False Click Beetle Eucnemis capucina by Udo Schmidt (CC BY-SA 2.0)

This year, Mark Telfer, one of the UK’s leading coleopterists, has been surveying Howe Park, Kingsmead and Shenley Woods on behalf of The Parks Trust. Mark has been looking for invertebrates associated with dead and decaying wood. A similar survey, focusing on beetles, was carried out by Colin Plant in 1996 so this is the first survey of its kind in MK for twenty years.

Although the survey is ongoing, Mark says that he is “staggered” by the diversity of saproxylic beetles he has found, and in particular a number of Red Data Book and nationally rare species. One of the most impressive of these if the false click beetle Eucnemis capucina (pictured) which he found in Kingsmead Wood. This incredibly rare beetle is considered a flagship species of ancient woodland. It is known only from the New Forest, Windsor Great Park and Bredon Hill in Worcestershire, so its discovery in Milton Keynes is little short of miraculous.

Atomaria pulchra by Mark Teller

In Shenley Wood, Mark has discovered several beetles new to him – itself very unusual. One of these is a tiny beetle called Atomaria pulchra . Mark shared this information with fellow coleopterist Tony Allen who has the largest beetle list in the UK. Tony has since made two visits to Shenley Wood from Dorset, as he had never before recorded this species. Tony Allen not only saw A.pulchra but also found another Atomaria beetle which may be new to the UK! This specimen has been taken to the Natural History Museum in London to be identified later this summer.

Parks Trust Biodiversity Officer Martin Kincaid said, “The early findings of this survey far exceed our expectations and it’s exciting that Mark has already found so many rare and scarce species. This really highlights the importance of standing dead wood as a habitat and shows that even where there is relatively little dead wood, important populations of invertebrates can survive. The creation of more standing dead wood in our woodlands will help these and other species to expand”.

The full results of this survey will be available in late 2017 and we will provide a further update then.

Author: Martin Kincaid

Entomologists have been assessing diversity and abundance across western Germany and have found that between 1989 and 2013 the biomass of invertebrates caught had fallen by nearly 80%

Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Where have all the insects gone? | Hugh Warwick | Opinion | The Guardian

Save Our Magnificent Meadows is the UK’s largest partnership project transforming the fortunes of vanishing wildflower meadows, grasslands and wildlife.

They have produced some useful guides:

• Surveying and monitoring grassland habitats
• Surveying and monitoring grassland species

Click on the link to view the guides: Magnificent Meadows

Picture of the first egg laid in 2017

You can find out more about the Aylesbury Peregrine Project and watch all the activity on the nest by using this link to their Web Cams.

Butterfly Conservation have produced a collection of species factsheets and habitat downloads can be used to provide an overview on species ecology, assist with species identification and advise on best practice management for specific species and habitats.

Click on the link for more information: Butterfly Conservation – Butterfly Factsheets

Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) by Peter Hassett, Old Warden Tunnel NR, 21 September 2016

The British Heteroptera checklist has been revised.

View the checklist here: Checklist of UK Heteroptera

iRecord Butterflies is a free app that will guide you through the identification of any butterfly that you see in the UK and allow you to add your sighting to millions of other valuable records that inform the work of Butterfly Conservation.

Click here for more information: Butterfly Conservation – iRecord Butterflies

BloomsForBees has produced a video detailing how to identify the seven most common bumblebees in the UK.

Click on the play button to watch the video

Buckinghamshire Invertebrate Group

The Buckinghamshire Invertebrate Group have made a number of useful resources available on their website:

Checklists:
Ants, bees and wasps in Buckinghamshire
Caddisflies in Buckinghamshire
Craneflies in Buckinghamshire
Ground beetles in Buckinghamshire

Bulletins covering 1989-2016

Click on this link for more information.

The beginning of the year seems an appropriate time to give an update on the progress of the initial phase of the NBN Atlas and provide broad timescales for some aspects of the work.

Click on the link to read the rest of the article: NBN Atlas development update – National Biodiversity Network

INSECTS

Herald moth by Martin Kincaid, Manor Farm cellar

Buff tailed bumblebee queen feeding at Mahonia in garden, Oldbrook (17th)
Small tortoiseshell and peacock butterflies and Herald moths hibernating in cellar, Manor Farm, Old Wolverton (18th)

MAMMALS

Otter at North Willen Lake (16-17 – Mark Strutton)

BIRDS

Great White Egret – one at Floodplain Forest (18th)
Bittern – one roosting high up in willow tree at Linford Lakes Nature Reserve (18th) Also Barn Owl and 3 Red Crested Pochard present.
Goosander – various numbers at Emberton Country Park, Tongwell Lake, South Willen, Stony Stratford Nature Reserve and Floodplain Forest.
Woodcock – one flushed in Linford Wood (16th)

(All sightings not otherwise attributed by Martin Kincaid)

MAMMALS

Pygmy Shrew recorded by Linford Lakes Mammal Group on 11^th – plus field sign of 10 other species including badger, mink, otter and Muntjac deer.

Noctule bat over Tattenhoe – 8^th (Harry Appleyard)

BIRDS

Female Scaup and Woodcock at Linford Lakes N.R. (11^th)

Red Kite over Shenley Church End – 11th (Peter Hassett)

Red Crested Pochard – pair still at South Willen Lake (9^th)

3 Stonechats on fence posts – Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve (7^th)

FUNGI

Oyster mushrooms Pleurotus spp. on willow stump at Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve (7^th)

Tremella mesenterica (Yellow Brain Fungus) – plentiful at Linford Lakes NR (11^th)

(All sightings not otherwise attributed by Martin Kincaid)

MAMMALS

• Pygmy Shrew recorded by Linford Lakes Mammal Group on 11 December 2016 – plus field sign of 10 other species including badger, mink, otter and Muntjac deer.
• Noctule bat over Tattenhoe – 8 December 2016 (Harry Appleyard)
• Otter at Willen Lake North – 12 December 2016 (Mark Strutton)

BIRDS

• Female Scaup and Woodcock at Linford Lakes N.R. 11 December 2016
• Red Crested Pochard – pair still at South Willen Lake 9 December 2016
• Red Kite – Shenley Church End 11 December 2016 (Peter Hassett)
• 3 Stonechats on fence posts – Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve 7 December 2016

FUNGI

• Oyster mushrooms Pleurotus spp. on willow stump at Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve 7 December 2016
• Tremella mesenterica (Yellow Brain Fungus) – plentiful at Linford Lakes NR 11 December 2016

(All sightings by Martin Kincaid unless otherwise stated)

In a recent talk to the Society “Nest-boxes – the case against!”, Martin Kincaid mentioned the longest running bird survey conducted by Oxford University at Wytham Woods. Read on if you would like to learn more about the project:

The Wytham Tit Project is a long-term population study of two woodland bird species – great tits (Parus major) and blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) – based at Wytham Woods near Oxford, UK, and is run by the Edward Grey Institute in the Department of Zoology at the University of Oxford. Although the majority of the work focusses on great and blue tits, there are smaller populations of coal tits (Periparus ater) and marsh tits (Poecile palustris) which are of particular interest for their role in interspecific flocking and information spread. Sadly, as with much of the UK, the willow tit (Poecile montana) no longer breeds in Wytham.

Click on the link for more information
: Wytham Tits

Dr Daniel Cox. a Research Fellow at the Environment and Sustainability Institute of the University of Exeter, has produces a scientific paper entitled “Movement of feeder-using songbirds – the influence of urban features”

The research for the paper  was carried out in Great Linford with the assistance of Martin Kincaid and Parks Trust volunteers.

Click on this link to download the report (pdf).

BIRDS

Chiffchaff calling at Linford Lakes Nature Reserve (27th)
Small group of Siskins near St.Giles Church, Tattenhoe (28th)

MAMMALS

Muntjac buck and doe in Howe Park Wood (28th)

INSECTS

Lepidoptera

Comma butterfly basking by Howe Park Wood (25th)
Red Admiral basking in Tattenhoe Linear Park (28th)

(All sightings by Harry Appleyard)

BIRDS

2 Scaup, 1 Great White Egret and 1 Woodcock – Linford Lakes N.R. (20^th)
Red Crested Pochard – pair still present at South Willen (19^th)
15 Common Snipe outside bird hide – North Willen (19^th)
7 Goosander reported from Emberton Country Park (Bucks Bird Club – 17^th)
1 Goosander at Caldecotte Lake (18^th)
Red Kites circling over Tattenhoe, Emerson Valley and West Bletchley (HA)
Common Snipe, Tattenhoe Park (20th) (HA)

MAMMALS 

Daubenton’s bats still present at Pineham roost (18^th)
Brown Long-eared Bats roosting at Manor Farm, Old Wolverton (18^th)
Dog Otter seen from near hide at Linford Lakes N.R. (Keith Gander – 20^th)
Fox & Scat of Mink LLNR (20th) (Peter Hassett)

LISSAMPHIBIA

20+ Great Crested Newts and 6 Smooth Newts found hibernating at Elfield Park (17^th)

INSECTS

Odonata
Female Common Darter near St.Giles Church, Tattenhoe (16th) (HA)

FUNGI

Purple Jelly Disc  Ascocoryne scarcoides found on dead wood in Howe Park Wood (18^th Nov, )

