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MKNHS does not generally check the reliability of a sighting but for particularly rare or uncommon species, we may ask for additional information. We reserve the right to make the final decision on what sightings are posted.

December

29^th Egyptian Goose (2) amongst c.80 Greylag Geese; a flock of c.100 Lapwing wheeled around and over (field between the two branches of the River Ouse SP857451). Newport Pagnell (Martin Ferns)
29^th Great White Egret (6), Little Egret (4), Cormorant (15-20) Kickles Lake. Newport Pagnell (Martin Ferns)
29^th Shoveller (2), Wigeon (c.15) and Tufted Duck (c.15), amongst larger number of Mallard. Gayhurst Quarry Lakes. Newport Pagnell (Martin Ferns)
29^th Brent Goose: In favoured field. Foxcote Reservoir (BuBC)
28^th Goldeneye (f): Foxcote Reservoir (Chris Coppock/BuBC)
27^th Whooper Swan (3): Present in the winter wheat field near to Lavendon and viewable from the A428. Cold Brayfield (BuBC)
27^th Brent Goose (juv): Present again alone in favoured field to the North West as you view from the hide. Foxcote Reservoir. (BuBC)
27^th Pintail: Floodplain Forest NR, Milton Keynes (BuBC)
25^th Willow Warbler: The first recorded in December in Bucks. Orange legs, dark eye-stripes and very scruffy tail feathers separating it from at least 2 Chiffchaffs in the area: Emerson Valley. (Harry Appleyard)

Willow Warbler (Photo© Harry Appleyard)

23^rd Goosander (f+m): Tongwell Lake, Milton Keynes ( Bob Phillips)

Female and Male Goosander (Photo©Bob Phillips)

21^st Caspian Gull: Showing well amongst a large mixed flock of gulls on the lake. Stood out from the Herring Gulls with its slightly darker wings: Furzton Lake ( Harry Appleyard/BuBC)
20^th Goosanders (8): Tongwell Lake, Milton Keynes (Alan Nelson/BuBC)
20^th Kingfisher: by Premier Inn brook, Willen Lake (Alan Nelson/BuBC)
20^th Mute Swans (90), Cormorants (53), Goldeneye (m) (4), Little Grebes (9): Willen Lake (Alan Nelson/BuBC)
20^th Ringed Necked Parakeets (2): Linford Manor, Milton Keynes (Alan Nelson/BuBC )
19^th Goosander (m): on River Ouse, Tombs Meadow, Stony Stratford ( Joe Clinch )
18^th Green Sandpiper: Tongwell Lake (Alan Nelson/BuBC)
17^th Pintail(f): Stood with other wildfowl on the ice at the edge of the only free water. Willen Lake North (BuBC)
16^th Goosander(7) and Fox: Floodplain Forest NR (Julian Lambley )

Fox and Mallards (Photo©Julian Lambley)

16^th Brent Goose (juv): Foxcote Reservoir (BuBC)
15^th Caspian Gull in roost: Caldecotte Lake ((BuBC)
15^th Little Owl, Fieldfares(3), Redwing(2), Grey Heron(2),Goosander(2m&1f), Kestrel, Great White Egret and a fox seen at the Floodplain Forest NR (Graham Lynham )

Redwing and Fox (Photos © Graham Lynham)

15^th Siberian Chiffchaff: Now present for 2 weeks in Tattenhoe Valley Park (Harry Appleyard/BuBC)
14^th Kingfisher, Black Swan and 67 Mute Swans: Willen South Lake (Alan Nelson/(BuBC)
14^th Otter, 9 Little Grebe, Grey wagtail, Water Rail, Goldeneye (f), 25 Cormorants and 37 Mute Swans: Willen North Lake (Alan Nelson/(BuBC)
14^th 3 Snipe, Grey Wagtail and Egret: Tongwell Lake (Alan Nelson/(BuBC)
14^th Siberian Chiffchaff: Still present in the Tattenhoe Valley Park (Harry Appleyard/BuBC )
14^th Pintail (m): at one of the open sections of water on Furzton Lake (Harry Appleyard/BuBC)
13^th Siberian Chiffchaff: Now present for almost 2 weeks: Tattenhoe  Valley Park Milton Keynes ( Harry Appleyard/(BuBC)
13^th Mediterranean Gull: The same bird as the previous day
Mount Farm Milton Keynes (BuBC)
12^th Mediterranean Gull with yellow ring: Mount Farm Milton Keynes
(Chris Coppock/(BuBC)
12^th Male Merlin: Sherington. (BuBC)
12^th Male Kingfisher in brook by the Premier Inn. Male Merlin along river Ouse. Willen Lake South. (Alan Nelson/(BuBC)
12^th Otter walking over ice to southern end of the island. Also two  water rails. Willen Lake North (Alan Nelson/(BuBC)
12^th Common Snipe: Tongwell Lake (Alan Nelson/BuBC)
12^th Male Goldeneye: Furzton Lake Milton Keynes
(Chris Coppock/BuBC )
12^th Hawfinch: calling bird flew over Willen Lake North at around 11.00am (BuBC)
11^th Jack Snipe and Common Snipe: around the carpark area and scrub at Tongwell Lake Milton Keynes (Alan Nelson/BuBC)
11^th Siberian Chiffchaff: still present, foraging around its usual area in Tattenhoe Valley Park. Milton Keynes (Harry Appleyard/BuBC)
10^th Woodcock: flew over the A5 Little Brickhill (Paul Gibbs/BuBC)
9^th Short-eared Owl: flew over my head c.16.05 being mobbed by 2 crows, appeared to be landing on the island or possibly the far bank. Tongwell Lake (Alan Nelson/BuBC)

9^th Siberian Chiffchaff: Seen in the late morning, showing well and calling while foraging around a frequented oak near the brook, Tattenhoe Valley Park (Harry Appleyard/BuBC)

Siberian Chiffchaff (Photos©Harry Appleyard)

8^th Redwings (small flock): feeding in retained hedgerow ; also Kestrel (fem) perching on young tree in an area of open access grassland and planted shrubs, both sightings to W of the Fairfield development (Joe Clinch)
8^th Fieldfare (2), Redwing, Little Owl (2), Great White Egret, Little Egret (4): Floodplain Forest NR (Graham Lynham)

Fieldfare and Little Owls (Photos©Graham Lynham)

8^th Jack Snipe: flushed, Emberton (BuBC)

8^th Woodcock: seen returning to woods, Stoke Goldington (BuBC)

7^th and 8^th Great White Egret and Goosander:  Floodplain Forest NR (Clive Chapman)

6^th Buzzard: a very dark bird, showing how variable buzzards can be. Watermill Lane, Stony Stratford SP795408 (James Dolman)

Buzzard (Photo©James Dolman)

5^th Lapwing: approx 80-100 each morning over Willen Lake North (Ann Strutton)

5^th Siberian Chiffchaff: still present and occasionally while foraging around waterside willows and other trees near the brook in Tattenhoe Valley Park (Harry Appleyard/BuBC)

4^th Long-tailed Duck: still showing well in front of Heronry Hide, despite clearing work in progress ad bonfires on the bund! (BuBC)

4^th Otter: put all the fowl up, Willen Lake North (Alan Nelson/BuBC)

2^nd Tufted Duck (9): Caldecotte Lake (BuBC)

1^st Long-tailed Duck (fem): Still showing well, in front of Far (Heronry) Hide. Linford Lakes NR (Bob Phillips)

Long-tailed Duck (Photo©Bob Phillips)

1^st Siberian Chiffchaff: Occasionally calling while foraging around waterside trees and at ground level by the brook. This was at the same spot as the one seen in December 2020. Tattenhoe (Harry Appleyard/BuBC)

November

30^th Egyptian Geese (2): Little Linford (Martin Ferns)

30^th Woodcock: Sherington (BuBC)

23^rd Raven: possibly 2, heard not seen in or near the 2 cedars in Lathbury Manor Park (Martin Ferns)

22^nd Bar-headed Goose (4): probably escapees. Three Locks (Julian Lambley)

