Wryneck Jynx torquilla

Gardens are perhaps the most likely habitat in which to see the species in the county, judging by recent records.   Although the species used to breed it is now a scarce passage migrant with usually only a maximum of one or two reported in any one year.   The first and second weeks of September are typical dates for the species in the county on return passage as can be seen from the pictures below. 

Lathbury - 7th-8th October 2009

Photo copyright Andy Whitney

Found by Rob Norris at about 3:30pm while he was checking on a large flocks of finches on an area of allotments.  The weather on the 7th was very bad with steady rain for most of the afternoon.  The weather cleared overnight but fortunately the bird stayed to be seen and photographed by other birders.

This bird is slighlty later than typical sightings for this species.  Click here to view a graph of sightings of thei species in the county.

If anyone else has photos of this bird please forward to Jim Rose for use on this website - Thanks.

Prestwood - 12th-16th September 2008

Photo copyright Mike Collard

Photo copyright Rose Collard

Above two photos copyright Terry Underdown

Rather fortunately this juvenile Wryneck decided to visit the garden of Prestwood birders Mike and Rose Collard.  However, it was their son Ross who said "Hey Mum what's this bird on the patio"!  Rose immediately identified it as a Wryneck and called Mike who managed to see it for 10 seconds before it flew off.  This was at about 1:30pm on 12th and despite searching the bird was not seen again until approximately the same time the following day. 

This time it was first seen by Rose, who with Mike being away, managed to use Mike's (rather complicated) camera for the first time and obtain the top photo.  Remarkable!  A short time later, Dave Parmenter arrived on the scene, after which is flew off.  Again extensive searching and a vigil inside Mike and Rose's house by a number of birders failed to locate the bird again that day.

On 14th the bird was found again in another garden and birders soon appeared on the scene only to find it had flown off again.  It was approximately three hours before it put on a real show for the gathered birders as it fed on Ants on the side of Mike and Rose's driveway.  Many local birders managed to connect with it and were stunned to see the above photo taken by near neighbour Terry Underdown.  Note the extended tongue in the lower photo as the bird probes for food.

The bird continued to be extremely elusive and was only observed for 1 hour 15 minutes over four days!

On the 15th the bird was seen briefly in a nearby garden, returning to the Collard's garden for a short time on 16th.  During it's stay most Bucks listers managed to see the bird.

Aylesbury - 2nd and 3rd September 2000

This individual below is perhaps the first really twitchable bird in the county.  Its presence was put on the pagers and hotlines late on 2nd, when it was appeared to be settled.  A few birders managed to connect with it that day, while other birders had to wait until the following afternoon when it reappeared in the same garden to the delight of local birders.  Thanks to Paul Clark and Rachel Leeser for allowing the visiting birders into their hide (Kitchen!).  Apparently nearly thirty birders managed to connect with the bird over the two days.
This bird was videoed/photographed by several people.  Any further submissions for inclusion here are welcomed.

The above video still copyright Mike Collard