(All sightings by Martin Kincaid except as otherwiuse noted. HA = Harry Appleyard)

BIRDS

11 Lapwings over Tattenhoe Park (11th)
3 Ravens over Tattenhoe Park (13th)

Ravens Corvus corax by Harry Appleyard Tattenhoe Park 13th November 2016

 
Blackbird singing near Howe Park Wood (13th)
Tawny Owl hooting in Howe Park Wood (14th)
3 Dunlin, 2 Redshank, 5 Common Snipe and 1 Water Rail at North Willen Lake (11^th – MK)
2 juvenile VELVET SCOTERS still present at South Willen Lake (13^th) and Common Scoter female on 12^th.
2 Stonechat at Floodplain Forest NR (12^th – MK)
1 Ring-necked Parakeet over Walton Lake (11^th – MK)

MAMMALS

Brown Hares, Chinese Water Deer and 1 Muntjac at Magna Park (13^th – MK/Harry Appleyard)
Weasel at Linford Lakes NR (10^th – MK)
Roe Deer at Elfield Park (9^th – MK)

LISSAMPHIBIA

Common Toad, Tattenhoe Park (14th)

INSECTS

Odonata

Common Darters active around Howe Park Wood and Tattenhoe Park (11th and 13th)

Lepidoptera

Red Admiral basking in Kingsmead Wood (11th)

Hemiptera Heteroptera Pentatomidae 

1 Common Green Shield Bug Palomena prasina and 1 Spiked Shield Bug  Picromerus bidens , Tattenhoe (11th)

Common Green Shield Bug Palomena prasina by Harry Appleyard Tattenhoe 11th November 2016

(MK= Martin Kincaid, all other sightings by Harry Appleyard)

Velvet Scoter by Jim Rose, Willen Lake 7 November 2016

Two ducks more at home on the high seas have dropped in to South Willen Lake for the past few days.

The two juvenile Velvet Scoters, a rare species of sea duck, have been wowing birders since they were discovered on the morning of 7^th November 2016 by former MKNHS member Paul Moon. This is the third time this species has been found at Willen down the years and only the tenth time ever for Buckinghamshire although, amazingly, a third scoter turned up at Dorney Lake, South Bucks on 8^th November 2016.

Scoters are dark, almost jet black in colour but the Velvet Scoter has an attractive white patch around its eye and also a white wing patch, which is very evident when it flies or preens on the water. They are diving ducks, feeding on mussels, snails and other freshwater molluscs and invertebrates. The species does not breed in the UK, being native to Russia and north-east Europe, but each winter up to 30,000 winter around the east and south coasts of Britain. Few ever stray so far inland however.

The two birds, both  thought to be young males (although the jury is still out), are frequenting the southern end of Willen Lake and can be seen from in front of the Lakeside Hotel and LA Fitness gym. They are generally to be found some way out from shore between the orange buoys and solar panels. Scan the flock of coots with binoculars and you should be able to pick out these unusual and very smart visitors.

Article kindly provided by Martin Kincaid.

You can see more photos and a video of the Velvet Scoters on Jim Rose’s blog

BIRDS

Red Kites over Bletchley and the North Bucks Way
Marsh Tit, Howe Park Wood (8th)
Grey Heron eating common frog, Howe Park Wood (7th)
3 Pintail (2 m, 2 f) and  male Red Crested Pochard at North Willen Lake (6th). Also, Short-eared Owl reported from here by several people. (MK)
2 Common Snipe, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Red Kite and Sparrow-hawk at Floodplain Forest (7th)  (MK)
2 VELVET SCOTERS on Willen South Lake, in front of the Lakeside Hotel (7th November).(MK)

MAMMALS

Bank Vole, Howe Park Wood (7th)

INSECTS

Speckled Wood butterfly, Tattenhoe (3rd)
Male Common Darter, Tattenhoe (3rd)

(MK= Martin Kincaid, all other sightings by Harry Appleyard)

BIRDS

Large groups of Fieldfares and Redwings around Tattenhoe
Large groups of Lesser Redpolls and Siskins over Rushmere Country Park (29th)
Jack Snipe reported from North Willen Lake (29^th)
Female Scaup at Floodplain Forest (27^th)
2 Bramblings among chaffinch flock at Bow Brickhill (29^th – MK)
Pintail – drake at Stony Stratford Reserve (31^st – MK)
Little grebe, kingfisher and Cetti’s warbler at Emberton Park last Monday 24th October  (Julie Lane)

MAMMALS

Harvest Mouse brought in dead by cat in Stony Stratford recently. Now at taxidermist!
Otter seen at Linford Lakes Nature Reserve (25^th – MK)
Noctule Bat seen at 4pm over Howe Park Wood (31^st – Harry Appleyard)

LEPIDOSAURIA

Baby grass snake at Rushmere country park last Sunday 25th October (Julie Lane)

INSECTS

Hymenoptera
Buff-tailed and White-tailed bumblebee queens at LLNR (31^st – MK)

Lepidoptera
Brimstone butterfly – female flying at LLNR (31^st – MK)

Odonata
Male Southern Hawker, Rushmere Country Park (29th)
Common Darter dragonflies mating at Stony Stratford Reserve (30^th – MK)

FUNGI

Funeral Bell Galerina marginata, Black Bulgar Bulgaria inquinans and Clitocybe geotropa among species found at Linford Wood (30^th – Bucks Fungus Group – see separate News Item)
Common Parasol mushrooms Macrolepiota procera at Linford Lakes Nature Reserve (31^st – MK)

(MK = Martin Kincaid, all other sightings by Harry appleyard unless indicated otherwise)

BIRDS

Short-eared Owl, Tattenhoe (19th)
Redwings and Fieldfares passing through Tattenhoe
Red Kites circling over Tattenhoe
Female Stonechat, Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve (24th)

INSECTS

Lepidoptera

Red Admirals, Tattenhoe

Odonata

Female Migrant Hawker, Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve (24th)

(All sightings by Harry Appleyard)

MAMMALS

1 Common Pipistrelle (male) found using bat box, Linford Lakes N.R. (17^th)

Pipistrelle Bat Linford Lakes NR 17th October 2016 Martin Kincaid

3 Bank Voles in woodpile outside Woodland Hide (17^th)

1 Muntjac deer seen from Woodland Hide (17^th)

BIRDS

Little Owls calling at Floodplain Forest (13^th) Also several Common Snipe

Great White Egret and 4 Stonechats reported from Linford Lakes (14^th)

Peregrine pair seen at Stadium:MK (13^th)

Small groups of Redwings, Tattenhoe

Lesser Redpolls and Siskins passing over Tattenhoe Park

Red Kites circling regularly over Tattenhoe
INSECTS
Lepidoptera

Red Admirals around Howe Park Wood
1 Small Copper, 1 Small White and 1 Comma in Tattenhoe Park (14th)

Small White Tattenhoe Park Harry Appleyard 14th October 2016

Odonata

Male Southern Hawker, Tattenhoe Park (14th)

Large numbers of Common Darters still present around Tattenhoe
At least 2 Willow Emerald Damselflies in Tattenhoe Valley Park (14th)

Willow Emerald Damselfly egg galls Tattenhoe 17th October 2016 Harry Appleyard

All sightings by Martin Kincaid and Harry Appleyard

BIRDS

Red Kites over Newton Longville, West Bletchley and Tattenhoe

Small groups of Redwings moving through Tattenhoe

Redwing Tattenhoe Harry Appleyard 7th October 2016

First Winter Continental Blackbirds, Tattenhoe linear park

Mistle Thrush feeding on common yew, St.Giles Churchyard, Tattenhoe (10th)

Lesser Redpolls calling in flight above Tattenhoe Park (10th)

Common Snipe, Tattenhoe Park

LEPIDOSAURIA 

1 Adder and 8 Common Lizards at Rammamere Heath (9^th – MK/Di Parsons/Carol Watts)

LISSAMPHIBIA

Common Toads in Tattenhoe Park

INSECTS

Lepidoptera

Brimstone butterfly, Tattenhoe Park (4th)

Large White, Tattenhoe Park (9th)

Speckled Woods and Red Admirals, Tattenhoe

Convuvulous Hawk Moth at garden trap – Newport Pagnell (4^th – Gordon Redford)

Orthoptera

Oak Bush Crickets coming to lights at Campbell Park Pavilion (7^th – MK)

Odonata

Female Southern Hawker, Howe Park Wood (8th)

Large numbers of Migrant Hawkers and Common Darters around Tattenhoe

Male Migrant Hawker Tattenhoe Park Harry Appleyard 9th Oct 2016

CRUSTACEA

Large Signal Crayfish in ponds at Howe Park Wood (7^th – MK)

FUNGI

Common Deceiver, Amethyst Deceiver, Common Earth-ball, Brown Roll Rim, Jelly Ear, Shaggy Parasol found on Parks Trust foray – Hazeley Wood (8^th Oct) MK

Fly Agaric, Amethyst Deceiver, Russula spp., Brown Birch Bolete – Rammamere Heath (9^th)  MK

All sightings not attributed to anyone else by Harry Appleyard, MK = Martin Kincaid

Male Willow Emerald Damselfly Tattenhoe Park Harry Appleyard 1st October

Female Willow Emerald Damselfly Tattenhoe Park Harry Appleyard 1st October 2016

Lepidoptera

Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and Small Tortoisheshell butterflies still on the wing. (MK)

