Saturday, 18 March 2017

Staines Moor and Little Marlow GP - 16th & 17th March 2017

16 March

We made an early morning visit to the Moor in an effort to try to do some monitoring work with the Water Pipits, but were unsuccessful. Three Little Egret were present, six Sand Martin, and at least five Water Pipits. Numbers are often higher in March as migrants also pass through.


17 March

After a visit to Beaconsfield we dropped into Little Marlow, where upon arrival we were meet by two Peregrines, a male and female chasing each other around the site for a few minutes, the usual stream of Red Kites with the odd Buzzard as well, a little Ringed Plover on the spit and Sand Martins coming and going with 17 seen during our time there.

Little Ringed Plover

Group of Tufted Duck

 Nesting Cormorants

Couple of Red Kites over

Great Crested Grebe

Wigeon

The resident pair of Mute Swan were showing interest in nesting at a spot close to the path, attracting the attention of the single remaining Black Swan that was one of three introduced a few years back. This bird was quite aggressive  to other birds and has apparently become increasingly so over the last few weeks.

Cob and pen