13th April..... Herbert's Hole.

Saturday afternoon; walked to Herbert's Hole hoping to see passing spring migrants but saw none. A good walk nevertheless, first two red kite went up to see off a large female sparrowhawk, raptors don't like each other.

Weather was quickly changing and passing some Zwartbles sheep and their lambs a bit of hail and snow fell.

On to Herbert's Hole the sun came out, plenty of buzzard and kite activity but no wheatears. Back through Pednor and towards Lee Common more livestock with young this time suckler beef cows and their calves. Passed five roe deer, 4 does & 1 buck close to Bellows Wood.

Home via Ballinger, where I came across a pair of song thrushes feeding along with a fieldfare, 8

blackbirds & a pair of linnets on the playing field.
Stewart.

                               Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

13th April..... Latimer, Bluebells.

The Bluebells at Latimer are just beginning to carpet the woodland floor with their annual blue haze. A scene which will be seen throughout the Chiltern woodlands over the coming weeks.

Images Copyright : Latimer Lady.

10th April..... Tring Reservoirs

Wednesday afternoon went to Tring reservoirs. At Wilstone large numbers of sand martins were high in the sky along with a few swallows and possibly a few house martins. In front of the hide a Canada goose was lining her nest with down, plucking it from herself.

Work progressing on the dry canal.

On past Tringford to Startop's End reservoir where we were told one little gull was present; found it with the black headed gulls although they were harassing it at times.

Noticed at a distance a pair of great crested grebe preforming their courting ritual, interesting to watch. Stopped at the Bluebell Café for a break by the grand union and then back to Wilstone passing Marsworth reservoir. Here two oystercatchers seen in a cereal field and again was told and saw three arctic terns with a few common terns. ( Arctic Terns probably has the longest migration of all birds …..) Then back home for a nice cup of tea and a hot cross bun.
Stewart.

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

9th & 10th April..... Red Kite & Grey Heron.

Tuesday afternoon after the wet morning had a short walk from home and into the woods close by. Noticed the kite on it's new nest, their old one which they have used for maybe five years blew down earlier this year and they have rebuilt close to where the first nest was. It will soon be lost from view when the beech leaves emerge.









A little further on came across the tiny goldcrest busy feeding in the hollies, a case of little and large a few minutes apart.

Wednesday morning, a cold start, we went to Weston Turville reservoir. Good numbers of sand martins and a few swallows feeding low over the water. Walked on to the canal and the pair of little grebe were still easily seen at close quarters.

A family of newly hatched ducklings, more than ten, were busy feeding and swimming off on their own.

The threat of a heron which came too close caused a commotion as the mother duck saw the predator off.

Back to the reservoir and walking past the sailing club and the weather was warming, chiffchaffs and blackcaps were busy feeding and singing well.

The sand martins and swallows were now high in the sky following the insects as the day warmed up I guess.
Stewart.











Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

7th April..... Blackcaps & Sparrows.

The day began well, as when I drew back the downstairs curtains, a male Blackcap sat on the Laurel hedge six feet out from the house, went to grab the camera; he was to quick for me, on three attempts over the next hour he was continually quicker than myself; disappearing into the bushes as he foraged amongst the leaves. A female joined him atop the hedge near to where they bred successfully two years back, so fingers crossed for this year. The female lingering long enough to snatch a few images.

The pair of Bullfinches continue to visit the feeders, along with a Coal Tit. The tail was again protruding from the Owl box, the occupant must have been fidgeting about inside as the tail occasionally stretched in the opening, hopefully that's a good sign. The female of our Blackbird pair is busy building a new nest about twenty feet away from the first nest, hopefully it's a sign that the first brood has fledged successfully, though as yet I've not glimpsed any young to confirm this.

Picking up Stewart we went to do a bit of so called Urban Birding in Chesham, finding House Sparrows at four sites in Broad Street & at two sites around the cemetery, with three pairs feeding on buds in one tree, about twenty birds in total.

Checking two Lapwing breeding sites we found a total of seven birds present. Moving onto Strawberry hill, could only manage a flock of c30 Linnets & 8 Yellowhammers, with Skylarks singing in the distance.

Found my first patch of Bluebells flowering here in a sheltered spot. Interesting to hear from the landowner here that he intends using less Chemicals on his land in the future, that can only be to the greater good of the environment.













