CHILTERNS NATURE
@chilternsnature.bsky.social
The #Chilterns #NatureGuide | #ChilternHills #AONB #Birdwatching #Wildlife & #Nature #EcoTours | #Birding #WildlifeWatching & #Environment #ActivityDays
17 KITTIWAKES WSW over Wendover Woods y’day! Then, back at Watermead, another flock of 45 KITTIWAKES over S! #bucksbirdnews @chilternsnature.bsky.social @bucksbirdclub81.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social #birds #birding #birdwatching #wildlife #nature
2 ssp CARBO/ATLANTIC(coastal) CORMORANTS at Startops Res on Weds with usual Sinensis/Continentals(inland). Ad=rh pic1-3, Juv=lh pic4. See size+bulk, gular pouch angle, white chin shape, & bill size. #hertsbirdnews @hertsbirds.bsky.social @hertswildlifetrust.bsky.social #birds #birding #birdwatching
PEREGRINE carrying Dove/Pigeon remains (ID’ed by prey’s feet) at a windy Watermead y’day… #bucksbirdnews #bucksbirdalert @chilternsnature.bsky.social @bucksbirdclub81.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @borgowl.bsky.social @borgowlraptorgroup.bsky.social #birdwatching #birding #birds #wildlife #nature
It’s been quiet this wk at Watermead whilst patiently waiting for the first early migrants, but on 01/03 a nice surprise was the BLACK SWAN from Startops Reservoir (about 8 miles away as the swan flies) arriving with 2 Mute Swans… @bucksbirdclub81.bsky.social #birdwatching #birds #wildlife #nature
Some good birds started to show up at Watermead Feb end: f SHELDUCK 14/02, f GOLDENEYE 19/02, CATTLE EGRET 20/02, 6 RAVEN 21/02, LAPWING move’nt, FINNISH-ringed BH GULL, reg REDPOLL, SISKIN & PEREGRINE, & long staying m MANDARIN… @bucksbirdclub81.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social #bucksbirdnews #birds
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL N thru Watermead 2day - only my 3rd here & 1st Ad. Also RAVEN, 11 SISKIN & 2 TEAL. + CHIFFCHAFF with tad too much yellow in good light to be a Sibe tristis but v.grey & no olive, so assume a Scandi abietinus @bucksbirdclub81.bsky.social #birding #birdwatching #birds #wildlife
WATER RAIL & GREAT WHITE EGRET at Watermead today. Also recently… metal-ringed YELLOW-LEGGED GULL 10/11, female BLACKCAP 17/11, WOODCOCK 07/11, & CETTI’S WARBLER occasionally still. #bucksbirdnews @chilternsnature.bsky.social #birds #birding #birdwatching #wildlife #nature #winterwatch #winter
Here’s some shots of the SNOW BUNTING at @nationaltrust.org.uk @waddesdonmanor.bsky.social 2day - was lucky with some lovely autumnal sunshine… Great find Marie, & thanks so much Owain for help with access. Entry to the grounds £14, open 10.00 - 17.00 #bucksbirdnews #birds #birding #wildlife #nature
The Juvenile BLACK-NECKED GREBE at Startops Reservoir, Tring just now… #hertsbirds #birds #birding #birdwatching #nature #wildlife @chilternsnature.bsky.social @hertsbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
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. @chilternsnature.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social #butterflies #nature #wildlifephotography
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… @chilternsnature.bsky.social #hertsbirds #birds #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography
A very smart SCARCE CHASER at Weston Turville Reservoir just now… #dragonflies #nature #wildlifephotography #macrophotography #entomology @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social
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! @savebutterflies.bsky.social
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… @chilternsnature.bsky.social @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social #butterflies #nature #wildlife
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… @chilternsnature.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social #dragonflies #insects #entomology #wildlife #nature #wildlifephotography
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. @upperthames.bsky.social #dragonflies #wildlife #nature
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… #bucksbirdalert @upperthames.bsky.social @batconservation.bsky.social
SCARCE CHASER at the Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal near Wilstone, Herts, this afternoon… @chilternsnature.bsky.social @hnhsoc.bsky.social #dragonfly #dragonflies #nature #wildlife
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. @chilternsnature.bsky.social @hertsbirds.bsky.social #hertsbirds #bucksbirdnews #birding #wildlife
A nice treat at Marsworth Reservoir near Tring when I popped in on my way past this evening - a very smart LITTLE GULL… @chilternsnature.bsky.social @hertsbirds.bsky.social #hertsbirds #birding #nature #wildlife
MARSH HARRIER high over Watermead this afternoon… #bucksbirdnews #birding #nature #wildlife @chilternsnature.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social #bucksbirdnews
A new species for Watermead - 3 WHIMBREL low over east just now… #bucksbirdnews #birding #nature #wildlife @chilternsnature.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social #bucksbirdalert
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! #bucksbirdnews #birdwatching #nature #wildlife @chilternsnature.bsky.social #bucksbirdalert
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… #bucksbirdnews #birding #nature #wildlife @chilternsnature.bsky.social #bucksbirdalert
OSPREY north through Watermead just now… #bucksbirdnews #birding #nature #wildlife @chilternsnature.bsky.social #bucksbirdalert
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. #bucksbirdnews #bucksbirdalert #hertsbirds
