Select year or month to view from the table below :-

Reports compiled by Rob Andrews.

Buckinghamshire Sightings – December 2001 

Highlights   -   An extremely elusive Little Bunting was seen briefly a couple of times at Fulmer Marsh (28th).   There is only one previous record of this species in the county. A Little Egret was on the River Chess at Sarrat Bottom (2nd), three Tree Sparrows were near Granborough (2nd) and a Peregrine was seen harassing Jackdaws at Hambleden Weir (30th).

Broughton Pools   -   A Jack Snipe was seen on 3 dates and there was a peak count of 77 Common Snipe (14th). Wildfowl numbers continued to rise with peak counts of 61 Teal and 15 Gadwall (17th), 41 Wigeon (20th), 39 Shoveler (21st), 8 Tufted Ducks and 11 Pochard (19th) and 6 Goosander (13th).  The Water Rail was seen on at least four dates, with 3 Kingfishers on a couple of dates and two Little Owls (10th).  Other sightings included 50 Golden Plover (3rd), 165 Redwings (23rd), a Siskin (17th) and 3 Redpoll (17th) with two (19th).

Calvert Lakes  -  At least 6 Jack Snipe were present (2nd) along with 2 Stonechats on an area which will unfortunately be lost to housing shortly. Two adult Whooper Swans were possibly returning birds from last year (11th) with a drake Goosander and 4 Goldeneye the same day. 

College Lake   -   Two pairs of Pintail were seen (12th), with a drake Red-crested Pochard, a Water Rail and 12 Little Grebes (24th). 

Fulmer Lake   -   Two Jack Snipe were a nice surprise (29th) and Common Snipe peaked with 23 (8th). A female Mandarin was a good site record (28th), two Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers were seen (29th) and 98 Teal were counted (8th).

Little Marlow Gravel Pit   -  Two Jack Snipe appeared (23rd) and a   Lesser-spotted Woodpecker was seen on at least two dates. A Peregrine was seen (24th) and a Merlin was seen nearby (27th). Wildfowl  numbers included 210 Teal and 40 Shoveler (27th), 38 Gadwall (8th), 94 Wigeon and 4 Pintail  (26th), a drake Goldeneye (24th) and a drake Goosander (27th).  Two Water Rails were seen (23rd), two Egyptian Geese (28th), 4 Chiffchaffs (27th) and two Ring-necked Parakeets flew over (28th).

Startops Reservoir   -    A drake Red-breasted Merganser and two Goldeneye were seen in the Bucks section (13th). 

Other Sites   -    A flock of 14 Crossbills was seen in Black Park (16th), 15 Ring-necked Parakeets were at Taplow (9th) and up to 6 Bramblings were feeding in a garden at Flackwell Heath (30th).

Buckinghamshire Sightings – November 2001 

Highlights  -   The Lesser Scaup that had been present at Wilstone Reservoir (Herts) during the first week, was possibly seen at College Lake amongst an influx of wildfowl pushed over by shooting(10th). A ringtail Hen Harrier was an excellent record at Broughton (13th)and a Ring Ouzel was at Steps Hill (1st).

Broughton Pools - Wildfowl numbers began to rise with peaks of 29 Teal and 27 Wigeon (21st), 20 Shoveler (28th) and 2 Gadwall(27th). Waders included Redshank (5th & 21st), 16 Golden Plover flew over(26th), while Snipe peaked at c50 (16th) and 3 Jack Snipe were seen (5th)with 4 (16th). A Water Rail appeared (28th) and 4 Redpoll were there (9th).Winter thrushes were much in evidence with 147 Redwing (20th) and 115 Fieldfare (13th).

Calvert Lakes - The gull roost held a Caspian Gull(17th) along with 10+ Yellow legged Gulls and 1500+ Lesser Black backed Gulls. A pair of Goldeneye were also seen and a Water Rail was heard calling.

College Lake - Two Black tailed Godwits flew over(4th), a Black necked Grebe, a Garganey, 2 Goosanders and a male Pintail were seen (10th). Shooting at other waters resulted in peak counts of 1,042 Wigeon, 268 Tufted Ducks and 103 Pochard (17th), along with a male Red Crested Pochard and a female Goldeneye. Up to 7 Corn Buntings and 51 Stock Doves were also present.