Holly Blues flying at Woughton-on-the-Green (2^nd) (MK)

Small Coppers and Comma at Rammamere Heath (2^nd) (MK)

Red Admirals, Speckled Woods and Commas around Tattenhoe (HA)

Small White by Howe Park Wood (2nd) (HA)

Orthoptera

Dark and Roesel’s Bush-crickets still at Pineham (29^th Sep) (MK)

BIRDS

Red Kite over Mill Lane, Stony Stratford (1^st) (MK)

Common and Green Sandpipers at Floodplain Forest.  (MK)

Chiffchaffs singing at Linford Lakes & Stony Stratford Nature Reserves (30^th Sep) (MK)

Redwings and Siskins passing over Tattenhoe (2nd and 3rd) (HA)

Small groups of Skylarks over Tattenhoe Park (HA)

Tawny Owls calling and hooting in Water Spinney and Tattenhoe Park (HA)

Red Kite circling over Tattenhoe Park (3rd) (HA)

LEPIDOSAURIA

Grass Snakes at Walton Lake (30^th Sep) (MK)

2 Adders and several Common Lizards at Rammamere Heath (2^nd) (MK)

FUNGI

Good variety of fungi at Rushmere Country Park/Rammamere Heath on 2^nd October including Fly Agaric, Common Earth-ball, Brown Birch Bolete, Amethyst Deceiver, Chicken-of-the-Woods. (MK)

(Recorders – HA=Harry Appleyard, MK=Martin Kincaid)

Click on any of the pictures for a larger image.

BIRDS

Meadow Pipits, Tattenhoe Park

Red Kites circling over Tattenhoe Park

2 Spotted Flycatchers, St.Giles Church meadow, Tattenhoe (20th)

Peregrine gliding toward West Bletchley over Tattenhoe (25th)

Peregrine Tattenhoe Linear Park 25th Sept 2016 (Harry Appleyard)

LISSAMPHIBIA

Common Toads in Tattenhoe Park

INSECTS

Lepidoptera

Red Admirals and Commas feeding on blackberries around Tattenhoe

Small Copper feeding on ragwort, Tattenhoe Park (20th)

Comma by Harry Appleyard, Howe Park Wood 20th Sept ember 2016

Odonata

Common Darters and Migrant Hawkers in large numbers around Tattenhoe

1 Male Emerald Damselfly (21st)

Female Emperor Dragonfly, Tattenhoe Park (21st)

Female Emperor by Harry Appleyard, Tattenhoe Park 21st September 2016

All sightings by Harry Appleyard

Adam Henson by Julie Lane at the Floodplain Forest NR opening opening ceremony on 25 August 2016

Country file presenter Adam Henson speaking at the opening ceremony of the Floodplain Forest Nature reserve on 25th August 2016.

The reserve is now open with good accessible paths and several hides. It is already attracting a good selection of wildlife especially birds for example large flocks of goldfinches can be seen feeding on the seed heads, a great white egret, small numbers of snipe and little owl and barn owl are also present.

Article supplied by Julie Lane

BIRDS

Grey Wagtails, Tattenhoe Linear Park

Small groups of Meadow Pipits in Tattenhoe Park

Tawny Owls calling regularly in Howe Park Wood at dusk

Hobby catching dragonflies over Tattenhoe Park (14^th)

Greenshank, Floodplain Forest NR aka Manor Farm, Sunday 18^th – Peter Hassett

Great White Egret, Floodplain Forest NR aka Manor Farm, Sunday 18^th – Peter Hassett

Great White Egret and Little Egret by Harry Appleyard, Floodplain Forest NR 23 August 2016

Snipe x 5, Floodplain Forest NR aka Manor Farm, Sunday 18^th – Peter Hassett

INSECTS

Lepidoptera
Small Coppers, Tattenhoe Park

Small Copper, Tattenhoe Park (18th Sept 2016) by Harry Appleyard

Clouded Yellow Butterfly, St.Giles Church orchard, Tattenhoe (13th)

Large numbers of Commas and Red Admirals around Tattenhoe Linear Park

Odonata

2 Female Emperor Dragonflies ovipositing in Tattenhoe Park (18th Sept)

Teneral Common Darter, Tattenhoe Park (15th)

Teneral Common Darter, Tattenhoe Park (15th Sept 2016)

Emerald, Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies in Tattenhoe Park

All sightings/photos by Harry Appleyard unless otherwise stated

BIRDS

Tawny Owls calling and hunting near footpaths at dusk in Howe Park Wood
Marsh Tit in Howe Park Wood (1st Sept)

Marsh Tit, Howe Park Wood (1st September 2016)

 
Hobby over Tattenhoe Park (2nd Sept)
Pair of Yellow Wagtails flying over Tattenhoe Park
1 Swift over Tattenhoe Linear Park (4th September)
3 snipe (Floodplain Forest NR – 31^st, Julie Lane)
Flock of at least thirty goldfinches (Floodplain Forest NR – 31^st, Julie Lane)

LEPIDOSAURIA
Young Grass Snake, Tattenhoe (1st Sept)

Grass Snake, Tattenhoe (1st September 2016)

LISSAMPHIBIA
Common Frogs and Common Newts around Howe Park Wood

INSECTS

Lepidoptera
Brimstone, Tattenhoe Park (1st Sept)

Brimstone, Tattenhoe Park (1st September 2016)

Small Whites, Small Tortoiseshells and Speckled Woods in large numbers around Tattenhoe Park
Painted Lady, Tattenhoe Linear Park (3rd Sept)

Odonata
Emperor dragonflies, Tattenhoe Park
Emerald and Common Blue damselflies in Tattenhoe Park
Migrant, Southern and Brown Hawkers present around most ponds in Tattenhoe

Mature Male Southern Hawker, Howe Park Wood (1st September 2016)

BIRDS
Spotted Flycatcher, St.Giles Church meadow, Tattenhoe (8th)

Spotted Flycatcher, St.Giles Church meadow, Tattenhoe (8th August)

 
Willow Warbler singing in Tattenhoe Park (8th)
Red Kites around Tattenhoe

INSECTS
Lepidoptera
Small Copper, Brown Argus and Brimstones by Howe Park Wood (5th)
Silver-washed Fritillaries feeding on brambles by the North Bucks Way (5th)
Female Silver Washed Fritillary var Valezina seen in Shenley Wood (5th) – Possibly the first time this colour variant has been seen in Shenley Wood
White Letter Hairstreaks still on wing at Blue Lagoon (6th) and Oakhill Wood (7th)
Second generation of Holly Blue butterflies strong throughout Milton Keynes.
Red Admirals in and around Tattenhoe
Painted Ladies around Tattenhoe Park and Kingsmead Wood

Painted Lady, Tattenhoe Park (9th August)

 
Orthoptera
Male and female Speckled Bush Crickets around lights at Campbell Park Pavilion (8th)
Odonata
Large numbers of Migrant and Southern Hawkers around Howe Park Wood
Male Black-tailed Skimmer and Emerald Damselflies in Tattenhoe Park (9th)

Mature Male Emerald Damselfly, Tattenhoe Park (7th August)-1

 
Huge numbers of Common and Ruddy Darters at Blue Lagoon (6th)

FLOWERS
Goat’s-rue still in flower in fields outside Shenley Wood (4th)
Great Burnet in flower along North Bucks Way (4th)
Broad-Leaved Helleborine in flower in Linford Wood and Parsons Spinney, Great Linford (5th)

All photos by Harry Appleyard, all sightings by Harry Appleyard and Martin Kincaid

BIRDS
Pair of Ravens circling above Whaddon (23rd)

Ravens over Whaddon (23rd July)

Red Kites over Tattenhoe and Bletchley
House Sparrows with young, Tattenhoe

INSECTS
Lepidoptera
Silver-washed Fritillaries around the North Bucks Way
Small Copper in Tattenhoe Park (23rd)

Small Copper, Tattenhoe Park (23rd July)

Red Admirals around Tattenhoe and the North Bucks Way
Essex and Small Skippers in Tattenhoe Park

Odonata
2 immature male Migrant Hawkers in Tattenhoe (25th)
Southern Hawkers in Howe Park Wood and Kingsmead Wood

Mature male Southern Hawker, Kingsmead Wood (25th July)

Black-tailed Skimmers in Tattenhoe Park

All sightings and pics from Harry Appleyard

BIRDS
Green Woodpeckers with young, Howe Park Wood and Tattenhoe Linear Park
Tawny Owlet calling near Milton Keynes boundary walk (9th)
Little Grebes in Tattenhoe Park
Nuthatch in Kingsmead Wood (18th)
Marsh Tits by the North Bucks Way
Red Kites over Tattenhoe Park
Pair of Red-legged Partridge in Whaddon (18th)

MAMMALS
Noctule bats “squeaking” from roosting tree in Kingsmead Wood (18th)

INSECTS
Lepidoptera
At least 4 Purple Emperors over the North Bucks Way (16th)

Purple Emperors over North Bucks Way (16th July)

Silver-washed Fritillaries and White Admirals around the North Bucks Way and Howe Park Wood

Silver-Washed Fritillary, North Bucks Way (13th July)