21^st Sparrowhawk (fem) flying low in bushes being chased by Carrion Crow flying acrobatically and just as fast. Monkston, by cycle path (Steve Cousins)

21^st Long-tailed Duck (fem): Still present; pink on bill suggests an adult female although impossible to rule out a forward juvenile drake. Linford Lakes NR (BuBC)

21^st Ring-necked parakeets: at least 2 by the new hotel, Willen Lake South (Ann Sutton)

20^th Otter: Seen on the MKNHS morning walk to Ashland. ( Julian Lambley)

Otter (Photos © Julian Lambley)

20^th Woodcock: Flew up from the understory in Salden Wood, Newton Longville.  (Harry Appleyard/BuBC)

19^th Otter: in the western pond at Stonepit Field SP8433 4195 (Linda Counter)

19^th Woodcock: Flew up from bracken close to the clearfell areas, Rushmere Park (BuBC)

18^th Long-tailed Duck (fem):} Seen from Far Hide in late afternoon, Linford lakes NR (Harry Appleyard/BuBC)

17^th Common Scoter (4): on south lake at far end from bridge, Caldecotte Lake (BuBC)

15^th Candlesnuff fungus xylaria hypoxylon: Growing on a very old stump in a lime tree plantation in New Bradwell. also known as Stagshorn (Charles Vaton)

Candlesnuff (Photo © Charles Vaton)

9^th Pintail: Female seen on Willen Lake North. (BuBC)
9^th Water Rail: Seen from the viaduct hide, Floodplain Forest NR. (Kris Evershed)

Water Rail (Photo © Kris Evershed)

9^th Egyptian geese: Pair seen in the field above the Farm hide, Floodplain Forest NR. (Graham Lynham)

Egyptian Geese (Photo © Graham Lynham)

4^th Great Northern Diver: Seen flying over Tattenhoe, Milton Keynes. (Harry Appleyard/BuBC)
4^th Hawfinch: Seen Flying over Great Brickhill. (BuBC)

October

31^st Hawfinch: Seen flying over Tattenhoe, Milton Keynes. (Harry Appleyard/BuBC)
28^th Crimson Speckled: Migrant moth from S. Surope/N.Africa Utetheisa pulchella. First record for Bucks during current influx. On chrysanthemums in a Wolverton garden. (Paul Dubery)

Crimson Speckled (Photo© Paul Dubery)

28^th Great Crested Grebes (13+), Cormorants, many Coots, Moorhens, Mute Swans, Black Headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Red Kites (2) and a Kingfisher. All at Furzton Lake. Kingfisher seen on smaller section of Furzton Lake the other side of the footbridge. (Graham Lynham)

Great-crested Grebe (Photo © Graham Lynham)

Kingfisher (Photo© Graham Lynham)

28^th Rock Pipit: Newton Longville. Flying low in southeasterly direction. (Harry Appleyard/BuBC)
27^th Rhododendron Leaf Hopper (Graphocephala fennahi): Woburn woods. (Julian Lambley)

Rhododendron Leaf Hopper (Photo © Julian Lambley)

26^th Red-crested Pochard: Linford Lakes NR. Seen from Heronry Hide. NB Permit required for access to this site (BuBC)

20^th Bat: dead, part decomposed bat, probably pipistrelle, blocking boiler flue, Stony Stratford (Julian Lambley)

20^th Fieldfare (25): Sherington (BuBC)

20^th Fieldfare: Single bird heading east. Howe Park Wood (Harry Appleyard/BuBC)

20^th Fieldfare (124): an afternoon count mainly of flocks passing over to the south. A few birds were also briefly settled in the linear park/Tattenhoe Valley Park. (Harry Appleyard/BuBC)

20^th Fieldfare: 5 seen dropping into the Tattenhoe Valley and a flock of 4 seen heading to the southeast later on. Tattenhoe

19^th Fieldfare (35): Flock flying low through the linear park to the south. Furzton (Harry Appleyard/BuBC)

19^th Brambling, Fieldfare (2), Redwing: My first Brambling for the season in Bucks, heard calling twice as it flew over a morning migration watch; at least 2 Fieldfare seen and head calling, possibly quite a few more seen briefly and more distantly as flocks of Redwing passed over. Tattenhhoe Park (Harry Appleyard/BuBC)

19^th Fieldfare (40): Sherington (BuBC)

18^th Pintail: Female seen at Linford Lakes NR. NB Permit required for access to this site. (Andy Harding/BuBC)
16^th Ravens (2): over Little Linford Wood, 11.30hrs, one doing barrel rolls. (Sighted by Paul Moon, report by Mike LeRoy)

16^th Marsh Tit: Little Linford Wood (SP 83198 45633) 11.15hrs.( Identified by call then by sight by Paul Moon. Report by Mike LeRoy)

16^th Shoveller:  2-3 pairs, among larger numbers of Mallard (100+), Greylag and Canada Geese, plus single Egyptian Goose, Gayhurst Quarry lakes, Newport Pagnell (Martin Ferns)

16^th Cormorant (18), LIttle Egret: Kickles Lake, Newport Pagnell (Martin Ferns)

14^th Redwing, Bullfinch (f), and Peregrine (on the chimney): Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)

12^th Stonechat: very visible atop lake reeds opposite labyrinth. Willen Lake North (BuBC)

10^th Brambling: Flew over calling, heading NNE (BuBC)

9^th Green Sandpiper in the Floodplain Forest NR, and Meadow Pipit in the adjoining Floodplain Meadow (Joe Clinch)

8^th Ruddy Shelduck: In field with a flock of greylags between Manor Farm and  Farm hide, Also Little Owl in the lone tree, and female Peregrine on the recycling chimney. Floodplain Forest NR

7^th Redwing (4): Emberton (BuBC)

7^th Meadow Pipit (2): Bury Field, Newport Pagnell (Martin Ferns)

4^th Ivy Mining Bee on flowering ivy: many around in MK at the moment; this photo taken at Ivinghoe Beacon  (Julian Lambley)

Ivy Bee (Photo © Julian Lambley)

1^st Little Owl, Little Egrets (3), Grey Heron (2), Cormorant, Canada and Greylag geese, Green woodpecker, Peacock butterfly, Floodplain Forest NR (Graham Lynham)

Cormorant with Perch (Photo © Graham Lynham)

Little Owl (Photo © Graham Lynham)

September

27^th Yellowhammer (6-8): flying along hedgerow; female roe deer in same field, Gayhurst (Martin Ferns)

26^th Linnet (c.12), Yellowhammer (<10), Grey Wagtail (2), Meadow Pipit (2), Stonechat (3), Wheatear (2): in the area of the Ravenstone sewage works (Chris Coppock/BuBC)

26^th Redwing (3): ‘first of the autumn’, Great Brickhill (BuBC)

25^th Rock Pipit: Flew south east shore calling heading south lake. Harsher call and stronger flight than Meadow Pipit. Willen Lake North (BuBC)

25^th Garganey (juv): Still with a Teal in the NW corner of Willen Lake North (BuBC)

20^th Box-tree moth Cydalima perspectalis: On house patio door, Stony Stratford. Originally tentatively identified as a Clouded Border Lomaspilis marginata. (Joe Clinch)
Postscript from Joe: Tony Wood having shared the image with Linda advises that my sighting was of the Box-tree Moth (not in the Townsend and Lewington Guide that I use). I understand that this is the dreaded moth whose caterpillars destroy box bushes of which we have two. But it is rather beautiful!

