18th April..... Yellow Wagtail.

Wondering what to do Thursday afternoon had a text from Don of an alpine swift seen at Ivinghoe Beacon and more ring ouzels there, so decided to give it another visit. Could see a long way but no sign of alpine swift and again couldn't find any ring ouzels after a good search but did come across another fine looking meadow pipit.

Called into College Lake on way home and into the octagon hide where others were looking to see what's about. Soon after they had left I spotted a yellow wagtail had flown in and was bathing a short distance away and then it flew towards us.

Landed in front of the hide and with a pied wagtail started feeding and walking towards the hide.A perfect view of this breeding summer visitor which winters in Africa.Stewart.                                  Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

17th April..... Part Two, College Lake.

After lunch in the Badger Café at College Lake walked off to the Octagon Hide passing the ditch and reed bed on the right and hearing more willow warblers singing in the willows.

Nearer the hide a birder was watching a reed warbler low down in the reeds but we didn't manage to see it but did hear it's song showing  it had moved away.

Were told a whimbrel was showing well from the hide (another long distant traveller passing through) and was clearly seen.

A redshank showed really well as it walked toward the hide.

Moved on and came across this presumably natural hybrid between a cowslip and primrose growing amongst some cowslips.

Blackcaps also singing well and found this female on the west side.

Back to café for cup of tea but unfortunately closed (being after 4.00) so had an ice cream instead.

Quickly walked to the Octagon Hide again in case the reed warbler was showing but no, not disappointed though had good views of a female reed bunting this time in amongst (guess where....the reeds). A great day out. Stewart.

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

17th April..... Part One, Ivinghoe Hills.

With the weather now warming up, decided to try Ivinghoe Beacon to look for ring ouzels, wheatears and other spring migrants or maybe the short-eared owl that has been seen around the area recently. Parked in the car park at Pitstone Hill, walked to the beacon on to Gallows Hill  and back to the car. No short-eared owl or ring ouzels but did find three wheatears along with a singing male corn bunting on the fence line near the sheep pens at Gallows Hill.

• Small numbers of meadow pipits possibly passing through heading north.
  
  Good  numbers of singing skylarks, (at times drowning out the song of other birds), were present with birds nesting on the ground and moving on as I walk by.
  
  Willow warblers, chiffchaffs and blackcaps all singing well.
  
  Good to see the Pasqueflower hanging on & well protected.
  
  BBOWT College Lake for lunch. Stewart.
• Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

16th April..... Red Kite.

A short wander through the wood this morning,

noticed the kites are now sitting tightly,

just a tail showing over the nest while it's mate was

perched close by.

That's the good news, bad news HS2 diggers are getting closer.

In the garden the first fledgling seen... a robin.

Stewart.

Images Copyright : Stewart Dennis.

14th April..... Rooks.

I wandered down the track to Payne's Hill early on a cold & frosty morning, the Rooks were nosily busying themselves in the Rookery, which has residents in 18 nests at the moment.

Once I'd finished watching them I turned to find a beautiful Fox sat about 50 foot further along the track watching me, it didn't hang about & scarpered off through the gate.

A pair of Buzzards circled over the wood, as a Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed out it's territory from within.

By now the early frost was retreating to the shadows as the suns rays warmed up... ever so slightly.

After a pre-breakfast chat with Carol, I returned home to find the Dunnocks & Chaffinches quietly

going about their business a ever. The Blue Tits are engaged in coutship feeding, which I've seen them do evey day this past week. The male Blackcap seems to be holding a territory, as he sings from various song posts in bushes around the garden.

 

A few of Stewart's sighings from last week :

9th : Firecrest singing in holly in local wood.
12th : First local Swallow on wires at Ballinger.
13th : Lone Fieldfare on Ballinger playing fields.
Don.

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.