Gatekeepers in and around Tattenhoe
Summer brood Holly Blue in Emerson Valley (17th)
Scarlet Tiger Moth by Howe Park Wood (16th)
Large, Small and Essex Skippers in Tattenhoe Park
Summer brood Commas in and around Tattenhoe
White Admirals and Silver-Washed Fritillarys around the North Bucks Way
Green-Veined Whites around Howe Park Wood

Odonata
Southern Hawkers and Brown Hawkers around the North Bucks Way and Howe Park Wood

Ruddy Darter, Tattenhoe Park (13th July)

Male Beautiful Demoiselle by the North Bucks Way

Male Beautiful Demoiselle, North Bucks Way (17th July)

Southern Hawkers around the North Bucks Way and Howe Park Wood
Broad-Bodied and Four-Spotted Chasers still present around many Tattenhoe ponds
Male Black-Tailed Skimmer, Tattenhoe Park (13th)

All sightings and pics by Harry Appleyard

BIRDS
2 Kingfisher, 3 Cetti’s Warbler and 1 juvenile Redstart among birds ringed at Linford Lakes (9th)
2 Green Sandpiper and 1 Little Owl at Manor Farm (12th)
1 Hobby – South Willen Lake (10th)

LEPIDOSAURIA
Grass Snake in garden pond, Woburn Sands (Viola Reed)
Slow Worms at Elfield Nature Park (7th)

INSECTS
Lepidoptera
White Admiral butterflies at Shenley Wood (7th) and Howe Park Wood (8th)
Silver Washed Fritillary at Shenley Wood (8th)
4 White Letter Hairstreaks seen on North Bucks Way (5th)
Six-belted Clearwing moths at Howe Park Wood (8th)
Wood Whites in Little Linford Wood (Mike Killeby, 11th)

Odonata
Brown Hawker dragonflies at Linford Lakes Nature Reserve (9th)

Coleoptera
7 Glow worms found on Society Walk at Wicken Wood (5th)

FLOWERS
Goat’s-rue in fields outside Shenley Wood (8th)
Wood Vetch flowering in woodland at Campbell Park (7th)
Pyramidal Orchids in flower at Stonepit, Elfield Park, Lodge Lake and Howe Park Wood.
Broad-leaved Helleborine coming into flower at Linford Wood (10th)

Eyelash Fungus by Peter Garner. Wicken Wood, 5 July 2016

FUNGI
Eyelash Fungus Scutellinia scutellata found on Society Walk at Wicken Wood (5th)

All sightings Martin Kincaid unless otherwise stated.

BIRDS

3 Ravens over Tattenhoe Park (4th July)

Red Kites over Howe Park Wood and Tattenhoe Park

Green Woodpeckers with young, Tattenhoe Linear Park

Linnets in Tattenhoe Park

INSECTS

Lepidoptera

Ringlets, Meadow Browns and Marbled Whites in large numbers around Tattenhoe

White Admirals by the North Bucks Way

4 White Letter Hairstreaks on elm by the North Bucks Way (First spotted by MK)

Summer brood Small Tortoiseshells in Tattenhoe Park

Small Tortoiseshell, Tattenhoe Park (28th June)

Odonata

Emerald Damselflies around Howe Park Wood and Tattenhoe Park

Red-Eyed, Azure and Common Blue Damselflies in Tattenhoe Park

Black-Tailed Skimmers in Tattenhoe Park

Male Black-Tailed Skimmer, Tattenhoe Park (27th June)

Immature male Southern Hawker on the North Bucks Way (3rd July)

Immature Male Southern Hawker, North Bucks Way (3rd July)

All Sightings and photos by Harry Appleyard

BIRDS

Pair of Little Grebes in Tattenhoe Park

Red Kite above Howe Park Wood (19th)

Skylarks singing over Tattenhoe Park

INSECTS

Lepidoptera

Large Skippers in Tattenhoe Park

Large Skipper, Tattenhoe Park (21st June)

Meadow Browns around Howe Park Wood and Tattenhoe Park

Small Heath in Tattenhoe Park (19th)

Small Heath, Tattenhoe Park (19th June)

Odonata

30+ Emerald Damselflies in Tattenhoe Park (19th)

Emerald Damselfly, Tattenhoe Park (21st June)

Large Red, Azure, Blue-Tailed, Common Blue and Red-Eyed Damselflies in Tattenhoe Park

Mature male Black-Tailed Skimmer in Tattenhoe Park (20th)

Emperors and Common Darters around Howe Park Wood and Tattenhoe Park

PLANTS

3 Pyramidal Orchids by Howe Park Wood

Pyramidal Orchids, Howe Park Wood (19th June)

All sightings and photos by Harry Appleyard

BIRDS

Yellowhammers singing in and around Whaddon

Yellow Wagtail, Whaddon

Skylarks singing over Tattenhoe Park

Little Owl at Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve/Manor Farm (8th) and near main hide there (9^th) MK

Barn Owls hunting at Linford Lakes (11^th) MK

MAMMALS

Water Shrew found at Pineham (10^th) MK/Harry Appleyard

Otter at Hyde Lane Gravel Pits (private site – 12^th) MK

Brown Long Eared bats roosting in hide at Linford Lakes

TELEOSTEAN FISH

Bullhead (Miller’s Thumb) found in pond dipping session at Linford Lakes (8^th – James Walsh (Parks Trust))

INSECTS

Lepidoptera
Large Skipper, North Bucks Way (8th)

Female Common Blue Butterflies, Howe Park Wood (9th)

Female Common Blue, Howe Park Wood (9th June)

Small Heath, Tattenhoe Park (11th) Kingsmead Wood (9^th – MK)

Small Copper near Water Spinney, Tattenhoe (11th)

Painted ladies appearing throughout Milton Keynes.

Odonata

Broad-Bodied Chasers and Four-Spotted Chasers throughout Tattenhoe

Four-Spotted Chaser, Howe Park Wood (9th June)

Emperor Dragonflies in St.Giles Church meadow and Tattenhoe Park

Common Darters now emerging in Tattenhoe Park

Common Darter, Tattenhoe Park (9th June)

Red-Eyed Damselflies, Tattenhoe Park

Immature female White-Legged Damselfly near Water Spinney

Large colony of white legged damselflies found at Pineham (10^th – Harry Appleyard)

FLOWERS

Sainfoin in flower at Howe Park Wood (10^th – MK)

Wood Vetch in flower at Campbell Park (9^th – MK)

MK = Martin Kincaid., All other sightings and photographs by Harry Appleyard unless otherwise stated

BIRDS

Pair of Cuckoos still very active at Linford Lakes

Lapwing chicks at Manor Farm, Old Wolverton (31^st May)

Oystercatcher chicks at Stony Stratford Nature Reserve (2^nd)

Red Kites, Tattenhoe (HA)

Great Tits, Blue Tits and House Sparrows with young around Tattenhoe (HA)

Coots with chicks, Tattenhoe Park (HA)

MAMMALS

Noctule bat roost found at Linford Wood (2^nd)

6 Badgers – Old Wolverton (5^th)

Mink reported from North Willen (1^st)

Muntjac, Tattenhoe Park (7th June HA)

INSECTS

Lepidoptera

Painted Ladies reported from New Bradwell (Tony Wood) and Howe Park Wood/Tattenhoe (Harry A) on 5^th June.

Painted Lady, Tattenhoe Park (5th June)

5 Small Blues – Stonepit Field (Julia Critchley, 5^th)

Common Blue Butterflies throughout Tattenhoe (HA)

Orange Tip Butterflies, Tattenhoe Park (HA)

Hymenoptera

Ruby Tailed Wasp Chysis ignita – Stonepit Field (3^rd)

Orthoptera

Hundreds of nymphs of Roesel’s Bush-cricket – Linford Lakes (2^nd)

Odonata (all HA)

Emperors, Broad-Bodied Chasers, Four-Spotted Chasers and Hairy Dragonflies in Tattenhoe Park

Azure, Common Blue, Blue-Tailed and Red-Eyed Damselflies, Tattenhoe Park

Immature Female White-Legged Damselfly, Tattenhoe Linear Park (6th June)

White-Legged Damselfly, Tattenhoe Linear Park (6th June)

FLOWERS

Pyramidal Orchids – Lodge Lake (3rd)

Greater Butterfly Orchid, Howe Park Wood (John and Margaret Wickham)

Greater Butterfly Orchid, Howe Park Wood (7th June)

Herb Paris, Twayblade, Greater Butterfly Orchids and Common Spotted Orchids – Linford Wood (2^nd)

Meadow Saxifrage – a fine display at Waterhall Park (3^rd)

(HA = Harry Appleyard. Sightings otherwise unattributed reported by Martin Kincaid)

Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK (ARGUK)  and Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) have jointly produce two photo ID guides for amphibians and reptiles which are intended as a resource to support training courses or to help in responding to enquiries concerning identification.

You can download the guides by clicking on the relevant icon:

Gerrymander Speedwell by Peter Hassett, Pilch Field, 8 May 2011

On the Society’s trip to Fenny Lock on 31 May 2016, members of the Society wondered where “Germander Speedwell” (Veronica chamaedrys) got it’s name. Corinna, with some help from Google, has found the answer:

Speedwell, Germander, is the commonest British species of Speedwell, found everywhere, on banks, pastures, in copses, etc., flowering in spring and early summer.
The name Germander is a corruption of the Latin chamaedrys. Gerard commenting on the name says: ‘The Germander from the form of the leaves like unto small oak leaves, has the name chamaedrys given it, which signifieth a dwarf oak’ – though the likeness is not very pronounced.

