Black Park Country Park, Buckinghamshire

I arrived at the park mid-afternoon in mild but rather dull conditions with many of the footpaths covered in soaked leaf litter. Reaching the area of heathland I noted a feeding party of Jay busily collecting and storing nuts in readiness of harder times ahead. A very mobile flock of Siskin was briefly observed before being flushed by a hunting Common Kestrel.
A full list of species observed as follows:-       
Great Crested Grebe (3), Great Cormorant (1), Grey Heron (1), Mute Swan (2), Greylag Goose (1), Canada Goose (2), Egyptian Goose (5), Mallard (18), Domestic Duck (9), Common Pochard (2), Common Moorhen (7), Eurasian Coot (19), Red Kite (1), Common Kestrel (1), Common Pheasant (1), Black-headed Gull (43), Herring Gull (1), Stock Dove (1), Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (4), Great Spotted Woodpecker (2), Grey Wagtail (1), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Mistle Thrush (1), Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper, Eurasian Nuthatch, Eurasian Jay (5), Common Magpie, Carrion Crow, Eurasian Siskin (15).

29-10-15 Maple Lodge Nature Reserve

A late morning visit provided the following species of note:-
Mute Swan (1 immature) Little Egret (4), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (1), Black-headed Gull (c600), Common Gull (2), Herring Gull (5), Cetti's Warbler (heard only).
An incredible number of gull were present on the water in front of Long Hedge and Shell Hides and were actively catching small fry disturbed by hunting egrets and grebes. A male Sparrowhawk flashed overhead flushing the gulls and waterfowl.

29-10-15 Stockers lake

A mild but dull and wet afternoon visit produced a fantastic eleven Red-crested Pochard present at the River Colne side of the lake near the tern raft. The birds were busily diving for food, bringing weed to the water surface before devouring it. Two Common Kingfishers flashed past on a couple of occasions calling as they went. A full list of species observed as follows:-
Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Red-crested Pochard (11 inc 8 drakes), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Northern Lapwing (5), Black-headed Gull, Common Gull (1), Lesser black-backed Gull (7), Herring Gull (1), Feral Rock Dove (3 over), Stock Dove (3), Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (5), Common Kingfisher (2), Green Woodpecker (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush (1), Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper (1), Eurasian Jay (1), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Starling (c150 stockers farm), European Greenfinch (1), European Goldfinch (2), Eurasian Siskin (1).

27-10-15 An Afternoon at Maple Lodge

A rather mild afternoon at the reserve with sunshine and very light wind produced the following species of note:-
Little Grebe (4), Great Crested Grebe (1), Little Egret (3), Green Sandpiper (2), Common Snipe (2), Common Kingfisher (2), Grey Wagtail (1), Cetti's Warbler (heard), Reed Bunting (female).

                              Common Kingfisher (female) viewed from the Long Hedge Hide.

                                                 Little Grebe sporting winter plumage.

                                  Mallard (drake) looking splendid in the afternoon sunshine.

                                                 Little Egret from the Long Hedge Hide.



 

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve & Lynsters Farm

I arrived at the reserve late morning with weather conditions very dull with light rain throughout. My first stop was at Rotunda Hide where a male Cetti's Warbler was heard calling although distant. Despite today's wet weather the late summer and early autumn has been generally very dry and this was most evident on my arrival at the Teal Hide. The water levels here were low with exposed muddy islands now visible in several places. It was among these islands I discovered four Green Sandpiper and two Common Snipe busily feeding on the exposed mud. A single Grey Wagtail put in a brief appearance while on the water several drake Common Teal displayed to two disinterested ducks. I then made my way to Lynsters Hide where good numbers of geese were observed  feeding on the pasture at Lynsters Farm. Among them was a large gathering of Feral Rock Dove, sixty eight in total, all very nervous and flighty. At the far end of the farm a charm of Magpies was gathering, thirty eight in total. At Lynsters Gravel Pit (Lake) a pair of Eurasian Wigeon fed among the shallows while on the deeper water I noted Great Crested Grebe and Tufted Duck.
My final destination was Shell Hide where a Common Kingfisher put in the briefest of appearances while overhead a rather sodden Red Kite glided by followed by a small gathering of Eurasian Siskin.
A full list of species recorded as follows:-
Little Grebe (1), Great Cormorant (4), Grey Heron (1), Greylag Goose (97 L.F), Canada Goose (25 L.F), Eurasian Wigeon (2 LG.P), Gadwall (1), Common Teal (13), Mallard (16), Northern Shoveler (11), Tufted Duck (4), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (1), Red Kite (1), Common Buzzard (1), Common Moorhen (16), Eurasian Coot (3), Common Snipe (2), Green Sandpiper (4), Black-headed Gull (8), Common Gull (1 LG.P), Herring Gull (1 over), Feral Rock Dove (68 L.F), Stock Dove (2), Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (1), Common Kingfisher (1), Green Woodpecker (1), Meadow Pipit (1 over), Grey Wagtail (1), Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Redwing (2), Cetti's Warbler (1), Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper, Common Magpie (38 L.F), Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Starling, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Siskin (11).

                                                      View from Teal Hide today.

      

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve & Lynsters Farm

I visited the reserve late afternoon with the following species noted.:-
Little Grebe (2), Great Crested Grebe (1), Great Cormorant (5), Grey Heron (3), Greylag Goose (89 Lynsters Farm), Canada Goose (2 Lynsters Farm), Common Teal (8), Mallard (16), Northern Shoveler (6), Red Kite (2), Common Buzzard (1), Water Rail (1 calling from phragmites), Common Moorhen (12), Eurasian Coot (8), Green Sandpiper (1), Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull (over), Feral Rock Dove (2 over), Stock Dove (4 Lynsters Farm), Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet, Common Kingfisher (2), Grey Wagtail (2), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Song Thrush, Cetti's Warbler (1 singing male), Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper, Eurasian Jay (4 Lynsters Farm), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Siskin (5).