Little Marlow Gravel Pit - Two Yellow legged Gulls were seen(3rd), a Dunlin, 3 Redpoll and 4 Ring necked Parakeets appeared (11th). A Woodcock was a surprise (17th), along with Shelduck, Goldeneye and 3 Chiffchaff. Teal numbers were very high with 170+ (24th), when 3-4 Water Rails were heard calling and a Water Pipit was also seen. Other notable counts included 37 Shoveler, 27 Gadwall and 139 Pochard (25th) as well as 6 Snipe and about 30 Siskins.

Shardeloes Lake - A pair of Wigeon were seen (4th),with 8 Shoveler, 10 Little Grebes and 80+ Coot (18th).

Willen Lake - A drake Red crested Pochard appeared (4th), with 3 Water Rails and 2 Kingfishers also around.

Other Sites - Crossbills were seen at Stoke Common(4th) and Black Park (17th). Stonechats were still hanging around with 5 round Ivinghoe Beacon (1st) and a pair at Wendover Woods (18th). Golden Plovers had built up to 1,100 near Milton Keynes (4th) and 12 Siskins were at Black Park (3rd).

Buckinghamshire Sightings – October 2001 

Highlights  -   An unusual Tern at Willen Lake was confirmed as a first winter Whiskered (31st), only the second Bucks record.  A Great Skua was picked up in Lacey Green and taken into care (9th). There have been only four previous records in the county of this species.  A Black Redstart was found in High Wycombe (21st).  Hawfinches are becoming very scarce in the county so 2 at Wycombe Abbey were a welcome find (23rd).  A Shag was at Caldecotte Lake (25th) and an Osprey appeared at Willen Lake (27th) moving to Linford the following day.  Ravens are beginning to turn up annually these days but are still an exciting find as they are usually fly-overs. Two birds were seen flying over Prestwood (28th) with possibly the same birds over Little Marlow Gravel Pit the same day. The latter site also produced an immature Marsh Harrier on the same date.

Broughton Trout Pools   -   Two Yellow Wagtails were seen (4th) along with 25 Meadow Pipits. Peak wildfowl numbers included 9 Little Grebes, 2 Wigeon, 30 Teal and 3 Shoveler while Snipe numbers had built up to 19 (22nd). Passage birds included 5 Chiffchaffs (2nd), 8 Fieldfare (16th), 17 Skylarks (17th), 26 Song Thrushes (18th) and 2 Stonechats (28th). A Great Black-backed Gull flew over (3rd), Goldfinch numbers were high with 103 (25th), the Little Owl was seen (18th) and a Siskin (20th).

Calvert Lakes   -     A juvenile Arctic Tern was found (17th) and stayed for four days, possibly the latest ever Bucks record. The gull roost produced an adult Caspian and 34 Yellow legged Gulls (2nd) amongst the 3000+ Lesser black-backed Gulls. A Common Sandpiper was seen (2nd) and two Stonechats appeared (20th). 

College Lake   -  Two Pintails arrived (13th) along with 104 Wigeon. Peak wildfowl numbers included 71 Gadwall 228 Mallard and 63 Shoveler (26th). A Garganey was an excellent late record (28th) and up to two Stonechats were present on various dates.

Little Marlow Gravel Pit  -  An adult Caspian Gull was seen (6th), a female Mandarin appeared (7th) when there was also a peak of 150 Teal.  A Little Stint was reported (9th), with a Common Sandpiper (11th) and Peregrine and Hobby (13th). A couple of late Black Terns were also found on the latter date.  Three Water Rails, a Buzzard and 15 Siskins were seen (20th).  A significant movement was observed (28th) with 3500 Wood Pigeons, 1500 Redwings and 120 Fieldfares observed passing through.

Shardeloes Lake   -   A Buzzard flew over (2nd), 3 Swallows passed through (15th) and 2 Water Rails were calling (27th). 

Other Sites   -    Stonechats were present at a number of sites including 3 at Ivinghoe Beacon, 2 at Pitstone Hill and 3 at Lodge Hill.   Two Wheatears were at Pitchcott Hill (10th) and Lodge Hill (28th).   Also at Lodge Hill were 400+ Golden Plover and a single Tree Sparrow.