Box-tree moth (Photo © Joe Clinch)

19^th Goshawk: gliding high overhead, large bird rounded wings and long straight tail very slightly fanned and flat ended (no fork). Kents Hill Park (Steve Cousins)

19^th Mandarin Duck (female, possibly juvenile): Furzton Lake (Nicki Smit)

Mandarin Duck (with Mallard) (Photo © Nicki Smit)

19^th Ivy Mining Bees Colletes hederae: dozens emerging from the ground, the scrape Stonepit Field SP 84435 42018 (Mike LeRoy)

19^th Hobby: flew close by at head height, having either failed to catch or been chased off by a smaller bird. Lathbury (Martin Ferns)

18^th Stoats: a family of 6+ crossing to the lake during Colin’s MKNHS walk at Stowe Gardens. (Reported by Julian Lambley)

Stoats at Stowe (Photo © Julian Lambley)

18^th Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea: by brooks and pools in Grafton Park, Central Milton Keynes (Mike  LeRoy)

17^th Water Rail, Green Sandpiper, Jay (3): Linford Lakes NR (BuBC)

16^th Signal Crayfish: River Ouzel, Red Bridge/Three Locks (Charles Kessler)

Signal Crayfish (Photo © Charles Kessler)

15^th Hare’sfoot inkcap Coprinopsis lagopus (probable): near Great Brickhill (Julian Lambley)

Hare’sfoot inkcap (Photo © Julian Lambley)

15^th Garganey: Willen Lake North (BuBC)

11^th Tufted Duck (9): Willen Lake North (BuBC)

11^th Pintail (juv), plus Greenshank flew through E to W, Gayhurst Quarry (BuBC)

10^th Garganey: very actively feeding in the NW corner, often literally huggin the reeds, Willen Lake North (BuBC)

8^th Greenshank (juv): Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)

5^th Grey Heron (2), Kestrel harrassing a Red Kite; Migrant Hawker, Common Darters (2 pairs mating), and a ground beetle (unidentified species – suggestions welcome!), Magna Park (Graham Lynham)

A ground beetle investigating snail shell  (Photo © Graham Lynham)

Migrant Hawker (Photo © Graham Lynham)

4^th Willow Warbler (ad), Lesser Whitethroat (ad), Blackcap (3), Chiffchaff (3): in elder and shrubs near sewage works, Ravenstone (Chris Coppock/BuBC)

4^th Grey Wagtail (ad + juvs): On filter beds with 1 Pied Wagtail, Ravenstone (Chris Coppock/BuBC)

4^th Whinchat (juv) on fenceline near road, Ravenstone SP852489 (Chris Coppock/BuBC)

4^th Greenshank: Seen feeding from Iron Trunk Hide, the bird was very mobile moving up and down the edge of the water amost constantly, Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)

3^rd Grey Wagtail – by weir just downstream from the railway arches, Wolverton; Small Copper – on rough grass above the bank of R Ouse just downstream from Iron Trunk aqueduct; Kingfisher – perched on twig where R.Tove joins the Ouse: all seen while walking along the Ouse valley (Joe Clinch)

3^rd Greenshank, Ruff: Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)

2^nd Greenshank (juv?), Ruff (juv?), Common Sandpiper (2), Green Sandpiper (3), Floodplain Forest NR (Chris Coppock/BuBC)

2nd Peregrine 2: usual location, Floodplain Forest NR (Chris Coppock/BuBC)

2^nd Long-winged Conehead bush-cricket: Floodplain Forest NR (Mark Baker)

Long-winged Conehead (Photo © Mark Baker)

2^nd Ruff (fem), Greenshank (ad): Floodplain Forest NR (Mark Baker/BuBC)

2^nd Caspian Gull (juv): Willen Lake North (Mark Baker/BuBC)

August

30^th Greenshank (ad): Feeding well on spit, Willen Lake North (BuBC)

29^th Migrant Hawker dragonflies: several around the ponds along Caldecotte Lake Drive, near to the entrance to Caldecotte Business Park (Graham Lynham)
Photo below shows how the dragonfly tucks its front legs up behind its head in flight (Photo © Graham Lynham)

29^th Clouded Yellow: on zinnia in my garden this morning, Stoke Hammond (Charles Kessler)

Clouded Yellow (Photo © Charles Kessler)

28^th Whinchat (juv): Ravenstone (BuBC)

27^th Black-tailed Godwit: Flew in from W, over S lake and off towards N lake, but not seen there a short time later, Caldecotte Lake South (BuBC)

23^rd Kestrel: 4 seen, 3 flying from the tree where a family were nesting, one flying across the Ouse from Lathbury. Also a buzzard. Bury Field riverside meadow, Newport Pagnell (Martin Ferns)

21^st Little Egret (3), Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Comorants (10+), Great Crested Grebes (2): Caldecotte Lake (Graham Lynham)

Great Crested Grebe with fish (Photo © Graham Lynham)

20^th Grey Heron, Little Grebe with young, Kestrel, Magna Park (Graham Lynham)

Kestrel (Photo © Graham Lynham)

20^th Whinchat (2, both 1st winter birds): Ravenstone (BuBC)

20^th Common Tern (30 – lots of juveniles), Great White Egret: Linford Lakes NR (BuBC)

19^th Small Copper, Small Whites, Common Blue (fem), Speckled Woods: Stony Stratford NR (Graham Lynham)

Small Copper  (Photo © Graham Lynham)

19^th Brown Hawker, Ruddy Darter and Common Darter dragonflies: Stony Stratford NR (Graham Lynham)

Brown Hawker (Photo © Graham Lynham)

Ruddy Darters (Photo © Graham Lynham)

19^th Pied Flycatcher: Flew up from hedge into same oak as a Firecrest the previous day, Great Brickhill (BuBC)

16^th Green Sandpiper (6), Grey Wagtail (3): Willen Lake North (BuBC)

16^th False Widow spider, probably Steatoda nobilis: Came home from holiday to find she had taken residence and guarding her eggs in my patio doors, Broughton (Simon Roberts)

False Widow Spider (Photo © Simon Roberts)

14^th Redstart (fem): photographed catching flies from one of the field margins at the east end of the site, one of their passage pit-stops from previous years. My 2nd earliest for Autumn migration here, Tattenhoe Park (BuBC/Harry Appleyard)

9^th Treecreeper (2), Kingfisher, Little Egret, several Lapwing, Common Terns; also Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Black-tailed Skimmer (2m), Muntjac (2 on woodland paths + 2 along access road), and a young bullock on the permieter path: Linford Lakes NR (Martin Ferns)

8^th Red Underwing: back garden, Wolverton (Graham Lynham)

Red Underwing moth (Photo © Graham Lynham)

8^th Egyptian Goose (2): possibly juveniles, in wheat stubble field just east of Mill Farm, Gayhurst (Martin Ferns)

8^th Wheatear (f): moving along field fence posts, Quarry Hall Farm, Gayhurst (Martin Ferns)

7^th Otter: probable road kill, first seen 1-2 weeks ago, just off the eastern side verge of V8 south, past Ashland. A sorry sight. (Edward Young, reported by Peter Barnes)

7th Marsh Harrier (f): Single individual flew high east over the site; it was being mobbed by Covids initially, Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)

5^th Hornet Mimic Hoverfly Volucella zonaria, Ruddy Darter (f), Black-tailed Skimmer (m), Meadow Brown, Painted Lady, Small White and Common Blue butterflies: Magna Park (Graham Lynham)

Hornet Mimic Hoverfly (Photo © Graham Lynham)

5^th Black-tailed Godwit: possibly Islandica sub-species, Willen Lake North (BuBC)

4^th Whimbrel: Several calls heard clearly, fading away to the south. Definitely sounded like more than one bird going over, Great Brickhill (BuBC)

3^rd Wasp Mimic Hoverfly myathropa florea: Also 2 Commas, Green-veined White, Small Coppers and Red Admiral butterflies, Stony Stratford NR (Graham Lynham)

Wasp Mimic Hoverfly (Photo © Graham Lynham)

3^rd Redstart (f): Flew across path towards Castlethorpe bridge over the river, Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)

July

31^st Caspian Gull (3rd yr): Willen Lake South (BuBC)

29^th Clouded Yellow, Common Blues, Meadow Browns, Small Whites, Peacock, Chinese Water Deer, Brown Hare: Magna Park (Graham Lynham)

Above: Clouded Yellow butterfly; Below: Brown Hare (Photo © Graham Lynham)

29^th Kingfisher: it left the lake like a bullet, for the canal possibly. Willen Lake North (Ann Strutton)

29^th Redstart: juvenile male present along the hedgerow, Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)

26^th Old Lady Mormo Maura: in the house, where it had been for several days, Stony Stratford. Confirmation of species welcome! (Joe Clinch)

