3rd December : Black-headed Gull. 

This very confiding 1st winter Black-headed Gull posed nicely as it balanced on the post, just a shame it was facing the wrong way.

Images : Copyright © Don Stone.

3rd December : Watermead Lake

We had intended to visit Gallows Bridge Farm today, but HS2 construction work was causing mayhem again with delays on the approach to Waddesdon, so it was a u-turn and back to Aylesbury for a first visit to Watermead Lake on the outskirts of the town. 

A Grey Wagtail was the first bird of note as it kept a safe distance in front of us while feeding at the edge of a small flooded area.

Four species of Gull were out on the open water ;

Common Gull alongside some Black-headed Gulls.

 

Black-headed Gull.

The larger Gulls were not so confiding preferring to stay well away from the shore line:

Herring Gull.

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Great Crested Grebe was another bird that stayed out in mid water.

Coot fed along the water's edge.

As did this family of Moorhen.

This Heron thought it couldn't be seen in the trees that bordered the River Thame along the far side of the lake.

Cormorants were also utilizing the trees, as they perched up drying their wings.

Images : Copyright © Don Stone.

30th November : Sparrowhawk.

This juvenile male Sparrowhawk made a flying visit to the garden early this morning.

 

Images ; Copyright © Don Stone.

28th November : Lowndes Park, Chesham.

As it was a cold & frosty morning I visited the local urban park & the nearby St Mary's Church to check the yews for Wintering Hawfinch after finally finding three in another local Church yard earlier in the week, unfortunately there were very few berries on the Yews, half a dozen Greenfinch were taking those that were available, as a Pied Wagtail flitted along the tower parapet.

Three Pied Wagtails foraged in the leaf litter under the trees in the park before moving to the edge of Skottoes Pond.

Fifty or so Black-headed Gulls were present scattered across the grass, with others loafing about on the frozen pond.

One of several Moorhen on the grass.

Jackdaws using the lamp posts as vantage points.

Surprised to see this Pheasant so close to the town centre.

All in all a pleasant hour on a crisp sunny morning in an urban park.

Images : Copyright © Don Stone.

17th November : Peregrine.

Visited a few places in the north of the Vale of Aylesbury today, found these Cormorants at Padbury.

  

2 Little Egrets & 3 Cormorants were at Claydon Lakes.

At Botolph Claydon walked to where the Great Grey Shrike wintered a few years back, 40 Lapwings could be seen in a distant field, otherwise like most farm land not a lot to be seen, until a raptor appeared & circled overhead.... Peregrine. made the trip worthwhile. 

Images : Copyright © Don Stone.

7th November : Barn Owl & Kingfisher.

Back at BBOWT Gallows Bridge Farm for a 3 hour visit.

A pair of Bullfinches lead us along the path to the first hide as they flew in & out of the hedgerow. Once we arrived in the hide I realised I'd left my phone in the car, so returned to get it, on the way back a Great White Egret glided in over the hedgerow, it must have touched down out of sight as it was a good half an hour before it wandered into view feeding on what looked liked very dark looking Newts, so possibly Great Crested Newts.

 

Egret began ranging over the field.

Part of a flock of at least 100 Lapwings in the distance.

We moved around to the second hide, where after a while the Great White Egret was joined by one of it's smaller relatives.

 

A Kestrel was doing what Kestrels do on breeze.

At 1-30pm Stewart spotted a Barn Owl sat on a fence post right over on the far side of the large field patiently waiting for an unsuspecting Field Vole to emerge, it was rewarded for it's patient's after 15 or so minutes, as it dispatched one on the ground before flying onto a post & downing it about 20 seconds. 

As we watched Barnie hunting the warden was busy trying to stop the sheep from escaping, she now joined us in the hide. I was bemoaning the fact that I'd never seen a Kingfisher here, unbelievably no sooner had I said it than one flashed low across the water, flew up hovered, dived into the water & splash, we didn't see it with a fish, it sat half hidden in the reeds, before sitting out in the open preening for about 10 minutes.

  

Video here :

Images : Copyright © Don Stone

4th November : Great Hampden Church.

Spent one & three quarter hours here today, hoping to see Hawfinch, but none showed up, a couple of Ravens called noisily, as Redwings & a Mistle Thrush fed on the plentiful Yew berries.

  

Images : Copyright © Don Stone.

27th October : Ickford.

11 Little Egret, 2 Great White Egret, 6 Heron, Cormorant & c200 Lapwing attracted by the flood waters on the River Thame.

A few of the Lapwing flock.

Images ; Copyright © Don Stone.