Buckinghamshire Sightings – September 2001 

Highlights This was an exciting month for county rarities with a Cetti's Warbler (1st) and a Temminck's Stint (6th&7th), both at Little Marlow Gravel Pit. This was followed by the 14th county record of Leach's Petrel at Calvert (10th) and the 7th record of Sabine's Gull, in the form of a juvenile roosting for four evenings at Foxcote Reservoir (from 16th). A possible Black Kite was seen briefly as it flew over Broughton (3rd).

Broughton Pools - A Little Egret was seen again (3rd), Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (4th) and a Wigeon (6th). Waders were much in evidence with an early returning Jack Snipe appearing (14th), along with a Ruff and Greenshank (18th) and Snipe numbers peaking at 15 (25th). Wildfowl included 3 Ruddy Ducks (18th), 4 Gadwall (24th) and 24 Teal (27th). Migrant passerines passed through in varying numbers with 5 Yellow Wagtails (17th), a Spotted Flycatcher (24th), Lesser Whitethroat and Redpoll (26th) and a Whinchat (27th). Raptor sightings included Buzzard and Red Kite (22nd) and a Hobby (26th). A noticeable passage of hirundines passed through (28th) with 600 Swallows and 850 House Martins in one and a half hours.

Calvert lakes    -   The Little Egret was still present early in the month with 3 Green Sandpipers also seen (1st). As the gull roost built up increasing numbers of Yellow legged Gulls appeared, with 12 (24th) along with the first Caspian Gull of the autumn. A juvenile Black Tern was also present on this date.

Foxcote Reservoir  -  A Black Tern, Little Gull and Yellow-legged Gull were present (19th) with a Dunlin and Redstart seen (23rd).

Little Marlow Gravel Pit  -  A Little Egret, Greenshank, Redshank and 4 Snipe were seen (1st), with a Whinchat (2nd) and Yellow-legged Gull (5th). An incredible 51 Egyptian Geese were counted (10th) along with a Shelduck, a Black-necked Grebe was an excellent find (14th) and a first winter Mediterranean Gull was found (17th&28th). A nice flock of 5 Little Stints appeared (18th), with a Black Tern (20th), Dunlin
(22nd), 2 Reed Warblers (28th) and 2 Common Sandpipers (30th).

Shardeloes Lake  -  A female Shoveler was seen with young (6th) along with a Hobby, 8 Spotted Flycatchers (9th), a Buzzard flew over (16th) and Yellow Wagtail (23rd).

Steps/Pitstone Hills -  A Pied Flycatcher and Redstart were found (2nd), with another Redstart (4th), Whinchat (7th) and a Peregrine (15th). The first Redwing of the autumn appeared (20th) while 2
Firecrests were a superb find (25th) with 2 Whinchats, 3 Stonechats and a Yellow Wagtail the same day.  A juvenile Ring Ouzel was seen (26th), 2 Peregrines (27th) and a Spotted Flycatcher (28th).

Willen Lake  -  A juvenile Black Tern, 2 Garganey, 3 Ruff and 20 Wigeon were present (1st) and a Black-necked Grebe arrived (19th).

Other Sites  -   A Little Stint was found at Startops Reservoir (14th) and a Dunlin was at College Lake (23rd). Whinchat and Stonechat were seen at Marlow Low Grounds (18th), with two of each at Ivinghoe Beacon (28th). At Waddesdon there were 4 Whinchats and 2 Stonechats (25th) as well as a Green Sandpiper.

Buckinghamshire Sightings – August 2001 

Highlights  -  The exceptional influx of Little Egrets included up to 3 birds at Calvert, College Lake and Little Marlow Gravel Pit with singles also seen at Broughton, Shardeloes and Willen Lake. An Osprey flew over Little Marlow (11th) and a  Shag was at Shardeloes Lake (29th).