Old Lady (Photo © Joe Clinch)

23^rd Little Egret (7), Mute Swan (90), Common Sandpiper (2), Green Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Ruddy Shelduck: Linford Lakes NR (BuBC)

19^th Red Underwing moth (2), Oak Bush-cricket (m), Speckled Bush-cricket (m and f): Campbell Park Pavilion (Martin Kincaid)

Female Speckled Bush-cricket (Photo © Martin Kincaid)

18^th Amblyteles armatorius: this handsome ichneumon was at my UV moth light, Oldbrook (Martin Kincaid)

18^th Swallows and House Martins: mixed flock of about 100, including many of this year’s fledglings, either on the wires or sunning  themselves on the roof, morning, Newton Blossomville (Julie Lane)

Video link here:
Hirundines, Newton Blossomville (Video Julie Lane)

17^th Foxes (4): raiding the rubbish outside my house, night-time, Olney (Julie Lane)

16th Silver-washed Fritillary – Valezina variant: , nr Oakhill Wood, North Bucks Way (Hasan Al Farhan)

Silver-washed Fritillary – Valezina variant (Photo © Hasan Al-Farhan)

16^th Hummingbird Hawkmoth: on lavender, Newton Blossomville (Julie Lane)

16^th Ring-necked Parakeet: on sunflower-heart bird feeder, home garden, Stony Stratford (Joe Clinch)

15^th Willow Emerald damselfly, Black-tailed skimmer, Four-spot Chaser and Cinnabar caterpillars, Six-spot Burnet, Small Heath, Small Skipper, Essex Skipper: Magna Park (Hasan Al-Farhan)

Willow Emerald (Photo © Hasan Al-Farhan)

Six-spot Burnet (Photo © Hasan Al-Farhan)

14^th Common Darter, Scorpion Fly: Stony Stratford NR (Graham Lynham)

Male Common Darter (Photo © Graham Lynham)

Scorpion Fly (Photo © Graham Lynham)

14^th Swallow-tailed moth: on home outside window, Stony Stratford (Joe Clinch)

Swallow-tailed moth (Photo © Joe Clinch)

14^th Painted Lady: Campbell Park (Martin Kincaid)

Painted Lady (Photo © Martin Kincaid)

14^th Dusky Cockroach Ectobius lapponicus: 2 at Campbell Park Pavilion (Martin Kincaid)

13^th Nettle-leaved Bell-flower: in flower, near car park, Stony Stratford NR (Martin Kincaid)

13^th Chicory: large stand of this declining arable weed, Oxley Park (Martin Kincaid)

Chicory (Photo © Martin Kincaid)

13^th Oak Bush-cricket (female) at moth trap, Oldbrook (Martin Kincaid)

13^th Swift (20): Morning – probably the most I’ve seen over the high street this year, Newport Pagnell (BuBC)

13^th Swift (20): Evening – very possibly the same group over a colony site off Westbury Lane, Newport Pagnell (Martin Ferns)

12^th Silver-washed Fritillary: an impressive count of 20+ seen in Linford Wood (Martin Kincaid)

12^th White Admiral: very worn specimen (!), Howe Park Wood (Martin Kincaid)

White Admiral (Photo © Martin Kincaid)

11^th Swallow-tailed moth, Speckled Bush Cricket (2f): under canopy of Campbell Park Pavilion (Martin Kincaid)

Above: Female Speckled Bush-cricket; Below: Swallow-tailed moth (Photos © Martin Kincaid)

9^th Little Egret: Tongwell Lake (Emily Benstead)

9^th Ruddy Shelduck: Linford Lakes NR (BuBC)

8^th Whimbrel: flew over westwards, not seen but calling very clearly. Great Brickhill (BuBC)

6^th Grey Wagtail: a family group of 4 birds along Loughton Brook near Bradwell Abbey (Martin Kincaid)

5^th Oak Bush-cricket: my first of 2022, adult female at Campbell Park Pavilion (Martin Kincaid)

5^th Wood Vetch: in full flower, Campbell Park woodland ridge (Martin Kincaid)

5^th Pyramidal Orchid (7): in Campbell Park (Martin Kincaid)

5^th Grey Wagtail (4): on the R. Ouzel spillway by the northern lake, Caldecotte (Peter Barnes)

4^th White-letter Hairstreak (2), Purple Emperor (3): Oakhill Wood/North Bucks Way (Martin Kincaid)

Female Purple Emperor  (Photo©Martin Kincaid)

3^rd White Admiral (3), Purple Emperor (2) Purple Hairstreak (3) butterflies and 14 other species,  Beautiful Demoiselle (2m, 2f) and 6 other dragonfly species, Little Linford Wood (Hasan Al-Farhan)

Purple Emperor (Photo © Hasan Al-Farhan)

1^st Comma, Gatekeeper, Marbled White, Large White, Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Small Skipper butterflies: Magna Park (Graham Lynham)

Small Skippers mating (Photo © Graham Lynham)

1^st Purple Emperor: A beautiful pristine purple emperor came down to investigate a bassett hound who had rolled in fox poo. Salcey Forest cafe (Julie Lane)

Bassett Hounds and Purple Emperor (Photos © Julie Lane)

June

29^th Emperor Dragonfly: dead body of female found in garden, Caldecotte (Jill Lewis)

Female Emperor dragonfly (Photo © Jill Lewis)

27^th Redstart (2): Floodplain Forest NR (Martine Harvey)

27^th Large Emerald moth: home garden, Stony Stratford (Joe Clinch)

Large Emerald (Photo © Joe Clinch)

26^th Hummingbird Hawkmoth: Magna Park (Graham Lynham)

26^th Lesser Stag Beetle: early evening, Stony Stratford NR (Graham Lynham)

Lesser Stag Beetle (Photo © Graham Lynham)

26^th Cinnabar moth: front porch, Wolverton (Graham Lynham)

Cinnabar moth (Photo © Teresa James)

25^th Hedgehogs (probable): assumed to be two having a barney or mating, early morning outside my bedroom window, Olney (Julie Lane)

Audio recording rather faint – but judge for yourself!

24^th Tiger moths: mating in my garden, Woburn Sands (Viola Read)

Tiger Moths mating (Photo © Viola Read)

21^st Sparrowhawk:  soaring at c.700-750m high, seen off by cluster of 15-20 Swifts. Swifts in tight, slowly swirling group just behind Sparrowhawk gradually moved it from above their colony site. Over Hampstead Gate and Portway (H5) SP845389 Bradwell Common at 13.20 (Mike LeRoy)

21^st Hummingbird Hawkmoth: on honeysuckle in my garden, Woburn Sands, evening (Mary Lea)

21^st Beautiful Demoiselle: male and female specimens along North Bucks Way. (Martin Kincaid / Rebecca Hiorns, while doing the butterfly transect on North Bucks Way)

21^st White Admiral butterflies (4) and Silver-washed Fritillaries (3) : along North Bucks Way, Oakhill Wood plus 1 in Shenley Wood (Martin Kincaid / Rebecca Hiorns, as above)

21^st White Admiral: 1 in Shenley Wood (Martin Kincaid / Rebecca Hiorns, as above)

21^st Kingfisher: along Tongwell Brook, Newport Pagnell (Emily Benstead)

20^th Painted Lady butterfly:  Linford Lakes NR (Martin Kincaid)

20^th Grasshopper Warbler: near car park, Little Linford Wood (BuBC)

19^th Redstart: briefly seen in hedgerow on farmland between Bullington End and Little Linford Wood. “My earliest ‘autumn’ record, I think” (BuBC)

17^th Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Common Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown and Marbled White butterflies, plus Cinnabar moth: Magna Park  (Graham Lynham)

Small Skipper (Photo © Graham Lynham)

17^th LIttle Grebe: Among the usual waterfowl. Magna Park (Graham Lynham)

Little Grebe (Photo © Graham Lynham)

14^th Red-backed Shrike (ad f): seen from Farm hide from 15.00 and still present at 19.00. Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)

14^th Shelduck: Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)

12^th Bee Orchid: at least 8 on the embankment beside the path adjacent to Grafton Street (V6), behind Bradville Recreation Ground (Tony Wood)

