Another month, another excellent bird for Bucks. Whilst we haven’t had anything to match Little Crake or Alpine Accentor yet in 2025, there have been several very rare birds. The latest of which was a Montagu’s Harrier in the Chilterns. A ringtail harrier species was captured on video by a farmer near Ivinghoe, and its identity was confirmed on the 25th. It was relocated the next day near Cheddington, where it was present until 30th.
Its favoured spot was a huge wheat field next to a busy road with virtually no parking. In addition, the bird was the very definition of unreliable. It seemed to roost in the field, but wasn’t seen daily at dawn and dusk. It was also occasionally seen over fields nearby. Some birders waited hours and didn’t see it, but many birders had better luck.
The last confirmed Monty’s in Bucks was in 2022, with birds in 2008 and 2012 before that. Discounting probables, the Cheddington bird is the eighth Bucks record and the first to be even remotely twitchable.
The rest of June was pretty quiet. Early in the month there were a few oddities which, as usual, probably represented the very tail end of Spring passage rather than failed breeding adults going for a bit of a wander. But it’s impossible to tell for sure.
A Ringed Plover was at Foxcote on 1st, and a Grey Plover was picked up on a noc-mig recorder at Tattenhoe Park on 11th. The first returning Common Sandpiper did seem rather early, one at Foxcote on 8th. It was followed by birds at Little Marlow GP and College Lake. The first returning Green Sandpiper was at FFNR on 22nd and was followed by birds at Little Marlow GP and Dorney Common.
Our breeding waders seem to have met with mixed success this year. Headline has to be the success of Little Ringed Plovers at Logistica Flood. By mid-June the “flood” was barely more than a few muddy puddles, but that didn’t prevent at least 3 pairs of plovers raising a minimum of 10 young to fledging. A wonderful result, although given the development plans at this site, a result that cannot be guaranteed to repeat next year.
Sticking with some of our breeding birds, Black-headed Gulls had a very successful season at Foxcote, using the rafts provided. Several pairs also bred at College Lake, although there’s no sign at the moment that the colony will recover to its size before bird flu.
Common Terns also bred at College Lake, Little Marlow GP, and Willen once again. It’s worth noting that in two short years the Willen colony has become the most successful in the county. Long may they stay here. It’s also worth noting that Calvert no longer appears in the breeding summaries for these two species, the rafts there apparently being unsuitable and in need of repair.
Lesser Black-backed Gulls were confirmed breeding in High Wycombe, and up to 210 at Little Marlow GP was a decent mid-summer count, as was 120 Herring Gulls at the same site.
An adult Kittiwake at Foxcote on 6th under clear blue skies was something of a surprise. A Mediterranean Gull was at College Lake on 14th. And the first returning Caspian and Yellow-legged Gulls turned up at Little Marlow GP, with a 2CY Caspian on 2nd, and a 3CY Yellow-legged on 6th. A pair of Black-necked Grebes at College Lake on 14th was a bolt from the blue. Unlikely to be the wintering birds, which hadn’t been seen for months, they must have come from somewhere.
Hobbies were reported from 14 sites, down by a third from May. But it’s good news to report probable breeding from two of those sites. And the Little Egret colony at Willen had some spectacular success, with a minimum 6 pairs fledging at least 22 young. No other breeding reports were received though. Cuckoo were reported from just 10 sites, down by a half from May. As usual, almost all of these sites were in north Bucks. After a run of decent years, our Cuckoos may be in a bit of trouble again.
There were lots of Swift reports, which is excellent. But most of these reports were of small numbers, with several observers reporting a notable decline in their local breeding populations over the last few years. The breeding areas with the largest numbers were Aylesbury, Buckingham, and Wingrave. A flock of 220 birds at Willen was by far the largest count though, and hopefully indicates successful breeding at multiple sites in Milton Keynes.
Passerines can be summarised pretty swiftly. The first returning Redstarts signal the onset of autumn, and right on cue there was a female at Rowsham on 26th, followed by three birds on 30th. I’ve mentioned before that Redstarts are a great bird to look for on your patch at this time of year. Birds that turn up in June and July usually stick around, often for weeks, as they need to complete their moult before departing south.
There were very few reports of Yellow Wagtail, but breeding was suspected at Wingrave and Cheddington. Please submit all records of this delightful bird into Going Birding, especially if you suspect breeding, which is certainly under-recorded. After the excellent showing in May, it was disappointing to see Grasshopper Warbler reported from just one site, Linford on 2nd. Hopefully the May showing is more representative of our breeding population. Spotted Flycatcher was widely reported, with breeding suspected at six sites.
Last month I mentioned the stirrings of a Crossbill irruption reaching our boundaries. Well, reports picked up in June, with birds being seen at five sites – Back Wood, Tattenhoe Park, Great Missenden, Leckhampstead Wood, and Cheddington. Number were small, with 6 at Cheddington being the highest count. But it’s only a matter of time before we get more substantial flocks. A Siskin at Back Wood on 9th is notable. We don’t get many summer birds in Bucks, but there’s no reason why the odd pair wouldn’t be breeding – we’ve got enough suitable habitat.