Broughton Trout Pools   -  A productive month here got off to a good start with a Common Sandpiper(1st) and a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker(2nd) followed by 3 Wheatears (5th) and 2 Crossbills flying over (7th). Two Mandarin were present(8th) while the Little Owl was seen on at least nine dates. Single Green Sandpipers were seen on 4 dates, with one or two Greenshank on 3 dates. Snipe numbers rose to seven (9th), with Lapwings peaking at 203 (17th). Lesser Whitethroats continued to do well with a good count of 17 (9th) and two Grey Partridges were a welcome sighting (15th). A movement of about 200 Swifts headed south (15th) with a Great Black-backed Gull over the next day. A nice flock of 114 Goldfinches were seen (22nd), 7 Spotted Flycatchers (25th) and 2 Yellow Wagtails (27th).

Calvert Lakes  -  An elusive Garganey was an excellent find (26th) while other records included 2 Ruddy Ducks (21st), a Green Sandpiper (27th) and a Dunlin (28th).

College Lake   -  A Ruff and a Dunlin were present (12th) along with 5 Ruddy Ducks and two juvenile Little-ringed Plovers. A Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Greenshank and a Wheatear were all seen (19th) with 3 Wigeon and 3 Snipe (29th).

Little Marlow Gravel Pit  -  Two Snipe arrived (10th) and a Crossbill flew over (11th). A good variety of waders put in appearances with a Whimbrel (16th&26th), Little Stint and Sanderling (20th), Black-tailed Godwit and Green Sandpiper (23rd), 3 Greenshank and 2 Redshank (25th) and a Little-ringed Plover (27th). Single Black Terns stopped off (21st & 27th), 2 Swifts passed over (25th) and 4 Yellow Wagtails were seen (27th).

Willen Lake - A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was a good find (1st), with a Dunlin and 5 Green Sandpipers (7th). Up to 4 Garganey could be observed on various dates throughout the month, 3 Greenshank dropped in (19th) a Black Tern (26th & 30th) and 3 Swifts passed through (30th).

Other Sites - At Linford there was a Black-tailed Godwit (26th) as well as Snipe and Common Sandpiper.  At Pitstone Hill a Whinchat and Redpoll were present (29th) and at Steps Hill 2 Redstarts were
found (30th). A group of 18+ Crossbills dropped down to drink at Shardeloes Lake briefly (5th).

Buckinghamshire Sightings – July 2001 

Highlights  -  Three Common Scoter were found at Willen Lake (19th) while Little Marlow Gravel Pit hosted Sanwich Tern (3rd), Little Tern (6th) and a Little Egret (28th). Another Little Egret was reported around Aylesbury towards the end of the month and Quail were seen with young in the Vale of Aylesbury.

Broughton   -  A Ruff was seen (4th), with three Common and one Green Sandpiper (18th). Breeding birds included Little Grebe, Mandarin, Lapwing, Reed and Sedge Warblers, while an excellent count of 19 Lesser Whiethroats included four broods of fledged young. Little Owl and Lesser-spotted Woodpecker were present on a few dates, five Teal were seen (27th) and two Yellow Wagtails (24th).

College Lake  -  A Greenshank dropped in (8th), along with Ruff, 3 Dunlin (15th) and the pair of Garganey were seen on a few dates. A Green Sandpiper and three Ruddy Ducks were present (29th) and breeding waders included Little-ringed Plover, Lapwing and Redshank.

Little Marlow Gravel Pit   -  The return wader passage started early with a Whimbrel (8th) followed by six Common Sandpipers (18th), a Dunlin (20th), three Greenshank (23rd) and a Black-tailed Godwit (26th&27th) with two on the 30th. Other good birds included up to eight Little-ringed and three Ringed Plovers all month along with three Turtle Doves (2nd).

Willen Lake  -  An adult summer plumaged Mediterranean Gull must have been a stunning sight (12th). The falling water levels produced excellent feeding conditions for returning waders which included two Greenshanks and two Ringed Plovers (15th), a Knot (19th), two Oystercatchers (20th), two Dunlin and three Common Sandpipers (26th) and two Green Sandpipers (29th) as well as two Garganey on the latter date.

Other sites -  Pochard and Tufted Duck were present at Shardeloes Lake along with a family of Spotted Flycatchers.

Buckinghamshire Sightings – June 2001 

Highlights  -  Two adult   Little Terns were found at Little Marlow Gravel Pit (17th) where they put on a good show for several hours.