11^th Small Blue butterfly: 5 at Stonepit Field (Martin Kincaid)

11^th Egyptian Goose (2), Ruddy Shelduck, Cuckoo: Linford Lakes NR (BuBC)

11^th Bee Orchid: 2 have appeared on my otherwise very unremarkable suburban lawn, Oakill MK5 (Anna Berry)

Bee Orchid (Photo © Anna Berry)

10^th Black Hairstreak butterfly: 2 at Oxley Mead SSSI (Martin Kincaid)

10^th Greater Butterfly Orchid: 3 in flower in Shenley Wood (Martin Kincaid)

Greater Butterfly Orchid (Photo©Martin Kincaid)

10^th Bee Orchid: Teardrop Lakes, Loughton Valley Park. SP849368 (Ian Williams)

Bee Orchid (Photo © Ian Williams)

9^th Large Skipper: Stony Stratford NR (Graham Lynham)

Large Skipper (Photo © Graham Lynham)

9^th Ruddy Shelduck: Floodplain Forest NR (Graham Lynham)

Ruddy Shelduck (Photo © Graham Lynham)

9^th Bee Orchid: 3 sighted in grassy area off Taunton Deane, Emerson Valley (Sandra Campbell)

8^th Cattle Egret (2): plus 2 not seen clearly, Linford Lakes NR (BuBC)

7^th Four-spotted Chaser: in garden, Great Linford (Sue Spurr)

7^th Cuckoo: calling continuously from Windmill pub side of Caldecotte Lake (Jill Lewis)

3^rd Grey Wagtail family: River Ouse bank at Passenham Mill (Joe Clinch)

3^rd Black Hairstreak: Little Linford  Wood (Julian Lambley)

Black Hairstreak (Photo © Julian Lambley)

3^rd Ruddy Shelduck, Cuckoo – 2 males vocal and mobile. Linford Lakes NR (BuBC)

May

31^st Hobby: hunting over a field on the other side of river Ouse. OuseBalley Park, New Bradwell end. (Valérie Demouy)

31^st Shelduck (ad), Little Ringed Plover (ad m & f), Cuckoo (ad m), Lapwing (ad m & f): Floodplain Forest NR (Chris Coppock/BuBC)

31^st Grey Wagtail (2 adults, 2 fledglings), Cuckoo (m) calling: Willen Lake North (Ann Strutton

30^th Hobby (2), Cuckoo (3), Fox (2): between 10am-2pm. Willen Lake North (Phill Crowe)

Hobby (Photo © Phill Crowe)

30^th Dingy Skipper butterfly: North Bucks Way (Martin Kincaid)

30^th Painted Lady butterfuly: Shenley Wood (Martin Kincaid)

30^th Hedgehog (2): feeding in garden: Oldbrook (Martin Kincaid)

29^th Cuckoo (2 males seen together briefly), Whitethroat (2),  Sedge Warbler: Linford Lakes NR (BuBC)

28^th Cuckoo: heard and then seen flying over near the R. Ouzel. Woolstone (Nick King)

27^th Small Blue butterflies: 9 seen around the scrape at Stonepit Field (Susan Weatherhead)

26^th Southern Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza praetermissa: 10 plants in flower in Tattenhoe (Martin Kincaid; first reported by Harry Appleyard)

Southern Marsh Orchid (Photo © Martin Kincaid)

26^th Blue Tit: Gorgeous fledgling being fed in my garden, Milton Keynes (Jessica Sierra)

Blue Tits (Photo©Jessica Sierra)

25^th Southern Marsh Orchid: near Great Brickhill (Julian Lambley)

Southern Marsh Orchid (Photo©Julian Lambley)

23^rd Painted Lady: in my Bancroft garden (Paul Lund)

22^nd Stoat Mustela erminia: bounding northwards across road from Little Linford to Haversham, just east of old Haversham: SP 83179 43313. c. 11.40 hrs (Mike LeRoy)

22^nd Early Purple and Common Spotted orchid:s both in flower today in Little Linford Wood  (Tony Wood)

22^nd Soprano Pipistrelle bats: count of 505 – a site record – between 21.05 and 21.30. Simpson (Peter Barnes)

21^st Painted Lady butterfly: Little Linford Wood (Julian Lambley)

19^th Soprano Pipistrelle bats: 477 counted flying from their regular roost in the eaves, between 21.05 and 21.25 – just 2 short of ‘record’ of 479 on 25 May 2020. Assumed to be soprano pipistrelles, as that was what was identified in previous years .Simpson (Peter Barnes)

18^th White-legged Damselfly: at least 3 different sites within Linford Lakes NR (Janice Robertson)

White-legged Damselfy (Photo © Janice Robertson)

18^th Small Yellow Underwing moth: Stonep[it Field and Linford Lakes NR (Janice Robertson)

Small Yellow Underwing (Photo © Janice Robertson)

17^th Social wasps’ nest: less than half a metre from the bumbleebee nest. Bancroft (Paul Lund)

16^th Bumblebee nest – not sure of the species: in my garden, Bancroft (Paul Lund)
16^th Water Rail, Cuckoo (2), Ring-necked Parakeet, and 3 Otters: between 7.30 and 15.00, Willen Lake North (Phill Crowe)

Cuckoo – Willen Lake North (Photo©Phill Crowe)

15^th Ringed Plover: 2 on far spit from the Viaduct Hide. Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)

13^th Red Admiral: in my garden, Bancroft (Paul Lund)

12^th Spotted Flycatcher: In willow by back Brook close to ‘marsh warbler bridge’. Lost to view when it flew into cover behind the old stone bridge.  Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)

12^th Spotted Flycatcher: singing, Great Linford (BuBC)

12^th Greenshank: Heard calling, Linford Lakes NR (BuBC)

11^th Ringed Plover: A single tundrae feeding on the islands in front of the Viaduct Hide, Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)

10^th Ringed Plover: on island, Stony Stratford NR (BuBC)

10^th Swift: 8 over Olney (Julie Lane)

10^th Swift and Whitethroat: 4 Swifts flying around nesting site on Cranfield University Campus. On a slow drive in via Newport Pagnell and Moulsoe, good numbers of Whitethroat heard, but still very few Lesser Whitethroats – none on Cranfield campus so far; used to get very good numbers even with much habitat loss. (Alan Nelson/BuBC)

9^th Avocet: 1 bird wading in front of Farm Hide; a second swimming alongside a mallard, Viaduct Hide. Both sideswiping the water to feed. Also 2 Oystercatchers, Viaduct Hide. Forest Floodplain NR (Martin Ferns)

8^th Early Purple Orchid: 16 in Linford Wood – some going over and difficult to spot (Rchard Gent)

8^th Hobby (2): Willen Lake North (Phill Crowe)

Hobby (Photo©Phill Crowe)

8^th Wood Sandpiper: on the bund, but elusive. Plus 2 Common Sandpiper, and 2 Cuckoo. LInford Lakes NR (BuBC)

8^th Grey Partridge: in sheep pasture near road;  Red-legged nearby at sewage works. Also 2 cuckoo singing from Tyringham and Stoke Goldington directions. Ravenstone  (Chris Coppock/BuBC)

8^th Yellow Wagtail (1m/1f): A splendid male around the sewage works, female 3/4 km away at pasture pond across road with Pied Wagtail and Yellowhammers, possibly refleecting current drought. Ravenstone  (Chris Coppock/BuBC)

8^th Common Sandpiper (ad): On pontoon, Willen Lake South (Chris Coppock/BuBC)

7^th Swift: Min. count 3 over Heelands housing estate, Stanton Wood (Chris Coppock/BuBC)

7^th Swift: Min. count 5. Also a few Swallow and House Martin, but hirundine numbers seem very low this year. Willen Lake North. (Chris Coppock/BuBC)

7^th Hobby (2 ad): Willen Lake North (Chris Coppock/BuBC)

5^th Willow Warbler and Early Purple Orchid: Shenley Wood (Janice Robertson)

Early Purple Orchid (Photo©Janice Robertson)