Click here for more information.

BIRDS

Male Cuckoo singing at Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve (26^th)

Yellowhammers and Skylarks singing near the North Bucks Way

Peregrine over Hazeley Wood (29^th)

Peregrine over Hazeley Wood, 29th May

House Sparrows with fledglings, Tattenhoe

Little Egret, Tattenhoe Linear Park (23rd May)

Little Egret, Tattenhoe Linear Park (23rd May)

INSECTS

Lepidoptera

Red Admiral, Tattenhoe Park (29^th)

Common Blue butterflies around Tattenhoe Park and Howe Park Wood

Cinnabar Moth, North Bucks Way (29th)

Female Orange Tip, Tattenhoe Park (23rd May)

Female Orange Tip, Tattenhoe Park (23rd May)

Odonata

Large Red, Azure and Blue-Tailed Damselflies throughout Tattenhoe

Broad-Bodied Chasers, Four-Spotted Chasers and Hairy Dragonflies throughout Tattenhoe

MAMMALS

Female Roe Deer near the North Bucks Way (28^th)

Muntjac Buck near the North Bucks Way (29^th)

All sightings and photographs by Harry Appleyard

As you may have heard, our swifts are struggling. It is believed that the UK population of swifts has declined by 35% since 1995. Whilst the reasons for many of our bird declines are still unclear, we can be fairly confident that the main cause in the decline in this species is the loss of nesting sites, as modern housing excludes swifts from roof spaces.

Happily, many organisations including Swift Conservation and the RSPB are working hard to address this issue and to make our urban landscape more swift friendly. There are a number of specially designed swift bricks and swift boxes that can be fitted into new buildings easily and cheaply.  Where these have been installed on a large scale they have been shown to be very successful in establishing new nesting colonies.

I recently met with Rebecca Pitman who is the RSPB’s new Swift Cities Project Officer.  Part of her remit is to develop a network of swift cities across the UK – places where all major development includes nesting opportunities for swifts (and other species). So far, Belfast and Exeter are registered as Swift Cities…wouldn’t it be great if we could add Milton Keynes to the list in time?

For now, the best way to help is to contribute to the RSPB’s database of nesting sites. Some of the older parts of Milton Keynes still support swift colonies. You can help by visiting the website at http://rspb.org.uk/swiftsurvey  and logging your sightings of nesting swifts. Just make a note of date and time of any swifts you see entering or leaving a nest and enter these details with a grid reference.  Remember that the hour before dusk is often the best time to look and listen for swifts, when they emerge from their nest sites and ‘swarm’. You can hardly miss them as they fly overhead in tight formation, screaming as they go!

If any members have a deeper interest in swifts and their conservation and might be interested in becoming involved in a local action group for the species, please let me know.

Martin Kincaid

BIRDS

Swifts, House Martins and Swallows over Tattenhoe Park

Peregrine hunting at dusk at Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve (22^nd)

Pair of Goosanders over Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve (22^nd)

Pair of Kestrels in Tattenhoe Park (Possibly nesting)

OTHER CHORDATES

Tadpoles and Sticklebacks, Howe Park Wood (23rd May)

INSECTS

Odonata

Broad-Bodied Chasers, Four-Spotted Chasers and Hairy Dragonflies in and around Tattenhoe

Broad-Bodied Chaser and Large Red Damselfly, Tattenhoe

Large Red and Azure Damselflies around Howe Park Wood and Tattenhoe Park

1 Blue-Tailed Damselfly by Howe Park Wood (23^rd)

Lepidoptera

2 Dingy Skippers, 1 Brown Argus and 1 Common Blue by Howe Park Wood (22^nd)

Brown Argus, Howe Park Wood (22nd May 2016)

Holly Blues in and around Tattenhoe

Burnet Companions and 1 Clouded Border in Tattenhoe Park (22^nd)

Hymenoptera

Tree bumblebee Bombus hypnorum – nest in bird box in last year’s blue tit nest in Secretary’s garden, Blakelands. This species, which has arrived in Britain over the last 15 years, is stated in the literature to have a strong preference for hawthorn, Crataegus monogyna, a large specimen of which grows outside the Secretary’s gate 10 metres from the nest.

Birdbox with Tree Bumblee nest inside (Steve Brady)

Tree bumblebee nest (Steve Brady)

(All sightings and photographs by Harry Appleyard unless otherwise stated)

Xanthogramma citrofasciatum by Peter Garner at Linford lakes NR, 17 May 2016

Peter Garner has found a female Xanthogramma citrofasciatum,  at Linford Lakes NR on 17 May 2016.

Peter commented that this rather attractive hoverfly is listed in Britain’s Hoverflies (Ball and Morris) as being ‘scarce’, with its main distribution being in the South and South West of England.  It’s the first one I’ve seen!

MAMMALS

Otter spraint  on the footings of Tyringham bridge (17^th – Julie Lane)

BIRDS

1 Cuckoo at Oakhill Wood (14^th) and 3 (2m, 1f) at Linford Lakes (15^th)

2 Black Terns at South Willen (11-12^th), 1 at Linford Lakes (11^th)

4 pairs of Common Tern and 1 Hobby at Stony Stratford Nature Reserve (17^th – MK)

Buzzard on nest at Elfield Park (13^th – MK)

Little Owl calling at Woughton (15^th – MK/HA)

Skylark singing at Stanton Low (16^th – MK)

Pair of Red Kites circling over the river at Tyringham (17^th – Julie Lane)

Huge numbers of Swallows and House Martins twittering over Emberton Park sailing lake (13^th – Julie Lane)

Blue and Great Tits nesting in the dormouse boxes in Little Linford Wood are still sitting on eggs when in a normal year they would have hatched by now (Tony Wood)

INSECTS

 Orthoptera

Roesel’s bush-cricket nymph – North Bucks Way (14^th – MK)

Slender Groundhopper – Pineham (Simon Bunker)

Lepidoptera

Small Copper butterfly – Stonepit Field (16^th – MK)

Red Admirals arriving in number now.

Common Blue, Red Eyed and Large Red Damselflies at Linford Lakes (15^th)

Painted Lady in Olney (16^th – Julie Lane)

FLOWERS

 Meadow Saxifrage in flower at Stony Stratford Reserve (17^th)

Bee Orchids close to flowering at South Willen (17^th)

Common Crow-foot flowering in ponds at Woughton on the Green (15^th)

 N.B. MK = Martin Kincaid, HA = Harry Appleyard

MAMMALS

Bank Voles in Howe Park Wood (HA)

Roe deer by the North Bucks Way (7^th May – HA)

Roe Deer – Shenley Wood (6^th)

Badger seen at Linford Lakes (5^th – MK)

BIRDS

Garden Warblers singing in Howe Park Wood and Tattenhoe Park (HA)

Garden Warbler, Tattenhoe Park (5th May) (HA)

Reed Warblers around Furzton Lake, Tattenhoe Park and North Bucks Way (HA)

Swifts over Tattenhoe and Furzton (HA)

Pair of Spotted Flycatchers by brook in Furzton (4^th May – HA)

Hobby over Tattenhoe Park (5^th May – HA)

Cuckoo, 2 Barn Owls, 2 Hobbies – Linford Lakes (5^th – MK)

8 Red Kites at Newton Longville (8^th – MK)

Goosander with 9 young at Olney Mill

Turnstone at Manor Farm (5^th)

Spotted Flycatchers at Shenley Wood and Linford Lakes

LEPIDOSAURIA (aka “REPTILES”) 

9 Grass Snakes found at Walton Lake (4^th – MK/Ella Cooke)

2 Grass Snakes basking outside Near Hide, Linford Lakes (7^th)

Adder skin found at Rammamere Heath (2^nd – Helen Wilson)

INSECTS

Lepidoptera

Holly Blue and Large White butterflies around Furzton and Tattenhoe (HA)

Holly Blue, Howe Park Wood (6th May) HA

Green-Veined Whites and Orange Tips in most parts of Tattenhoe (HA)

Red Admirals in and around Howe Park Wood (HA)

Dingy Skipper and Small heath butterflies at Blue Lagoon (8^th – MK)

4 Red Admirals on North Bucks Way (8^th – MK)

Pair of Orange-Tips in copula – Blakelands  (15^th May, Steve Brady)

Coleoptera

Great Diving Beetles in ponds at Linford Lakes (5^th – MK)

Hymenoptera

Red Mason bee, Ashy mining bee, Hairy Footed Flower Bee all nesting in walls at Manor Farm Court, Old Wolverton (6^th – MK)

Odonata

Large Red and Azure Damselflies emerging around Howe Park Wood ponds and Tattenhoe Park (HA)

Hairy Dragonflies around Tattenhoe Linear Park and Howe Park Wood ponds (HA)

Female Hairy Dragonfly, Tattenhoe Linear Park (6th May) HA

Four-Spotted Chaser in Tattenhoe Linear Park (6^th May) (HA)

Homoptera

Black and Red Froghoppers in Tattenhoe Park (HA)

FLOWERS

Water Crowfoot in ponds at Woughton on the Green.