Broughton  -    A couple of Teal were seen on a few dates, with two Gadwall (18th), six Tufted Ducks (11th), three Ruddy Ducks (5th) and a female Mandarin (26th). A Hobby flew over (5th), a Cuckoo was present
(11th), a Little-ringed Plover (22nd) and Lesser-spotted Woodpecker and Kingfisher appeared (25th). Other notable birds included three singing Lesser Whitethroats (19th), 16 Sedge Warblers (23rd), Grey Wagtail (25th), 23 Lapwing (14th) and Little Owl on four dates.

College Lake   -   A pair of Garganey were present on a few dates, with three Redshank, three Little-ringed Plovers and two Ringed Plovers (17th) as well as a pair of Tufted Duck with nine young. A very impressive 30 pairs of Common Tern were also nesting.

Little Marlow Gravel Pit    -     A drake Mandarin was seen (8th), with Redshank and Hobby (9th), also 7 adult with 4 juvenile Little-ringed Plovers (15th). A Green Sandpiper was the first returnee (24th) and 14 Common Tern chicks were on the two rafts (25th) eleven of which were rung.

Shardeloes Lake   -   Breeding waterfowl were much in evidence with pairs of Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Ruddy Duck and Coot all present.

Willen Lake   -    A nice flock of seven summer plumaged Black-tailed Godwits were seen (30th) along with four each of Ringed and Little-ringed Plovers.

Other Sites    -     A pair of Egyptian Geese with six goslings were at Langley Park, Spotted Flycatchers were seen at a few sites and a Nightjar churred for one evening only at one site.

Buckinghamshire Sightings – May 2001 

Highlights  -    The third Caspian Tern for the county was found by two shocked observers at it flew over Linford (11th). Luckily, to the pleasure of many, it was soon relocated at Willen Lake where it remained until late evening giving excellent views before flying off North-east.

Broughton -  Two Iceland Gulls flying over west (1st) were the biggest surprise with a Red Kite over (3rd). A Curlew flew over (3rd), a pair of Grey Partridge were seen (4th), Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (5th) and two Shelduck (9th). A Yellow Wagtail was seen on three dates with a Common Sandpiper present (15th) and two Lesser Whitethroats singing all month.

College Lake -  An Osprey flew through (12th), three Shelduck, a Bar-tailed Godwit, Green Sanpiper and a Whinchat were seen (13th) with 8 Ringed Plovers, 5 Dunlin and a Common Sandpiper (15th).  Breeding waders included Ringed and Little-ringed Plovers and Redshank.

Little Marlow Gravel Pit    -  Twelve Arctic Terns passed through (5th) with nine here (11th). A Whimbrel,  Greenshank and two Green Sandpipers were present (11th), 3 Dunlin and four Common Sandpipers (12th) and three Hobbies (18th). Three Sanderling were an excellent record (28th) along with four Egyptian Geese. Seven Ringed Plovers, including two juvenlies were seen (27th) while at least six pairs of Common Terns were nesting on the rafts specially provided by keen Local birders.

Willen Lake   -   A flock of 18 Black Terns flew over north (11th) with the following day producing a Little Tern and an Osprey. Waders were much in evidence with lowered water levels producing seven Sanderling, two Knot, a summer plumaged Grey Plover and eight Dunlin (14th) with a Kittiwake arriving the day after.

Other Sites   -   A female Marsh Harrier flew north over Marsworth (4th) and was then observed being mobbed by a Peregrine.  Two Little Gulls were at Marsworth (9th), a drake Garganey was at Linford
(10th) and a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling at Stone (14th).

Buckinghamshire Sightings – April 2001 

Highlights  -  The earliest ever Bucks Hobby was seen at Burnham (2nd). An Osprey flew over Gerrards Cross (3rd), three Ring Ouzels were found in Milton Keynes (8th) and a flock of 16+ Arctic Terns flew from Startopsend Reservoir (18th).  Waxwings continued to entertain with regular flocks in Aylesbury and Milton Keynes as well as a single near Boarstall (12th) and ten at Gerrards Cross (28th).

