23rd March..... Botley Woods.

During the morning Stewart & myself wandered through the woods at Botley. Nothing spectacular to be seen, 5 Tree Creepers were noteworthy, with one pair inspecting a crevice in a Silver Birch, also 2 Pairs of Coal Tits, Green & Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Mallard, Mistle & Song Thrush.








Stewart picked out this Scarlet Elfcup.

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

23rd March..... Tell Tail Sign.

This male Blackbird kept returning to our lawn throughout the day, gathering worms to feed it's young in a nearby nest.
This is just a single worm, which it broke down into this tasty looking mouth full, no wonder the chicks grow so fast when they get fed like this:

Red Kites engaged in courtship display above the garden during the afternoon, coming down low enough to hear the whoosh from their wings.

Extremely pleased to find this revealing tail sticking out from this box, which I put up maybe ten years back, when I checked a few weeks ago a Squirrels drey filled the entrance.

Primroses everywhere.














Two Ravens passed over at midday, Chiffchaff at pond, with Siskin still visiting feeders.
Don.

21st March..... Red Kite.

This Red Kite, circled round the house at eaves level early morning, settled in neighbouring garden calling from large Pine tree.
Don.

20th March..... College Lake.

We spent a few hours Wednesday morning at College Lake, weather was not as mild as the forecast said. First thing you notice is the noise from the black headed gulls now gathering and numbers building at their breeding colony there, where they will soon be joined by returning common terns. Lesser black backed gulls were patrolling above them, no doubt hoping for an early unguarded egg or two. Also found a pair of greater  black backed gulls on the water. On the way around come across the Hebridean sheep.

Good views were obtained from the Octagon Hide of redshank, lapwing, shoveler also Canada and greylag geese.

Time for the daily stretching exercises.

Further on heard our first chiffchaff of the spring and found four oystercatchers. Also a joy see so many primroses full out.
At home Thursday, a siskin and a linnet in the garden briefly and so good to hear the blackbirds and thrushes beginning to sing well and join in with the dunnocks and robins. Kites and crows flying over carrying twigs.
Stewart.
Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

20th March..... Returning Chiffchaff.

Every year around this time I come across my first returning Chiffchaff in the garden, advertising it's presence with it's song, however today a sneaky bird bathed quietly in the garden pond, it was just lucky that I happened to be home early to glimpse it, creeping along the waters edge, characteristically dipping it's tail as it went about it's business. Another sign that Spring is here. Pair of Siskins still visiting.
Don.

18th March..... Tring Reservoirs.

Monday afternoon; with a break in the clouds my wife and I made our way over to Wilstone Reservoir, but drove through heavy rain on the way; to be greeted by the sun on arrival. A good variety of water birds were seen including, gadwall, teal, pochard, wigeon, mallard, tufted duck. coot, moorhen, heron, cormorant, canada and greylag goose and great crested grebe.










 Teal

                                        
                                                      Canada Goose

 Black headed and lesser black backed gull with pied wagtail and wren busy on the water’s edge.

Carried on to Tringford Reservoir passing ewes with their young lambs.

At Tringford came across a pair of mute swans; the cob now showing the large black knob above the bill.

Clouds began building again on walk back to the car.
Stewart.

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

17th March..... Misbourne & Chess Valleys.

Following on from last weekend's Siskin, I glanced out of the window as I cooked the tasty bacon from Kings Farm Shop, to see a pair of Siskins feeding on the sunflower hearts, above the pair of Mallards which are becoming more confiding feeding out on the lawn under the feeders, with the drake always keeping a watchful eye on proceeds.

Down on the river Misbourne at Little Missenden, Stewart & myself found a Little Egret feeding in one of the side channels.

While the main river held 4 Teal, 2 pairs of Gadwall, 7 Tufted Ducks, a Little Grebe, along with various Mallards & Moorhens, as the meadow hosted a pair of Lapwings. As we drove out of the village Stewart's alert eyes spotted a Kingfisher as it flashed above the road.

Moving onto the Chess Valley it was pleasing to find a Heron standing guard as 2 birds sat tight on their nests.

A total of 6 Little Egrets were encountered at 3 locations.

1 bird appearing to have a broken lower mandible. On closer inspection of the Missenden Egret photo, that bird also seems to have the same problem.

A Muntjac posed nicely.

4 Lapwings back at 2 breeding sites.

At home the Mallards were happily feeding during the hail storms, later they were briefly disrupted by two amorous drakes, with the duck flying on to the pond with one of the likely lads hanging on amid much squawking & flapping... they were soon seen off. 
Don.

A piece of footage I took a few years back showing how the bill should look  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDRIijXdxxc





Images Copyright : Don Stone/Stewart Dennis.