Early Purple Orchids in most woodlands.

Herb Paris in flower in Linford Wood

Field Poppies out along grid roads

Sightings reported by HA = Harry Appleyard, MK = Martin Kincaid, or as named

*Sightings cover the past 10 days, unless indicated by individual dates*

Keith Balmer, one of the Bedfordshire County Recorders for butterflies, has produced an excellent website providing information about the 36 butterfly species resident in Bedfordshire, plus two regular migrants. Species that are occasionally seen but are not believed to breed in the county have been omitted.

The distribution maps relate to Bedfordshire. The site also contains extensive information about eaxh species of butterfly and photographs to aid identification.

Click on this link to find out more.

BIRDS

(Apart from our pair of Black-winged Stilts – see separate News item!)

• PURPLE HERON photographed at Linford Lakes (21st – Neil Schofield)
• 2 White Wagtails at Manor Farm – with Yellow Wagtails
• Swifts seen at South Willen Lake (22nd – Martin Kincaid)
• Cuckoo at Linford Lakes (22nd – Martin Kincaid)
• Common Whitethroats, Lesser Whitethroats, Garden Warblers all singing now across MK.

Howe Park Wood

• Pair of Ravens being chased by Crows (Saturday 23rd)
• Small group of Linnets frequently visiting meadows by Howe Rock Place car park
• Tawny Owl hunting at dusk (Monday 25th)

Tattenhoe Park

• Pair of Coots with nest
• Red Kites hunting over fields
• Swallows passing through
• Common and Lesser Whitethroats singing

(Howe Park Wood and Tattenhoe Park sightings by Harry Appleyard)

MAMMALS

• Hedgehog reported from back garden, Furzton (Jean Aslett, 22nd)
• 4 Badgers, 1 Hedgehog – Old Wolverton (Martin Kincaid, 24th)
• Large numbers of Noctule bats seen over Stantonbury Lake, Linford Lakes (Martin Kincaid/Helen Wilson – 21st)
• Bank Vole, Tattenhoe Linear Park (Harry Appleyard)

• Muntjac in and around Howe Park Wood (Harry Appleyard)

  LEPIDOSAURIA

  • Large female Grass Snake basking outside Near Hide, Linford Lakes (Martin Kincaid – 24th)
  Grass snake by Martin Kincaid, Linford Lakes NR,24 April 2016

   

INSECTS

Lepidoptera

• Hummingbird Hawk-moth and Holly Blue butterfly – both in the Allen’s garden, Newport Pagnell (Carol Allen -23rd)
• Emperor Moth reported from Tattenhoe (20th)
• Holly Blue butterfly, Tattenhoe Park (Wednesday 20th – Harry Appleyard)
• Small White Butterflies around Howe Park Wood (Harry Appleyard)
• Speckled Wood butterflies, Water Spinney (Harry Appleyard)

Odonata

• Large Red Damselfly, Tattenhoe Park (Wednesday 20th) – First record in Bucks for 2016 (Confirmed by Alan Nelson)

Large Red Damselfly by Harry Appleyard, Tattenhoe Park 20 April 2016

ANGIOSPERMS

• Field Poppies in flower along H3 (Monks Way), Great Linford
• Early Purple Orchids in flower – Linford Wood (23rd)

Ramsons in flower at Bradwell Abbey and Stony Stratford Nature Reserve

A pair of Black-Winged Stilts, Himantopus himantopus, have been seen at Floodplain Forest NR at Manor Farm on Sunday morning, 24th April. This photo was taken of one:

Black-winged Stilt by Mark Appleton, Floodplain Forest NR 24 April 2016

The birds were seen to mate several times. If this leads to breeding here, and it is successful, it will be only the fourth recorded successful breeding of this essentially Mediterranean wader in Britain. The last two were in 2014 near Chichester in Sussex and in 1987 in Norfolk. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for another breeding success here this year.

Keep your eyes on this website for the latest news on these exciting rare birds in our area!

AMPHIBIANS

BIRDS

Male Blackcap by Harry Appleyard, Tattenhoe, 17 April 2016

• Common and Lesser Whitethroats – Tattenhoe, First seen (15 April) [HA]
• Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs – St. Giles Church Meadow [HA]
• Coots with nest – Tattenhoe Park [HA]
• Ring-Necked Parakeet near retail park  – Westcroft (15 April) [HA]
• 5 Skylarks, 2 Yellowhammer and flock of Linnets – Magna Park (15 April) [MK]
• Cuckoo, Yellow Wagtail, Sedge Warbler, Swallows and Sand Martins – Linford Lakes (16 April) [MK]
• Osprey over Campbell Park (18 April) [MK]
• Long Eared Owl reported from Linford Lakes.

INSECTS

Small White by Harry Appleyard, Tattenhoe, 17 April 2016

• Red-Tailed Bumblebees in and around Howe Park Wood [HA]
• Small White Butterfly in St. Giles Church meadow, Tattenhoe (16 April) [HA]
• Orange Tip butterfly – Stony Stratford Nature Reserve (14 April) [MK]
• Water Stick Insect found on pond dipping session – Linford Lakes (18 April [Parks Trust staff]

MAMMALS

Hare Tattenhoe Park in January 2016 by Harry Appleyard

• Brown Hare -Tattenhoe Park) [HA]
• Brown Hare, (Magna Park 15 April)  [LD]
• 15 Chinese Water Deer (Magna Park 15 April)  [LD]
• Water Vole (Lodge Lake 16 April) [LD]

PLANTS

• Cowslips everywhere!
• Fantastic display of Marsh Marigold in ponds at Campbell Park.
• First Early Purple Orchids emerging at Shenley Wood (14 April)

Grass Snake by Harry Appleyard, Tattenhoe, 15 April 2016

REPTILES

• 2 Grass Snakes – Tattenhoe Linear Park [HA]

[HA = Harry Appleyard]
[LD = Lewis Dickinson]
[MK = Martin Kincaid]

Meadow Flowers by Tony Hisgett. (CC BY 2.0)

It is well documented that significant losses in semi-natural grassland occurred across Europe during the second half of the twentieth century. However, comparatively few studies have investigated and quantified the fate of large numbers of individual grassland areas. This is important for understanding the causes of decline, and consequently establishing new policies to conserve and restore lost habitats. This study addresses this problem; GIS was used to compare historic survey data collected between 1960 and 1981 with two contemporary spatial datasets of habitats in England. The datasets included the Priority Habitats Inventory 2013 and the Land Cover Map 2007 and this was undertaken for different types of semi-natural grassland across England. Considerable decreases occurred across the different grassland types, with a loss of 47% of studied semi-natural grasslands sites in England over 32–53 years. Of this, the majority of grassland was lost to conversion to agriculturally-improved grassland or arable cultivation, 45% and 43% respectively. Changes to woodland and urban areas were also evident, but on a much smaller scale. Sites receiving statutory protection as a Site of Special Scientific Interest were found to have retained more grassland (91%), compared with non-protected sites (27%), thus highlighting the effectiveness of this aspect of current conservation policy in England, and the need for this to continue in the future.

Click on the link to read the rest of the article: Fate of semi-natural grassland in England between 1960 and 2013: A test of national conservation policy

I recently spent a wonderful week on the southern part of the Island of Mull with my daughter and her partner who is an RSPB warden and has an incredible knowledge of birds. We stayed in a lovely cottage with views across the sea to Staffa, Colinsay and Dutchmans Cap etc. The week was full of great wildlife sightings including 20 plus sightings of hen harriers, 14 golden eagles and 17 sea eagles, plus a wonderful view of a snipe drumming tail feathers extended to create that amazingly evocative humming sound.

We didnt see many otters apart from one amazing view of a mother and older cub playing together on the rocks about 20 metres away. However one cold damp morning we decided to go down to the local beach for a morning dog walk and just inside a gate we found to our dismay a perfectly formed but lifeless baby otter. As we looked on sadly I noticed the minutist twitch of one of the half opened eyes. I picked the cub up and cuddled it inside my coat to try and warm it up – no response at all. Meanwhile we had met some locals who invited us into their home and spent the next half hour trying to contact someone from the Mull Otter Group but to no avail. Eventually the local wildlife crime officer supplied them with a mobile number and soon our otter rescue lady was rushing over from Tobermory with a supply of bright pink rehydrate solution.

The otter cub perked up after being given rehydration solution

We could now see that the cub was breathing more deeply and after two syringes of rehydrate which she swallowed she started to open her eyes and look more alert, but still there was absolutely no movement in her floppy limbs. She was bundled into a cat crate and disappeared off in the car and that was the last we saw of her.

Two days after rescue and she is looking much healthier.

However two days later I received an email from the lady with the wonderful news that Gribun our cub was doing very well indeed and was soon to be sent off to the SSPCA who had another little 13 week old cub who needed a friend. This week came more good news, that the cub has settled happily with her playmate, after a bit of grumpiness, and they are both doing well. They will be kept together at the centre with minimal human contact for a year, after which they will be released into the wild.

Apparently otter mums bear their cubs in holts that are up to three miles inland and at about 7 weeks of age they move them to a holt nearer the sea. Maybe this little cub got separated from her mum on this journey and became dangerously weak and dehydrated.