Broughton   -   A Jack Snipe was found along with 38 Common Snipe (2nd), a Swift was early (21st), with Hobby seen (27th) and Commpn Sandpiper (24th). Wildfowl numbers began to drop with 8 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall and 4 Teal (16th), three Greylag Geese (15th) and ten Mandarins (12th). The last Redwing was seen (8th), Lesser Whitethroat arrived (25th) and a Curlew flew over (29th). Other notable birds included a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker (19th), Common Buzzard over (21st), Redpoll (3rd) and Siskin (25th).

Willen Lake   -  The now summer plumaged Red-necked Grebe stayed all month with the female Scaup (7th) along with a Sedge Warbler and three Willow Warblers the same day. A Common Sandpiper and Yellow Wagtail arrived (12th) with a summer plumaged Little Gull (21st), Whimbrel (22nd), two Peregrines and a White Wagtail (23rd).

Other Sites -    A Peregrine was seen flying over Rowsham (1st), a Cuckoo was at Chalfont St Giles (15th) and a Turtle Dove was at Coleshill (26th).

Buckinghamshire Sightings – March 2001 

Highlights  -  A Fulmar was at Willen Lake (2nd) with a Slavonian Grebe at the same site (31st). 11 Waxwings continued to show well in Aylesbury all month, with up to 14 staying in Milton Keynes. Three
Little Egrets were found along the River Chess at Latimer (3rd).

Broughton  -   Highlight was a Red Kite passing over (13th) with other goodies including three Jack Snipe (28th) and a Curlew (24th).   With the area still looking excellent due to flooding, wildfowl numbers remained high with peak counts including 3 Goosander, 43 Teal and 27 Gadwall (1st), 60 Shoveler (16th), 50 Wigeon (19th) and 7 Mandarin (28th).  Two early House Martins arrived (12th), closely followed by two Sand Martins (16th). Snipe numbers peaked at around 40 (2nd), while a flock of c115 Golden Plover
passed over (25th) and a Water Rail gave superb views (from 8th).

Calvert  - A first winter Glaucous Gull was seen in the roost (17th&24th) and a Red-necked Grebe was found (24th).

Little Marlow Gravel Pit   -  Five Goldeneye were present (4th) while 40 Sand Martins and a single House Martin arrived (25th).

Willen Lake    -  This site became very popular with access remaining unrestricted and so produced most of the county's best birds during the month. The Red-necked Grebe and Scaup continued to give good views all month and an adult Little Gull was found in the roost three nights in a row (from 16th).  Goldeneye numbers peaked at 18 (7th) with Goosander rising to eleven (18th). Swallow and House Martin were seen (31st) along with a Wheatear.

Other Sites   -  Three Jack Snipe were at Bletchley Brick Pits (7th) and five each of Goosander and Goldeneye were at Caldecotte Lake (10th). A flock of over 600 Chaffinch near Princes Risborough were a good number although only a single Brambling was among them, reflecting a bad winter for this species. A Brambling was also seen at Flackwell Heath (3rd) and 250 Fieldfare were at Westcott (25th).  A Tree Sparrow was with a flock of Yellowhammers at Kimblewick (24th) with 204 Stock Doves there the following day.

Buckinghamshire Sightings – February 2001 

Highlights  - The Laughing Gull seen in Bedfordshire was reported at Newton Longville Tip (12th&13th). This would be a county first so if anyone has further details please send them to the County Recorder. An Iceland and up to three Glaucous Gulls were also reported from this site.   Waxwings continued to appear with three in Amersham (16th), 11 in Aylesbury (from 22nd) and 35 on the edge of Milton Keynes (27th).

Broughton -  A juvenile Peregrine gave close views (20th), attracted by good numbers of wildfowl with peak counts including 8 Shoveler (1st), 25 Gadwall (6th), 9 Goosander (13th), 43 Wigeon (23rd) and 37 Teal (26th). Six Jack Snipe was an impressive number (2nd) along with 44 Common Snipe, a drake Pintail dropped in (15th) and 80 Golden Plover flew over (23rd).

Calvert  -   The Bittern was seen again on a few dates, sometimes showing exceptionally well and the group of up to seven Whooper Swans continued to roost. The gull roost attracted some unusual birds with two Caspians and 19 Yellow-legged (17th). A Green Sandpiper, Stonechat and Buzzard were all seen (24th) and the flock of up to sixty Tree Sparrows were still present nearby.

