The bird of the month was the most unexpected of county megas – a drake Eider on the sailing lake at Calvert on 9th. County birders with long memories have waited over 30 years to fill the Eider-shaped gap in their Bucks lists. Back in the autumn of 1993, we had a remarkable mini-influx. A pair at Linford was followed by a female which spent a couple of days on one of the fishing lakes there and was therefore untwitchable. A female at Hyde Lane was seen by just a single observer.
But since then - nothing. Of all the ‘regular’ seaducks in the UK, Eiders are the rarest inland. But most of our neighbouring or nearby counties in England have seen the odd record in the 30 years since our influx. So obviously the Calvert bird proved very popular. The sailing lake at Calvert is strictly private and access is very limited. But an exception was made for the Eider, and with the grateful thanks of all its admirers, the bird showed well – if often rather distantly - to everyone who went to see it. Unsurprisingly, it departed overnight.
The month’s other star bird was a gorgeous female Red-necked Phalarope at Caldecotte on 17th, which offered a very different viewing experience to the Eider. Phalaropes are tiny and can be devilish difficult to find. But of course they can also allow very close approach, and this bird did both. Caldecotte is very busy and built-up now, and its glory days lay long in the past. As such it’s probably a little underwatched, but is obviously still capable of turning up a decent bird.
Red-necked Phalarope isn’t quite as rare as Eider in Bucks – there have been two records from Little Marlow GP in recent years. But this was the first one in north Bucks since the Manor Farm bird of 2014.
Early May saw the last of the passage waders turn up, headed by an Avocet at Dorney Common on 14th. A Wood Sandpiper at Little Marlow GP on 10th was our second of the year. It really has been an excellent Spring for Whimbrel, with six birds at five sites in May adding to the April haul. One bird stayed at Dorney Common for two weeks, and a very confiding bird which spent a week at Calvert provided a little bonus for the Eider-twitchers.
Four Greenshank arrived at Dorney Common on 1st, and up to 2 of them hung around until 9th. Additional Greenshanks were seen at Aylesbury STW (1 on 3rd) and Little Marlow GP (3 on 7th and 1 on 14th).
Single Ringed Plovers dropped into Little Marlow GP on 1st, 10th, and 15th, and another was at Dorney Common on 17th. Despite their presence at most of our wetland sites, Little Ringed Plovers were only confirmed breeding from one site, where three pairs hatched at least 11 chicks – an excellent record.
The first Sandwich Tern of the year flew through Dorney Common on 22nd. Arctic Terns were at Little Marlow GP (1 on 2nd) and Willen (2 on 5th). And two beautiful Black Terns at Foxcote on 12th proved very photogenic. Common Tern colonies built up nicely at Little Marlow GP and College Lake And it’s an absolute delight to report that for the second year running, Willen hosted a significant colony on the south lake.Two adult Kittiwakes paid the briefest of visits to Little Marlow GP on 7th. The same site also held an impressive run of Caspian and Yellow-legged Gulls, which are traditionally scarce at this time of year. There were 3 different individuals of each species seen, all immatures.
Cuckoos were reported from 21 sites, which compares poorly to 35 sites in May 2024 and 25 sites in May 2023. These sites were mostly in the north as usual, but a handful of reports also came from the ever-underwatched western reaches. Cuckoo remains a very scarce bird in south Bucks. The maximum count was of 4 in the Linford lakes complex.
A female Marsh Harrier at Gallows Bridge on 5th feels almost expected these days. Following just the four reports in April, it’s a pleasure to document a big increase in Hobby reports, with birds being seen at 21 sites. Site maxima of 3 were seen at Great Brickhill, Linford, and Little Marlow GP.
There were a few late Wheatears, with singles at Ivinghoe Beacon and Buckingham on 1st, and Frieth on 3rd. A Whinchat at FFNR on 16th was the only one of the month. Stonechat successfully bred at two sites, with possible breeding occurring at two more. Grasshopper Warblers sang from Hyde Lane, Newton Leys, Steps Hill, and Olney. There were reports of Spotted Flycatcher territories from at least 8 sites – mostly in mid- and south Bucks.
A Hawfinch flying over Tattenhoe Park on 25th was at first glance very unseasonal. It was probably a late migrant, but given how secretive this species is, local breeding can’t entirely be ruled out.
As I write this – a few weeks into June – it’s evident that a notable irruption of Crossbills is happening across the UK. Nothing too spectacular yet, but certainly enough to attract the attention of patch-watchers across England. In that context, May records from Balham’s Wood (2 on 3rd) and Great Missenden (1 on 14th) probably anticipate further records as the summer progresses.