We feel incredibly privileged to have been involved in the rescue of such an exquisite creature and to have held her little furry body and examined her leathery black paws and needle sharp teeth – wow!! It’s so good that it had a happy ending as well, although she would have been better off gambolling in the loch with her mum like the other cub we had seen earlier in the week.

Ps Apparently the otter cub who was rescued after the floods in MK recently ended up in Tiggywinkles rescue centre and it is also going to be sent up to Scotland for release, as there are more suitable habitats for it up there. So a happy ending for both orphans!!

The article and photos were kindly supplied by Julie Lane

BIRDS

• Red Kites over Tattenhoe and Westcroft
• Swallows over Tattenhoe
• Willow Warblers singing in and around Tattenhoe
• Sand Martin and pair of Curlews over Stony Stratford Nature Reserve (Weds 6th)
• Wheatears, Tattenhoe Park (Mon 11th)
• Common Sandpiper, Tattenhoe Park (Mon 11th)
• Green Woodpeckers Howe Park Wood (Mon 11th) (Harry’s pic below appeared on the official BBC Springwatch Facebook page!)

Green Woodpeckers, Howe Park Wood (11th April)

Sightings by Harry Appleyard

Bucks Bird Club at Manor Farm/Floodplain Forest NR 10th

Cetti’s Warbler, Little Ringed Plover  (sightings from Peter Garner – full list below)

Manor Farm Friday 8th April am

Little Ringed Plover (x2);Oyster Catcher; Snipe; Redshank (several); Shoveller (x2); Green Woodpecker (x2); Goosander (x2); Cetti’s Warbler; Blackcap

Stony Stratford Reserve Friday 8th April pm

Oyster Catcher (x2); Snipe (3); Shoveller (x2); Bullfinch (x2)

Encouraging numbers of lapwing displaying at both sites.

Sightings by Joe Clinch

MAMMALS

• Bank Vole, Tattenhoe Linear Park (Mon 11th) (Harry Appleyard)

INSECTS

Lepidoptera

• Comma and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies, Tattenhoe Linear Park
• Peacock butterflies, Blakelands, 12th

Full list of birds seen on Bucks Bird Club visit to Manor Farm/Floodplain Forest NR, Sunday 10th April, led by Peter Garner:

Great tit
Blue tit
Wren
Willow warbler
Blackbird
Robin
Tufted duck
Gadwall
Magpie
Canada goose
Crow
Wood pigeon
Little ringed plover
Pied wagtail
Mallard
Redshank
Coot
Lapwing
Pheasant
Sand Martin
Cormorant
Buzzard
Moorhen
Little egret
Reed bunting
Great crested grebe
Oystercatcher
Teal
Sparrowhawk
Cetti's warbler
Starling
Blackcap
Grey wagtail
Chiffchaff
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Mute swan
Chaffinch
Great spotted woodpecker 
Long tailed tit
Little grebe 
 

INSECTS

Brimstone by Harry Appleyard, Howe Park Wood 2 April 2016

• Bee-flies now out across MK. [MK]
• Brimstone, Comma, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies, Howe Park Wood [HA]
• Comma and Red Admiral butterflies – Manor Farm (2nd April) [MK]
• 3 Male Brimstone and 2 Small Tortoiseshell in garden (2nd) [Val & Brian]
• Green Tiger Beetles – Rammamere Heath (3rd) [MK]

Common Lizard by Harry Appleyard, Rammamere Heath 13 March 2016

REPTILES

• 2 Adders, Slow-worm and Common Lizards – Rushmere Country Park (3rd) [MK]
• 2 Grass Snakes – Walton Lake (3rd) [MK]

AMPHIBIANS

Common Toad by Harry Appleyard, Howe Park Wood 23 March 2016

• Common Toads and Tadpoles in ponds by Café, Howe Park Wood [HA & MK]
• Great Crested Newts – Linford Lakes (31st March) [MK]

BIRDS

Male Wheatear by Harry Appleyard, Tattenhoe Park 1 April 2016

• Male Wheatear, Tattenhoe Park (1st April) [HA]
• Willow Warbler by St.Giles Church, Tattenhoe (2nd April) [HA]
• Blackcaps singing in Howe Park Wood, Tattenhoe Park and Furzton [HA]
• 

  Willow Warbler by Harry Appleyard, Tattenhoe Valley Park 2 April 2016

  Swallow, Tattenhoe Park (2nd April) [HA]

• Young Grey Herons, Furzton Lake (3rd April) [HA]
• Barn Owls hunting at Linford Lakes (29th March) [MK]
• Sand Martins and Wheatear – Linford Lakes (30th) [MK]
• Linnet flock, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Redshank, 10+ Snipe – Manor Farm (2nd) [MK]
• Sparrow Hawk in garden (1st) [Val & Brian]

MAMMALS

• 2 Fallow Deer in fields by A5, Great Brickhill (3rd) [MK]
• Otter reported from Stony Stratford nature reserve (1st)

[MK][HA = Harry Appleyard]
[MK = Martin Kincaid]

BIRDS

• Common Scoter – 10 birds at Caldecott South Lake (22nd). Single at Mount Farm (29th)
• Black Tern – Willen Lake South
• Arctic Tern – Willen Lake South
• Common Tern – Willen Lake South
• House Martin – Willen Lake South and Caldecott South Lake
• Sand Martin – Willen Lake South and Caldecott South Lake

Common Scoter by Peter Hassett, Mount Farm, 29 March 2016

Common Scoter by Peter Hassett, Mount Farm, 29 March 2016

The 5 pairs of Common Scoter were seen on Caldecott South Lake on 22 March 2016. The solitary immature female Common Scoter arrived at Manor Farm on 29 March. Some record shots are included.

BIRDS

• Marsh Tits – Howe Park Wood and Oakhill Wood
• Large groups of Siskins in Howe Park Wood and on the North Bucks Way
• Chiffchaffs singing in Oakhill Wood (Mon 21st)
• Red Kites over Tattenhoe Park (Thurs 17th)
• Woodcocks (x1 Tattenhoe Linear Park, x1 North Bucks Way)
• Tawny Owls hooting in the early afternoon, North Bucks Way (Sat 26th)

All sightings by Harry Appleyard

LISSAMPHIBIA

• Common Toads, Howe Park Wood (Harry Appleyard)
• Frog Spawn in Secretary’s pond for last 3 weeks

MAMMALS

• Fallow deer tracks and Roe buck, the North Bucks Way (Thurs 11th) (Harry Appleyard)

INSECTS

Lepidoptera

• Small Tortoiseshell butterflies, North Bucks Way and Tattenhoe Linear Park (Thurs 11th)
• Red-tailed bumblebee, North Bucks Way (Thurs 11th)
• Male Brimstone in Ellis’s garden in Blue Bridge, 21st

In the What’s About news items for the 16th and 23rd February 2016 we advised you that a Ferruginous Duck and a Dipper had been seen in Milton Keynes.

The Bucks Bird Club (BuBC) produce an excellent monthly bulletin for their members. The March edition contains articles on both of these rare visitors to Milton Keynes. The BuBC have kindly agreed that the Society can publish these articles on our website:

This photograph of the disputed adult Ferruginous Duck at Caldecotte Lake shows off its rear undertail white feathers, one of its key identification features at distance as well as its high forehead. Photo – Andrew Moon

Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca is a scarce duck at the best of times with only ten or so records from Bucks.  However the possibility of escapes from wildfowl collections cannot always be discounted. This rather smart drake turned up at Caldecotte Lake on 5th February 2016 found by Keith O’Hagan.  It stayed there for several days and then moved to Mount Farm Lake on 12th February.  It then proceeded to move between the two lakes periodically. The bird showed all of the identification features of a Ferruginous Duck, however a few of our experienced birders in Bucks felt this was more inclined to be an escaped bird. However, not much could be pinpointed to this, perhaps too good to be true getting the vote. It was drifting around a Black-headed Gull for some time, which either suggests watch out for a very interesting hybrid or it was just looking for friends, choosing this bird rather than closer related birds such as Pochard or Mallard, which doesn’t necessarily make it tame. While the origins of many scarce ducks is often unknown, this individual was rather wary at times and was un-ringed, so perhaps suggesting a wild origin, and what’s wrong with a ‘too good to be true’, being true on occasion, at the right time of year and when a small influx of other birds have been seen around the UK in February.  The natural location of breeding birds is in East Europe and beyond, with a few regular localised wintering populations in Central France. Perhaps this one favoured BreExit! The Bucks records committee will decide in due course whether to accept as a wild bird or a potential escapee. Still a beautiful bird and one well worth publishing here and as seen by many.