4^th Glow-worm larva: crossing the path at Salcey Forest (Julie Lane)
Glow-worm larva Salcey Forest Julie L 4.05.22 (Video © Julie Lane)

4^th Yellow-legged Mining Bee Andrena Flavipes: female, with its bright orange ‘leg-warmers, seen entering nest-hole pile, part-hidden by a leaf. Between Saxon Street (V7) and Booker Avenue in edge of Parkway shrubberies. SP84716 39542. Apparently Andrena flavipes nests are often used by the dark-winged bee-fly Bombylius major to lay its eggs. In the same area, plenty of Bumblebee queens and workers: White-tailed Bombus Lucorum, Buff-tailed Bombus terristris and Red-tailed Bombus Lapidarius. Bradwell Common. (Mike LeRoy)

3^rd Cuckoo, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Sandpiper (2), Oystercatcher (2)

2^nd Grasshopper Warbler (ad male): Weston Underwood SP858529 (Julie Lane)

2^nd Duke of Burgundy, Small Heath, Burnet Companion, Dingy Sipper and Grizzled Skipper: on the wing, Ivinghoe Beacon (Julian Lambley)

Duke of Burgundy (Photo©Julian Lambley)

1^st Common Tern (4 ad), Cuckoo (2 ad male calling): Linford Lakes NR (Chris Coppock/ BuBC)

1^st Wild Garlic (Ramsons) Allium ursinum: large area (about 20m x 30m) adjacent to the railway about 60m W of the concrete cows, Bancroft (Charles Vaton)

Wild Garlic (Photo © Charles Vaton)

1^st Whinchat: Fence/pollarded trees behind the Iron Trunk Hide, Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)

April

30^th Common Terns (20), House Martins (30), Gadwall (4), Tufted Duck (19), Cetti’s Warbler (3): Willen Lake North (Alan Nelson/BuBC)

30^th Common Terns (2), Common Sandpiper, Swallow (m), House Martin (3): Tongwell (Alan Nelson/BuBC)

30^th Cuckoo: calling in Little Linford Wood (Tony Wood)

30^th Raven (2 over), Jay (2), Hobby, Barnacle Goose on the bund: Linford Lakes NR (BuBC)

30^th Cuckoo: male calling from the island, Willen Lake North (Ann Strutton)

29^th Swift: high over Newport Pagnell, evening (Alan Nelson/BuBC)

29^th Early Purple Orchid (19): Shenley Wood (Richard Gent)

29^th Tree Pipit: Flew over. Campbell Park (BuBC)

29^th Cuckoo: Linford Lakes NR (BuBC)

28^th Early Purple Orchid: about 20, in NW corner of Shenley Wood (Jenny Mercer)

Early Purple Orchid (Photo©Jenny Mercer)

28^th Cuckoo: heard Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)

28^th Cuckoo (m): Sherington bridge (BuBC)

27^th Grasshopper Warbler: Reeling briefly. Olney (BuBC)

27^th Black-winged Stilt: Observed feeding around the lake near Asda where it was initially found by J Baker, briefly chased by a Red Kite and warded off a Coot’s favoured corner, but otherwise happily sticking around. Newton Leys (Harry Appleyard/ BuBC)

27^th Black-winged Stilt: Newton Leys (Phill Crowe)

Black-winged Stilt (Photo © Phill Crowe)

27^th Ring-necked Parakeet: Flying over heading west. Linford Wood (BuBC)

27^th Cuckoo: Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)
26^th Hobby, Little Ringed Plover: Linford Lakes NR (BuBC)

25^th House Martin (50+), Cetti’s Warblers (4), Common Tern: Willen Lake North (Alan Nelson/(BuBC)

25^th Cuckoo: calling from river, Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)

24^th Emperor moth, male: clearly attracted to something in my garden this afternoon. I couldn’t see a female, but I suspect she was there somewhere pumping out pheromones. Olney (Julie Lane)

24^th Ringed Plover: to the right of Farm Hide (Janice Robertson/BuBC)

23^rd Swallow: near Castle Ashby (Julie Lane)

22^nd  Cuckoo: Linford Lakes NR (Janice Robertson/BuBC)

22^nd Osprey: Hovered briefly over the water a few times before heading off eastbound. Floddplain Forest NR (BuBC)

19^th Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris: on edge of a drainage ditch, between Quarry Hall Farm and Lathbury village (Martin Ferns)

Marsh Marigolds (Photo © Martin Ferns)

19^th Lesser Whitethroat: Goosey Meadows, Olney (BuBC)

19^th Whitethroat (4), House Martin (4), Sedge Warbler (2),  Common Tern (4), Little Ringed Plover (1): Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)
18^th Pasque flowers: Knocking Hoe (Julie Lane)

Pasque flowers (Photo © Julie Lane)

18^th Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula: among carpets of bluebells. Hoo Wood, E of M1, Gayhurst (Martin Ferns)

Early Purple Orchid (Photo © Martin Ferns)

18^th Grasshopper Warbler. My first for this site (2nd for Tattenhoe area) recorded singing loudly from one of the fields at the E end of Tattenhoe Park (Harry Appleyard/BuBC)
18^th Lesser Whitethroat: Rattling along footpath. Calverton (BuBC)

17^th Whitethroat: Heard. Linford Lakes NR (BuBC)
17^th Bar-tailed Godwit: winter plumaged adult. Also Common Sandpiper. Passenham Quarry (BuBC)

17^th Swallow: lone bird on NW edge of Bury Field, Newport Pagnell (Martin Ferns)
16^th Cuckoo: heard in Gayhurst Quarry lakes area, from Lakes Lane, Newport Pagnell (Stuart Kean, reported by Martin Ferns)
15^th Stoat: Running along the road towards Clifton Reynes (Julie Lane)

14^th-16^th: Light Orange Underwing day-flying moth: the sunny weekend encouraged several moths to come down from aspens to the muddy paths in Howe Park Wood (Janice Robertson)
14^th Mandarin duck: Male on river Ouzel in Woolstone (Nick King)

14^th Curlew: Flying across the river valley in Olney calling as it went (Julie Lane)

14^th Goosander plus 11 young: Olney Mill (Julie Lane)

14^th Common tern: River Ouse at Olney. It caught a decent sized fish! (Julie Lane)

14^th Kestrel (a pair): They have taken up noisy residence in a Barn owl box near river in Olney (Julie Lane)

13^th Otter (adult and pup?): Willen South Lake 10.05am (Phillip Burgess and Phill Crowe)

Otter and pup? (Phillip Burgess and Phill Crowe)

13^th Yellow Wagtail: The Mill, Olney (BuBC)

12^th Greenshank : Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve. Flew through calling going NE (BuBC)

12^th White stork: seen flying over Bradwell lakes (BuBC)

12^th Sedge Warbler: Floodplain forest nature reserve. Heard and seen (BuBC)

12^th Bullfinch (a pair): Bancroft garden (Paul Lund)

11^th Yellow wagtail: Calvert sailing lake, Calvert (BuBC)

10^th Wood anemone: Good quantities seen in trees at Walnut Tree Estate along Groveway and Highgate Over. (Steve Cousins)

10^th Mandarin duck (a pair): Caldecotte Lake (Angie Ollis)

Mandarin ducks (Angie Ollis)

10^th Wheatear: Ravenstone. In field next to the road (BuBC)

9^th Blackcap (2): Summer Leys. At least two singing around the reserve. (There are also meant to be Garganey there but we didn’t see them) (Julie Lane)

9^th Brambling: Summer Leys. Stunning male in full breeding plumage (Julie Lane)

8^th Marsh Harrier (female): Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve. Past over high.(BuBC)

8^th Orange tip (male): Bancroft garden (Paul Lund)

8^th Water Rail (2): Calvert BBOWT Lake, Calvert. Observed a pair mating at the hide end of the left ‘channel’ (BuBC)

6^th Willow Warbler : Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve. Seen and heard by the aqueduct steps. Also one heard at Pilch field (BuBC)

3^rd Otters (2): River Ouse, Olney. Watched them for about 15mins and then left them in peace (Julie Lane)

