Hangar birds

While at work this evening I discovered a singing male European Robin singing it's winter song and calling too while inside our warm hangar. I decided to conduct an experiment and played back a recording of a male singing its summer call. After a minute or two the bird in our hangar began to respond with a summer song of its own. Also a dead male Goldcrest was discovered in the hangar and I suspect an unfortunate recent arrival.

07-11-15 Maple Lodge Nature Reserve in the rain.

A very wet morning at the reserve wasn't totally unproductive as these photos by Tony Hulls prove. Prior to my visit Tony had viewed a wonderful pair of Mandarin Duck from the Teal Hide. From the Long Hedge Hide I discovered a female Northern Pintail that was busily feeding among a small group of Mallard.  

Photos courtesy of Tony Hulls.

                                          Pair of Mandarin Duck viewd from Teal Hide. 

                                         Northern Pintail viewed from Long Hedge Hide.

31-10-15 Chalfont Park, Buckinghamshire

A morning visit along the River Misbourne provided the following species:-
Little Grebe (3), Grey Heron (1), Gadwall (13), Mallard (9), Tufted Duck (8), Red Kite (1), Common Kestrel (1), Common Pheasant (5), Common Moorhen (8), Eurasian Coot (8), Black-headed Gull (29), Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet, Common Kingfisher (1), Pied Wagtail (1), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Fieldfare (4), Redwing (25), Mistle Thrush (1), Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Jay (2), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch (1), Eurasian Siskin (1).

                                                Gadwall on the River Misbourne

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.