This photograph of a scarce bird for Bucks proved to be a much sought after Dipper (also known as White-throated Dipper) which has not been seen in Bucks for many years. Thanks to this opportunistic photographer for recognising this wasn’t just any bird and for sharing this image with us to help aid its identification as a valued record. Photo – Sarah Mckeeman

Reports of a Dipper (White-throated) Cinclus cinclus in north Milton Keynes was more conclusive and brought out bird searching fever after being reported by a non-birder but keen photographer Sarah Mckeeman. This single photo of the bird was taken on its favourite rock on Loughton Brook, near Bradwell and blog-posted on Sat 13^th February, probably one of only a few locations in this part of Bucks, where the bird could have found some pleasure in habitat that it would normally seek in more northern streams and rivers of the UK, or gushing brooks in Devon or Wales. No doubt the same bird seen again shortly after, but this time located in the Emerson Valley Park stream in Furzton near a footbridge very close to V3 Fulmer Street.  Adam Bassett, who was seeking the bird at the time, came across Sarah and a friend whilst looking for the bird, who shared the image seen here with him. This being the case she was delighted to learn of the rarity of the image she had captured but more importantly had collected a record for Bucks, not seen since 1994. Other birds have been seen over preceding years but only ones and twos over each decade. It would appear from this valued photograph that the bird is of the nominate form, the continental Cinclus c. cinclus. Most birds in the distant past have been migrants, as the more resident two UK sub-species birds of West Scotland c. hibernicus and rest of Scot/North and West England and Wales c. gularis tend to stay local. Both of these forms have a slightly more rusty brown belly, whereas the birds from the continent are known as Dark-bellied. In Sarah’s own words: “Walter and I were stalking the kingfisher that lives along this piece of river.  We were at the brick bridge than runs under the west coast main line.  This bridge has a wooden bridge that lets pedestrians through.  We were walking back south and out of the corner of our eyes, saw a bird flying fast and smoothly just above the water to under these bridges.  We both looked at each other and for a second as it looked like a black kingfisher in flight.  Anyway, next thing we knew, it flew back past us again, to the stepping stones in the water. Curious to see what it was, we started clicking away, light was pretty poor and we daren’t get any closer as we didn’t want to spook it.  A couple of times it flew back to the bridge, then back to the stones.  We lost it after that” Alas, it was not seen again at these locations although some intrepid Bucks birders trod miles just in case.

I would like to thank the BuBC and especially Tony Hardware for their assistance in the production of this article. I recommend that you check out their website and consider joining the group.

INSECTS
Small Tortoiseshell butterfly at Rammamere Heath (13th – HA)
Buff-tailed Bumblebees active throughout MK now.
Peacock butterfly and Greater Bee-fly – Linford Lakes Nature Reserve (14th – MK)

Common Lizard by Harry Appleyard, Rammamere Heath 13 March 2016

REPTILES
Common Lizards seen basking at Rammamere Heath (13th)

BIRDS
2 Redshank on Willen Island (14th – MK)
Oystercatcher pair on top of Sand Martin Bank, Linford Lakes NR (12th)
Woodcock – Rushmere Country Park (13th – MK)
Tawny Owls calling at Woughton on the Green (13th)
Pintail – a pair still at Linford Lakes NR (14th)
Chiffchaffs heard calling at Linford Lakes and Caldecotte Lake

(HA) = Harry Appleyard
(MK) = Martin Kincaid

FLOWERS/PLANTS
Common Dog Violets – Linford and Shenley Woods (MK)
Cowslips and a few Bluebells – Howe Park Wood (MK)
Rosettes of bee orchids emerging at Willen Lake and Newport Pagnell (MK)
Danish Scurvygrass beginning to flower along grid roads (MK)

AMPHIBIANS

Common Frogs by Harry Appleyard, Howe Park Wood 01Mar16

Common frogs in ponds at Howe Park Wood and Westcroft ponds (MK) (HA)
Great Crested and Smooth Newts at Hazeley Wood (4th March – MK)
Any toads spawning yet??

BIRDS
Oystercatcher pairs at Stony Stratford, Manor Farm, Linford Lakes and Gayhurst. (MK)
8 Common Snipe and 1 Green Sandpiper on island at Stony Stratford Reserve (6th – MK)
A few Goldeneye still at South Willen Lake (4th – MK)
Sparrowhawk male at bottom of garden, Oldbrook (5th – Helen Wilson)
Redwings and Fieldfares gradually heading north. (MK)
Siskins – Tattenhoe Park and Howe Park Wood (HA)
Skylarks singing above fields in Tattenhoe Park and near Oakhill Wood (HA)

INSECTS
Red-Tailed Bumblebee – Howe Park Wood (Thurs 3rd) (HA)

MAMMALS
Roe, muntjac and more possible wild boar tracks in Oakhill Wood (Sun 6th) (HA)

(HA) = Harry Appleyard
(MK) = Martin Kincaid

BIRDS

3 Pintail, 1 Black Swan, 2 Oystercatchers – Linford Lakes (27th Feb)

Goosanders, Lapwings, Snipe and 1 Oystercatcher – Stony Stratford N.R. (Michele Welborn – 29th)

Herons nesting at Willen Island, Furzton Lake and Linford Lakes.

Yellowhammers and Red Kites – Tattnehoe (Harry A – 28th)

Stonechat – Stanton Low (27th)

PLANTS

Colt’s Foot, Lesser Celandine, Danish Scurvygrass, Common Dog Violet, Primrose, Marsh Marigold in flower at Stony Stratford Nature Reserve (26th Feb)

Bluebells in flower at Howe Park Wood (Harry Appleyard)

INSECTS
Lepidoptera
Red Admiral in Tony Wood’s back garden, New Bradwell (24th)

Hemiptera-Heteroptera
Water Scorpions and Lesser Waterboatmen found during pond dipping session – Linford Lakes (29th)

FLOWERS

Common Dog Violets – several in flower at Linford Wood (22nd – MK)
Colt’s Foot in flower throughout Ouse Valley
Blackthorn in blossom – Linford Lakes Nature Reserve (18th)
Cowslips in flower – Howe Park Wood (17th – MK)
Hawthorn coming into leaf throughout MK

AMPHIBIANS

Common Toads spawning at Howe Park Wood ponds (21 – Harry Appleyard)
Frogs and spawn in ponds at Westcroft, North Willen, Linford Lakes and Linford Wood (20-22)
Great Crested Newts under refugia – Hazeley Wood (18th – Parks Trust staff)

BIRDS

Ferruginous Duck still at Caldecotte Lake (South)
DIPPER – confirmed sighting in Loughton Brook, Furzton (16th – Andy Harding)
Merlin – hunting over Stanton Low (20th)
10 Goosander, 1 Little Owl – Manor Farm, Old Wolverton (20th – MK)
Chiffchaff singing at Westcroft ponds (22nd – HA)
2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Raven – Pineham Park (22nd – MK)

MAMMALS

Pipistrelle bat flying over Teardrop Lakes at dusk (22nd – MK)

BIRDS
Ferruginous Duck – now at Mount Farm Lake, Bletchley (Martin Kincaid, 15th)
Dipper – one in Loughton Brook near Bradwell Abbey (Justin Long, 14th)
5 Goosander – Stony Stratford Nature Reserve (Michele Welborn, 13th)
3 Stonechat – Manor Farm (Martin Kincaid, 13th)
Bittern – Linford Lakes (Martin Kincaid, 12th

MAMMALS
Badger at Howe Park Wood (Harry Appleyard, 10th)
Chinese Water Deer – Pineham Park

INSECTS
Brimstone butterfly – Willen Lake (Martin Kincaid, 15th)
Buff tailed Bumblebee – Howe Park Wood (Harry Appleyard, 12th)

Mole Fortress by Julie Lane

Whilst walking down near the river Ouse recently, in an area which can occasionally flood in very wet conditions, I found this huge molehill which was about 100 wide x 60cms high! According to our knowledgeable members this is a mole fortress, so I decided to search on the internet to find out more about this interesting phenomena which I had not heard about before and I thought I would share my findings with you. 

Moles sometimes build huge molehills weighing over 500 kg. Usually they contain a network of tunnels, a nest chamber lined with hay and caches of earthworms. The worms have their heads bitten off and remain immobile in a tangled ball. They act a store of food for when the mole cannot obtain food from its tunnel system, for example during periods of flooding or freezing temperatures.

The vast majority of molehills are relatively small and without internal structure but on occasion moles construct these large and structured mounds called fortresses which are commonly found in areas with a high water table which are liable to flooding. When the waters rise the mole can retreat from the waterlogged tunnels and take refuge within the fortress. There it can remain, dry in its nest and sustained by the stores of worms, until the waters recede.
Fortresses also feature in shallow soils lying on a hard substrate. Moles prefer to make their nests deep in the soil where temperatures are relatively stable and for most of the year rather higher than at the surface. Moles living in thin soils cannot dig deep nests and a fortress may offer a degree of insulation to the mole asleep in its nest.
Fortresses are built with the soil excavated from tunnels that would have been dug anyway but there is a considerable extra cost in moving this large quantity of soil to one central point.

Word and picture by Julie Lane

FLOWERS

• Winter Aconite in flower at North Willen (30th Jan)
• Lesser Celandine and Danish Scurvygrass at Stony Stratford Nature Reserve (29th Jan)
• 2015 Scentless Mayweed STILL in flower at Woverton Mill! (1st Feb)

BIRDS

• Peregrine pair displaying at StadiumMK (2nd Feb)
• Barn Owl at Linford Lakes Nature Reserve (30th  Jan)
• 36 Goldeneye at Willen Lake (30th Jan)
• 2 Bitterns at BBOWT Calvert Lake Reserve (29th Jan)
• 5 Stonechats at Manor Farm (28th Jan)

MAMMALS

• Weasel crossing road into Linford Lakes NR (27th Jan)

All sightings by Martin Kincaid