IMG_4052

2^nd Otters (2): Tombs Meadow, Stony Stratford. Feeding on fish by river Ouse (Greg Roach)

Otters (Greg Roach)

2^nd Common Crossbill (3) : Rushmere Park. 1 of the 3 was a male, flew low N over the main carpark (John Richardson)

2^nd Kittiwake (2): Willen Lake (BuBC)

2^nd Brown Hare (5): in three separate fields to the south of Calverton ( Joe Clinch)

2^nd Linnet: flock of 50 plus in trees to the south of Calverton (Joe Clinch)

March

30^th Mandarin duck (male and female): Caldecotte (Helen Brandes)

28^th Blackcap: Kent’s hill park, male Blackcap singing, (Steve Cousins)

25^th Water Rail: Walton Lake. Heard in reedbed (BuBC)

25^th Pintail (3) : Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve (BuBC)

24^th Kestrel (a pair): taking up residence in an owl box down by the River Ouse near Olney. Hopefully passers by and the local jackdaws wont put them off. (Julie Lane)

23^rd Toads: Coombs Community woodland pond has a large number of mating toads (Julian Lambley)

22^nd Little Ringed Plover : Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve (BuBC)

21^st Caspian Gull : Foxcote Res. (BuBC)

21^st Pintail (7): Foxcote Reservoir (BuBC)

21^st Sand Martin : Willen Lake North, Willen Lakes. (BuBC)

20^th Woodcock : Tattenhoe Park. Briefly seen flying low over scrub and into one of the field margins. The latest winter/spring record of Woodcock from the Tattenhoe area for me. (Harry Appleyard)

20^th Avocet (9): Willen Lakes. (BuBC)

19^th Otter spraint: fresh otter spraint, and the remains of older ones, on a small grassy hummock on the bank of the Mill Race at Stony Stratford. It smells like fresh grass/flowers and very fresh fish, I’ve heard otter spraint is supposed to smell like jasmine tea which is more-or-less what it’s like. Absolutely packed with fishbones, scales, notably perch scales and pieces of crayfish exoskeleton. (Tim Pearson)

Otter spraint and dissected components (Tim Pearson)

19^th Siskin: A large flocks of about 30 birds in the trees just outside my house, Olney. A wonderful twittering noise (Julie Lane)

18^th Weasel, mouse and Kestrel: Whilst walking along the banks of the Ouse near Olney I saw a female kestrel swoop down and land, then take off quickly with a mouse (or vole) in its talons followed immediately by a weasel leaping into the air after it shouting in anger. The kestrel had stolen his mouse and he wasn’t happy!! (Julie Lane)

17^th Bittern:  Linford Lakes Nature Reserve. Seen from Warbler Hide. In reeds on bund. Please note that a permit is required for access to this site. (Martin Kincaid)

15^th Little Owl (a pair): Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve (Julian Lambley)

Little Owl (Julian Lambley)

15^th Cattle Egret: Linford Lakes – chased in by a gull (Kris Evershed)

Cattle Egret (Kris Evershed)

15^th Comma on Daphne  Odora: home garden. Also Brimstone (m &f) (Joe Clinch)

Comma (Joe Clinch)

15^th Oystercatcher (6): Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve. Very vocal and mobile (Caroline Harris)

14^th Comma, Brimstone (3), Greenfinch, Goldfinch (2). Great tit: Lakes Lane, Newport Pagnell

Gayhurst Quarry lakes on the lake nearest the M1: Oystercatcher (2) on the island,  Shoveler (3m). Wigeon, Mallard. c. 20 Tufted Duck on the 1st lake, west of Kickles Lake. A lone Comormant flew over the lakes eastwards. 15 Chaffinch (male and female) feeding on the grass between the lake and the river Ouse, before flying off. (Martin Ferns)

14^th Blackcap: singing early morning  at Tongwell (Alan Nelson)

13^th Siberian Chiffchaff: Magna Park, Milton Keynes (BuBC)

12^th Cattle egret: Linford Lakes being chased in by a gull (Kris Evershed)

11^th Woodcock : Accidentally flushed from under hedge along footpath on northern edge of Oak Wood. Flew across meadow into the wood. Rushmere Park. (BuBC)

8^th Goosander: pair below Wolverton Weir on River Ouse (Joe Clinch)
8^th Whooper Swan: adult with 30 Mute Swans in field SW of Lincoln Lodge, Upper Tove Valley SP781452 (BuBC)
8^th Comma: in the garden, my first butterfly of 2022 (Peter Barnes)
7^th Brambling (m): on sunflower hearts feeder, home garden, Stony Stratford. A first for me in 41 years  (Joe Clinch)
5^th Siskin (2): on my garden feeders, Simpson (Peter Barnes)
5^th Curlew: On large island, central area. Called twice. Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)

February

27^th Yellowhammer (3m, 3f): with a male chaffinch, on the ground in the farmyard, Mill Farm, Gayhurst (Martin Ferns)

27^th Shoveler (6m, 3f), Pochard (2): along with Wigeon,Tufted Ducks, and Mallard in larger numbers, Gayhurst Quarry Lakes (Martin Ferns)

26^th Goosander (1m, 2f), Great White Egret: Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve. (BuBC)

25^th Pintail (pair): Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve (BuBC)

24^th Little Egret, Kingfisher: by stream of Lodge Lake at H4 Dansteed Way end (Zoe Nolan)

22^nd Oyster Catcher (2), Goosander (1m), Shoveler (6m, 2f), Lapwing (1), Reed Bunting: Stony Stratford NR (Joe Clinch)

22^nd Lesser Celandine: Wolverton Mill (Joe Clinch)

21^st Red Crested Pochard: a stunning bird seen from hide, tight into the island bank (Alan Nelson/BuBC)

17^th Black Swan: Lodge Lake (Janet Warren)

15^th 2 Caspian Gulls: Newton Leys. 2 roosting on the Balancing Lake, a full adult and a near adult (BuBC)

14^th Pintail: Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve. On the lake on far side of Viaduct Hide.(BuBC)

13^th Black Swan: Lodge Lake (and seen several times since). (Zoe Nolan)

Black Swan (Photo©Zoe Nolan)

10^th Fieldfare (80?) and Redwing (20?): in mixed flock with a few starlings: on a field adjacent to the Lapwing reported below, Gayhurst. (Martin Ferns)

10^th Lapwing (estimated 400+): on fields then wheeling round in 4 groups when disturbed, between Quarry Hall Farm and Mill Farm, Gayhurst (Martin Ferns

8^th Grey Heron (many nesting pairs), Barn Owl in entrance of nest box Linford Lakes NR (Martin Kincaid)

8^th Ruddy Shelduck (1); Brambling (1) with large Chaffinch flock. Linford Lakes NR (Martin Kincaid)

8^th Bewick Swans: 4 over River Ouzel by the OU, Walton Hall (Steve Cousins)

8^th Black Swan: on Caldecotte Lake North, near Chase Avenue (Cheryl Fellows)

Black Swan (Photo: Cheryl Fellows)

7^th Otter; and Lesser Celandine coming into flower. Stony Stratford Nature Reserve (Martin Kincaid)

4^th Pintail (ad m): Willen Lake North (BuBC)

4^th Sparrowhawk (f): perched in a tree in the copse at the bottom of my garden. It flew off  just as I was lining up my camera. Simpson (Peter Barnes)

4^th Merlin (f): Flew low over arable field, then perched up in a tree. Upper Tove valley (BuBC)

2^nd Corn Bunting (5 ad): In mixed finch/bunting flock at pheasant crop. Seen from public footpath about 15m inside Bucks. Lower Tove Valley SP770467 (Chris Coppock/BuBC)

2^nd Snipe (11), Goosander (2m, 2f), Great White Egrets (2), Treecreeper, plus Peregrine  on the usual chimney, and Little Owl in the usual tree: seen on the local RSPB group’s morning walk around Floodplain Forest NR (Peter Barnes)

1^st Brimstone butterfly (male): Stantonbury (Kate Wyatt, reported by Sue Hetherington)

1^st Brimstone butterfly: Male flying in Campbell Park water gardens (Martin Kincaid)