Hedgerley Tip  -  An adult Mediterranean Gull was found (17th) amongst hundreds of Black-headed Gulls and two Buzzards were seen (25th). 

Linford    -   A redhead Smew was seen (9th) along with a Stonechat with Little Egret, Red-crested Pochard, Dunlin and five Ringed Plover (25th).

Little Marlow Gravel Pit   -   A Black Redstart and Stonechat were on nearby farmland (3rd), the first Ringed Plover of the spring arrived (11th) and an adult Mediterranean Gull was present (22nd).  Wildfowl numbers were good with 136 Pochard and 30 Shoveler (10th), 47 Wigeon (11th), 3 Pintail (17th) and 82 Gadwall as well as 10 Goldeneye (24th). Other goodies included 4 Chiffchaffs (11th), Lesser spotted Woodpecker (17th) and two Ring-necked Parakeets (15th).

Shardeloes Lake   -   Three Ring-necked Parakeets were an excellent site tick (19th) with a drake Goldeneye the same day. A Jack Snipe, two Common Snipe and a Woodcock were flushed (21st) with other
records including Water Rail, Ruddy Duck and 16 Little Grebes (11th).

Willen Lake  -   A Red-necked Grebe and two female Scaup performed well for visiting birders (7th&14th) and five Goosander were seen (9th).

Other Sites  -   The female Scaup was at Caldecotte Lake (1st) before moving to Willen, a Merlin was seen at Pitstone Hill (13th), 100+ Yellowhammers near Marlow (18th) and a pair of Mandarin Ducks were at
Wooburn Common (24th).

Buckinghamshire Sightings – January 2001  

Highlights - The biggest surprise of the month was a Spotted Flycatcher in a Chalfont St Peter garden (8th).  We managed a small share of the large Waxwing invasion with one at Stoke Mandeville (1st) followed by
three at Bourne End (8th), singles at Chesham, Stokenchurch (21st), Broughton (25th) and 7 at Cheddington (29th). A female Scaup was found at Caldecotte (26th) and White winged Gulls were found at three sites - see
below. A Red throated Diver was an excellent find at Willen Lake (27th).

Broughton  - A productive month here with a few sightings of Jack Snipe peaking at five (25th) and a good count of 67 Snipe (16th). Wildfowl numbers included 32 Wigeon (15th), 11 Gadwall (26th), 49 Teal (18th) and 10
Goosander (13th).  A Redshank and 15 Golden Plover were seen (17th) as well as a Blackcap.

Calvert   -   A Bittern (5th) stayed all month and up to seven Whooper Swans were coming in to roost (from 13th). A Glaucous Gull was discovered in the roost (5th) with two Caspian Gulls (27th).  Other sightings included a Barn Owl and three Stonechats (7th), a Peregrine (8th) and two Green Sandpipers (13th).  Nearby a remarkable flock of up to 60 Tree Sparrows was found at a grain store (18th).

Fulmer Marsh  -  A first winter Glaucous Gull was seen (19th), 175 Teal, 6 Wigeon and 68 Snipe were preent (20th).

Hedgerley Tip  -   One, possibly two adult Iceland Gulls were discovered (28th).  Other sightings included four Yellow-legged Gulls (20th) and 140 Great black backed Gulls (21st).

Little Marlow Gravel Pit  -  A redhead Smew and a 1st winter male Ruddy Duck were seen (13th), with a female Goosander and 10 Redpolls (20th).  Three Goldeneye were present (27th) along with 61 Gadwall, 160 Tufted Ducks and 53 Wigeon.

Weston Turville Reservoir  -  The Bittern was seen again briefly (21st) with a Willow Tit and five Water Rails calling (7th).

Other Sites  -  The Shag was still at Langley Park (14th), six Jack Snipe were at Stoke Common (13th) and a Hawfinch was again seen at Flackwell Heath (9th).  At Haddenham there were 20+ Golden Plovers, 12 Grey Partridge and six Corn Buntings (6th) and 14 Goosander were present at Foxcote (8th).