The Chilterns

The Juvenile BLACK-NECKED GREBE at Startops Reservoir, Tring just now…

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HOBBY with prey at Watermead just now…

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With only 1 prev record (‘24) at Watermead, I watched the same small Oak beside the R.Thame for 1/2hr & was rewarded with a single PURPLE HAIRSTREAK…
+ only the 3rd rec. of BROWN ARGUS here on the bank.

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SPOONBILL at Wilstone Reservoir this afternoon - left C.5pm high ENE - worth checking @bbowt.bsky.social College Lake in the morn?

Also 2 BLACK-TAILED GODWITS, double fig LITTLE RINGED PLOVERS, & BARNACLE GOOSE…

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A very smart SCARCE CHASER at Weston Turville Reservoir just now…

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Hot weather has brought some interesting day-flying moths to Watermead - a HUMMINGBIRD HAWKMOTH stopped to nectar briefly on Red Valerian at my flat y’day, & on Weds the 1st record of 6-SPOT BURNET MOTH here, unfortunately stuck on the lake & shortly eaten by a Mallard!

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Aberrant MEADOW BROWN near Chlolesbury today with pale cream hindwings, more striking in flight as upper side appeared normal brown on the forewings & almost white on the hindwings…

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3 NORFOLK HAWKERS around the pools along the track to the Octagon Hide at College Lake, Bucks, this afternoon, at times scuffling with this EMPEROR DRAGONFLY…

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Few bits from this morn’s survey at Watermead…

CUCKOO calling again,
REED WARBLER singing (scarce here, esp. in June),
Increase in MARBLED WHITES,
BROAD-BODIED CHASER devouring a Hoverfly - great to see side-by-side with BLACK-TAILED SKIMMER.

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A few nice bits at Watermead this eve:

Best by far - male CUCKOO calling at small lake, 21.10,
PAINTED LADY stopped for a couple of secs for a shot before shooting off,
Pair of BAR-HEADED GEESE,
& lots of NOCTULE BATS hunting…

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SCARCE CHASER at the Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal near Wilstone, Herts, this afternoon…

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After finding 11(!)COMMON SANDPIPERS roosting at Watermead y’day (on bank in someone’s garden!)(5 night before), 2 still about this morn.
+GARDEN WARBLER, LESSER W.THROAT, 4 W.THROAT, REED & 4 SEDGE WARBLERS all singing
+1st HAIRY DRAGONFLY of the yr #birdwatching #dragonflies #nature #bucksbirdnews

9 BLACK TERNS at Marsworth Reservoir near Tring yesterday evening as I popped-in on my way past, at times drifting across the border into Bucks…
Also at least 1 COMMON SANDPIPER & an OYSTERCATCHER.

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A nice treat at Marsworth Reservoir near Tring when I popped in on my way past this evening - a very smart LITTLE GULL…

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MARSH HARRIER high over Watermead this afternoon…

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A new species for Watermead - 3 WHIMBREL low over east just now…

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Another OSPREY north through Watermead just now - seemingly following the same route vaguely along the River Thame…
Also an OYSTERCATCHER arrived as I write this, landing on the bank just beside me!

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SCANDINAVIAN ROCK PIPIT briefly at Watermead - thought I may have heard littoralis call on the breeze, then caught it fly across the lake & head off north so only managed this poor shot once confirmed…

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OSPREY north through Watermead just now…

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WHITE-TAILED EAGLE Aston Clinton (Bucks) / Wilstone (Herts). NE low across A41 far ahead of me at Aston Clinton (pic1), checked Wilstone Res with no luck but then briefly saw it sat on large dead tree surrounded by corvids (pic2) - assume Marlow bird.

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An OTTER collecting den material along the River Thame at Watermead at the moment whilst a WATER RAIL is calling nearby…

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Male SHELDUCK low over Watermead just now. May have gone down on the River Thame flood just west of Watermead…

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New species for Watermead - a juvenile MERLIN just rocketed through, along the River Thame, over the large lake then slalomed between the rooftops! Looking very out of place in the urban environment…

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The 6 RUSSIAN WHITE-FRONTED GEESE have returned to the Greylag flock at Watermead, though now very hard to view - blood drawn just to confirm their presence & get a record shot!

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Male MANDARIN flew into Watermead not long ago - although plenty not far away near Wendover only 1 every 2 years or so here.
The male GOOSANDER is more active today, constantly hunting…

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2 PINTAIL at Watermead in the mist this morning, but no sign of the Russian White-fronted Geese or male Goosander…

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The Male GOOSANDER & the wintering GREAT WHITE EGRET are also still at Watermead today…

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WOODCOCK at Watermead, flushed by fighting foxes just now…

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The 6 RUSSIAN WHITE-FRONTED GEESE are still at Watermead today, now west of the River Thame, in field east of the A413/Martin Dalby Way roundabout (north of Watermead estate)…

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