1^st Goosander (pr), Snipe (3), Shoveler (8), Kestrel: Stony Stratford NR (Martin Kincaid)

1^st Otter: large male seen from hide. Stony Stratford NR (Carla Boswell, Martin Kincaid)

1^st Blackcap: Pair visiting garden feeder, Simpson (Rebecca Hiorns)

January

30^th Goosander (1m, 2f), Shoveler (6m, 4f): In the morning sunshine. Stony Stratford NR (Joe Clinch)

30^th Grey Wagtail: In horse paddock at the end of Tongwell Lane. (BuBC)

30^th Pintail (m): Willen Lake North

28^th Pintail: Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)

28^th Siskin: Beautiful male on my seed feeder. First I have seen in my garden in Olney (Julie Lane)

27^th/28^th Red Kite: Soaring over Heelands (Marina Grainger)

27^th Lapwing (?): Large flock (200+) seen 3 days running, but too distant for certain identification, on ground and in air, circling round. Quarry Hill Farm/Hill Farm, Gayhurst (Martin Ferns)
26^th Black-Tailed Godwit: Initially though it was a curlew; getting closer, it was a Blackwit. Standing water,  Newport Pagnell (BuBC)

26^th Pintail (m), Common Snipe, Great Egrets (2), Shoveler, Teal and Gadwall: Floodplain Forest NR (Julian Lambley)

Male Pintail seen from Viaduct Hide, FFNR (Photo © Julian Lambley)

24^th Bittern: Linford Lakes NR (Andy Harding/BuBC)

23^rd Marsh Tit: Seen from Woodland Hide, Linford Lakes NR (Peter Barnes)

23^rd Snipe: seen from Otter Hide, Linford Lakes NR (Peter Barnes)

23^rd Pintail (m): The first record I’ve had of this species, in Magna Park (BuBC)

22^nd Bittern: Linford Lakes NR (BuBC)

22^nd Woodcock: Stoke Goldington (BuBC)

21^st Jack Snipe (possible): glimpsed briefly in shorelines vegetation at extreme N tip of the island. Also plenty of duck, esp. Teal (Chris Coppock/BuBC)

20^th Water Rail, Snipe (6), Goosander (1f), Kingfisher, Little Owl (2, in the same ash tree hollow): Floodplain Forest NR (Joe Clinch, Jenny Mercer)

19^th Goosander (3m, 3f), Shoveller (2) on gravel island, east end; Grey Heron in front of hide; Mute swans (2): Stony Stratford NR (Jenny Mercer)

17^th Otter: on the banks of the Ouzel where it runs parallel to Caldecotte Lake South. ‘I’ve never seen one before despite being a regular walker around both Willen and Caldecotte lakes’. (Simon James Roberts)

17^th Bittern: Showing very well in reeds to right of first owl box, as viewed from Warbler Hide. Took off around 08.25 and flew west. Linford Lakes NR (Martin Kincaid/BuBC)

17^th Woodcock: A first for my visits to Salden Wood, briefly seen as it flew up from the woodland floor. Thanks to landowner Bob Simpson for granting me access to/BuBC) the site.  Salden Wood, Newton Longville (Harry Appleyard

16^th Lesser Redpoll (3), Goldcrest (5), Goosander (5m,2f), Gadwall (18), Tufted Ducks (20), Pochard (6), Siskin (4): all seen on the MKNHS Sunday morning walk led by Colin Docketty, together with Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe, Wigeon and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers. Tongwell Lake (reported by Harry Appleyard). Full report can be found here.

Lesser Redpoll and Goldcrest (Photos©Harry Appleyard)

16^th Common Buzzard: Great Linford Manor Park (Rebecca Hiorns)
Video link: Buzzard GLMP 16.01.22 RH

14^th Blackcap: on feeder at dusk. Newport Pagnell (BuBC)

14^th Pochard (m,f), Goldeneye (2m,1f ): Seen mixing with tufted ducks at south end of south lake, larger numbers of each nearer the pub, and in the middle of the lake. Willen Lake South (Peter Barnes/Martin Ferns)

Male Goldeneye with Tufted Duck (Photo©Peter Barnes)

14^th Grey Wagtail (2): along the western edge of Willen Lake North (Peter Barnes/Martin Ferns)

Grey Wagtail (Photo©Peter Barnes)

13^th Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming and Green Woodpecker yaffling in mature wooded parkland, Lower Weald Calverton (Joe Clinch)

13^th Sweet Violet: in flower (probably a garden variety) under south-facing wall, Lower Weald, Calverton (Joe Clinch)

13^th Meadow Pipit: small flock of c.6; also pair of Stonechats; amongst shrub- and tree-planted area immediately west of new Fairfields estate (Joe Clinch)

12^th Goosander (7m, 2f): on the Ouse by Olney Mill. Video link below (Julie Lane)

Goosanders Olney Mill 12 Jan 21 JL (Video©Julie Lane)

12th Fieldfare (1): at the top of a tree along the Buckingham arm of the canal, Cosgrove (Peter Barnes, Martin Ferns)

Fieldfare (Photo©Peter Barnes)

12^th Little Owl (2), Goosander (2m), Shoveler (m), Gadwall (2), Lapwing (53, based on photo count),  Peregrine (on the mast). Floodplain Forest NR (Peter Barnes, Martin Ferns)

Little Owls (Photo©Peter Barnes)

9^th Black Redstart (ad male): Seen briefly near the Health Centre, much enjoyed by other birders during the day. Whitehouse, MK (BuBC)

9^th Great Northern Diver (1st winter): At one point it took off and completed about 10 laps of the lake, gaining some height and looked like it might go. Maybe just exercising, as it came back down again. The flightviews were simply breathtaking. Caldecotte Lake (BuBC)

9^th Cattle Egret: Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)

9^th Pintail (7m, 3f): Showing well close to open hide. Linford Lakes NR (MArtin Kincaid/BuBC)

8^th Redpoll: 2 on the seed feeder in my garden. Olney (Julie Lane)

7^th Caspian Gull: 3rd winter bird on lake in front of pavilion. Quite distinctive from the many hundreds of other large gulls present this afternoon. Newton Leys (BuBC)

5^th Marsh Harrier: Floodplain Forest NR (BuBC)

5^th Goldeneye: NE Corner with Tufted Ducks. Willen Lake South (BuBC)

4^th Gulls: around 4pm I was sitting looking out the window and observed skeins and skeins of gulls in the sky, going west to east. This went on for about 30 minutes, at an estimated 100 per min, making a total of c. 3,000 birds. Old Farm Park (Julia Atkins)

4^th Goldeneye (m): Drake associating with 20+ Tufted Ducks. Linford Lakes NR (Martin Kincaid/BuBC)

4^th Marsh Harrier (f): Over bund, mobbed by carrion crows. Linford Lakes NR (Martin Kincaid/BuBC)

4^th Great Northern Diver: catching crayfish, north end of south Caldecotte Lake (BuBC)

3^rd Goosander (3m, 2f): Tongwell (Peter Barnes)

3^rd Goosander (2m,1f), Little Grebe: Balancing Lakes, Wolverton Mill (Joe Clinch)

2^nd Bittern: Reported to Peter Barnes by a reliable observer. Viewed in flight (twice) from the far hide. Linford Lakes NR

2^nd Mistle Thrush: Seen on same tree most days feeding on berries. Newport Pagnell (BuBC)

2^nd Goosander (pair): Tongwell Lake; plus 4 Song Thrush, singing along Tongwell Lane (BuBC)

1^st Gorse and Primrose among 12 native or naturalised flowering plants observed during the Botanical Society of Briatin and Ireland (BSBI) new year plant hunt. Simpson Parish (Rebecca Hiorns)

1^st Great Northern Diver: At the far south end of the southern lake, avoiding the rowers. Close to the western bank. Excellent views. Caldecotte Lake (Peter Barnes)

Great Northern Diver (Photo © Peter Barnes)

1^st Sparrowhawk (f): on a fence, near Farm Hide; with 100+ Lapwing on the spit opposite the hide, between wheeling in and out again. Floodplain Forest NR (Martin Ferns)