sighting of a possible great white egret he saw close to the Amersham bypass, I went to see if I could find it. But no joy, checked local know spots but could only find it’s smaller cousin the little egret. Carried on along the Misbourne, through Little Missenden, parked up and walked to Shardeloes. Passed the menagerie en route where the  stag turkey ( black I think not bronze ) was displaying to his hen behind a heavily wired fox proof pen and the miniature pigs, kunekune possibly,  were busy rooting around their enclosure.

In the field next to the lake maybe 100 Canada geese were grazing.

In addition to the black headed gulls on the lake these four, two adult and two 1^st winter juveniles were busy preening.

Another little egret on way back to car. Stopped at Deep Mill Pond, but nothing of note there.
Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

3rd March..... Redwings.

Yesterday afternoon I came across 2 Redwings lurking in the pollarded Silver Birches in the garden. First thing this morning c50 were in the garden & feeding in the field behind with many of them singing, as they do in late winter/early spring, while making their journey back home to Scandinavia for the summer, it's always a pleasing sound, being a sign that the cold winter days will soon be behind us, not that we've had many this season. Also 4 Fieldfares mixing in with the Redwings & a couple of Stock Doves feeding in neighbouring garden. More much needed rain fell during the day, which will hopefully help settle in the Oxlips, Meadow Clary & Bladder Campion pot plants I set in the Wildflower patches yesterday. 
Don.

2nd March..... Siskins.

Nice to see the goldfinches searching through the last of the dried wildflower stalks in my small wild patch. Can’t be many seeds left now.

Later on a short walk from home my wife spotted a tree creeper doing what tree creepers do, making it’s way up then flying on down to the next tree to start creeping up again. Good to watch. Later passed HS2 works near the Great Missenden roundabout and the huge heap of soil they have dug out.

Missenden Mountain.

Close to home two goldcrest were busy searching for insects through holly. Soon after lunch a female siskin was on the sunflower hearts, the first for many years.

At around 4.30pm the male turned up, also feeding on the sunflower hearts, great to watch.

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

 

1st March..... Spawn.

The frogs were extremely vocal in the ponds last night, by sunrise today the next generation was on it's way as a large dollop of spawn had been laid, with most of it above the water's surface.
Don.

28th February..... Singing in the Rain.

A robin and dunnock enjoying singing in the rain this afternoon, while the wood pigeon was enjoying a bath.

Stewart.

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

27th February..... Comma Butterflies.

It’s always good to see the great spotted woodpecker close to the back door on the peanuts and in the corkscrew hazel. Another warm and sunny day, walked  along Herberts Hole. Two people flying their model planes on the airstrip. Not a lot of birds about but did come across a flock of maybe 50 linnets, heard them before seeing them moving from an oak  to feed on the cultivated very flinty ground. Nice to see celandine flowering along the walk and also a few comma butterflies.

Stewart.

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

26th February..... Dust, in February??

A walk this morning in the warm sunshine only really produced the 3 roe deer on the Liberty reserve. 

                                              Further along Strawberry Hill, contractors were busy working the arable fields (producing dust, unusual in February).

Back home our regular moorhen was showing well under the feeders.

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.