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[DAN FORDER WILDLIFE - Birds & Nature @DanFWildlife]

First REDWING of the year at Watermead just now, plus first 2 SISKINS & COMMON GULL - winter is here!

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[DAN FORDER WILDLIFE - Birds & Nature @DanFWildlife]

Despite still not being able to beat the early morning dog walkers & joggers before they flush any waders, from 6am a nice little selection at Watermead this morning, highlights being…

2 GREEN SANDPIPER - only the 3rd record & 5 years since last!
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER.
HOBBY with prey.
5 SAND MARTIN.
5 RAVEN.
KINGFISHER
Female SHOVELER

#bucksbirdnews #birds #birding #birdwatching #wildlife #nature @bucksbirdclub @WildTours_co_uk @ChilternsNature

[Urban Nature Conservation @UrbanNatureOrg]

RT @DanFWildlife: Some other nice bits from my suburban Watermead home patch recently…
CATTLE EGRET, 18/08.
CLOUDED YELLOW, 29/07 & onwards…

[DAN FORDER WILDLIFE - Birds & Nature @DanFWildlife]

ARCTIC TERN briefly at Watermead just now…

@bucksbirdnews @bucksbirdclub #birds #birding #birdwatching #wildlife #nature

[DAN FORDER WILDLIFE - Birds & Nature @DanFWildlife]

PEREGRINE carrying the remains of a Dove or Pigeon (identified by the prey’s feet) at a very windy Watermead yesterday…

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[DAN FORDER WILDLIFE - Birds & Nature @DanFWildlife]

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…

@bucksbirdclub
#birdwatching #birds #wildlife

[DAN FORDER WILDLIFE - Birds & Nature @DanFWildlife]

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 movement, FINNISH-ringed BH GULL, reg REDPOLL, SISKIN & PEREGRINE, & long staying m MANDARIN…

@CHILTERNSNATURE @bucksbirdclub #bucksbirdnews

[DAN FORDER WILDLIFE - Birds & Nature @DanFWildlife]

GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL north thru Watermead today - only my 3rd here & the 1st Ad.
Also of note, RAVEN, 11 SISKIN & 2 TEAL, plus a CHIFFCHAFF that had a little too much yellow when seen in good light to be a Siberian tristis but very grey & no olive, so I assume a Scandi abietinus…

@CHILTERNSNATURE @bucksbirdclub #birding #birdwatching #birds #wildlife #nature

[DAN FORDER WILDLIFE - Birds & Nature @DanFWildlife]

WATER RAIL & GREAT WHITE EGRET at Watermead today…
Also, some other good birds of recent in addition to returning winter ducks:
a metal-ringed YELLOW-LEGGED GULL on 10/11,
a female BLACKCAP on 17/11,
WOODCOCK on 07/11,
& a CETTI’S WARBLER still occasionally showing or calling.

#bucksbirdnews @CHILTERNSNATURE @bucksalert #birds #birding #birdwatching #wildlife #nature #winterwatch #birdsoftwitter @RSPBbirders

[DAN FORDER WILDLIFE - Birds & Nature @DanFWildlife]

WHOOPER SWAN at Watermead now…

#bucksbirdnews @CHILTERNSNATURE @bucksbirdalert

[DAN FORDER WILDLIFE - Birds & Nature @DanFWildlife]

Female/1st year BLACK REDSTART, Maylands Avenue, Hemel Hempstead near Tesco Express & Adeyfield Free Church. Seen briefly on orange platform lower left on this block of flats…

#hertsbirds @Hertsbirds #birdwatching #birding #birds #nature #wildlife #urbanbirding #urbannature

[Urban Nature Conservation @UrbanNatureOrg]

RT @DanFWildlife: HOBBY with prey at Watermead just now…

@CHILTERNSNATURE #birding #birdwatching #birds #birdsoftwitter #birdsofprey #natu…

[DAN FORDER WILDLIFE - Birds & Nature @DanFWildlife]

After being away for some while I spend this lunch time looking for Purple Hairstreak at Watermead - with only the single previous record being last year I watched the same small Oak beside the River Thame for half an hour, & I was rewarded with a single PURPLE HAIRSTREAK that, although at distance, posed for a few seconds for a pic…

Whilst waiting I also managed only the 3rd record of BROWN ARGUS for Watermead on the river bank.

Also, an update from yesterday - there was a GRASSHOPPER WARBLER at Tring Park @Hertsbirds around 6pm - it wasn’t singing as such but did utter a couple of seconds of reeling.

@CHILTERNSNATURE @UpperThamesBC #butterflies #butterfly #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography #macro

[DAN FORDER WILDLIFE - Birds & Nature @DanFWildlife]

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!

#moths

[DAN FORDER WILDLIFE - Birds & Nature @DanFWildlife]

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 Hoverfly - great to see side-by-side with BLACK-TAILED SKIMMER

#birds #dragonflies #wildlife #nature

[DAN FORDER WILDLIFE - Birds & Nature @DanFWildlife]

A few nice bits at Watermead this eve:

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

#bucksbirdnews #birds #nature #wildlife

[DAN FORDER WILDLIFE - Birds & Nature @DanFWildlife]

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 year. #dragonflies #nature

[DAN FORDER WILDLIFE - Birds & Nature @DanFWildlife]

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

#bucksbirdnews #birding #nature #wildlife @CHILTERNSNATURE @bucksalert

[DAN FORDER WILDLIFE - Birds & Nature @DanFWildlife]

MARSH HARRIER high over Watermead this afternoon…

#bucksbirdnews #birding #nature #wildlife @CHILTERNSNATURE @bucksalert

[DAN FORDER WILDLIFE - Birds & Nature @DanFWildlife]

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 @bucksalert