These Fungi were growing from the side of a Dung Heap.

 Spotted this distant Hare on our travels.

On arriving back home was surprised to find a pair of Marsh Tits in the garden, feeding down at ground level, as they have been scarce this past winter. They rounded off the list of Blackheads nicely. Now all I wait for is the return of our House Martins, then the Blackhead list will be complete.
Don.
Images Copyright : Don Stone/Stewart Dennis.

5th April..... Field Vole.

A camera shy female blackcap in the garden after lunch, interested in our small pond, but was seen off by a dunnock. Went to Little Missenden later and walked to Shardeloes hoping to find more summer visitors, but couldn't find any. Heard chiffchaffs though. My wife pointed out a male kestrel in a tree top looking for prey.

Grey wagtail on the overflow at the far end of the lake busy feeding.

Must be a good year for field voles, always popping out from behind the flower pots.

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

3rd April..... The one that got Away.

We spent a couple of hours at College Lake this morning in the cold and wanted to get back home before the forecasted bad weather. Forecast was wrong and it turned into a warm...ish sunny afternoon. 10.15 we were glued to the vegetation in front of the octagon hide and getting glimpses of snipe and a female reed bunting for maybe 15mins and missed a common crane flying over, we found out later at 10.20, via a phone call from Don. I have never seen a wild crane... oh well maybe next time.
Stewart.

 Two birds that show how to blend into your surroundings.

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

1st April..... Badger.

Recently I've been placing a remote camera at night on an animal pathway through a field hedge, recording Rabbit, Fox, Muntjac & a Mouse. This evening I got lucky when this Badger passed by, one of two that used the route tonight. The first at 11-30pm, the other at 00-55am.
Don.

March 30th & 31st..... Lee Common.

30th.
Under a nice blue sky; with warming sunshine; the sort of day that's good for the soul; had a busy morning fencing off a section of the lawn to keep the dog out, after she discovered the location of the Blackbirds nest a few days previous; proudly standing on her hind legs Meerkat style, trying to peer into the hedge, knew she'd never give them any peace, so the fence had to go up. As I did this both Brimstone & Holly Blues were on the wing, also had to release a Small Tortoiseshell trying to escape from the shed through the glass... well that was never going to work. Tawny Owl calling softly from within the box at 10-45am.
Stewart locates a migrant Wheatear during the afternoon at Kingsash end of Strawberry Hill, while I'm watching Chesham United lose  0-1 to 2nd in the league Taunton Town, in fast paced entertaining game, we've come a long way since Christmas when we were bottom of the league to now sit in 11th spot.
31st.
Unusual sight of a pair of Starlings feeding together on the lawn early morning. Blue Tit continually returning to one of the dogs tennis balls & ripping off the covering to use as nesting material, talking of nesting material, could just see the leaf foundation of a Robins nest, spilling out of the alcove I had formed especially for them or Spotted Flycatchers in our side extension, hopefully they'll breed successfully in there. Not sure why they've deserted the other nest nearby.
I obtain my best ever views of Red Kites.
On the way back from an evening watch at Pitstone we come across a Tawny Owl sitting the middle of the road, it's no wonder they often become road casualties when they behave like this. 
Don.

Images Copyright : Don Stone.

29th March.... Tring Reservoirs.

On a glorious afternoon, my wife and I headed off to Wilstone Reservoir. First noticed the tree nesting cormorants (sinensis) ??? were well on with their breeding season and sitting tight.

On to the hide and interesting to watch a group of maybe 30 shovelers feeding in front of the hide in one small area, swimming around in circles.

Teal, pochard, tufted duck, great crested grebe also present. Little Egret flew passed.

Walked on towards the dry canal and came across goldfinches busy feeding,  presumably on pollen from the catkins of the black poplar. Not see this before.

Along the dry canal; passed a pumping station which will be restored.

Over the dry canal; across the fields towards Tring; picked up the Grand Union Canal by the flour mills.

Passing a friendly heron on the way.


















                                                                                                                                         Back to Wilstone via Tringford, where on our return we came across the Brent goose that's been here a few days mixing with the Canada and greylag. Also spotted our first chiffchaff of the year.
Stewart.

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.