When my dad said he had work in Buckinghamshire and I had a free day I jumped at the chance to be dropped off at Tring Reservoirs. Even better I asked whether young birder Calum, who lived nearby, was around and he agreed to meet me there.
So at just before 10am my dad drove into the car park, and I was greeted with a slightly crazy-looking, small Scottish boy standing outside of the car, with equipment hanging off him everywhere. It's safe to say he was one of the most friendly, enthusiastic young birders I've ever met...
Either way after my dad and Calum's mum left we walked in, opting to go to the Octagon hide in the centre of the main lake, which is College Lake. While walking down we were stopped by several birds and dragonflies, mostly Red Kites, Reed Warblers and Brown Hawkers. In the hide, with nobody else in there, we spent a good time looking at some of the birds - lots of Lapwing, 2 juv Little Ringed Plover as well as Common Terns and a few other common birds; 3 Little Egrets were also present. Fortunately it was a nice day, and there were plenty of butterflies also out with Small Copper and Common Blue abundant.
After taking pictures and walking back to the entrance, and watching a Common tern mob a Buzzard, we opted to head across to the nearby Pitstone Quarry to try and find something different.
When we arrived, there was very little other than the usual Black-headed Gulls and a Lesser Black Backed Gull. With a bit effort we added to our days tally, with Calum's top eyesight picking out another 2 LRP and 3 Oystercatcher (Oiks.) A few Little Grebe were noted, and we tried pathetically hard to find a Med gull, in vain.
Then we both got an unexpected, mega rarity find along the road - a Red Junglefowl Chicken nearly getting run over.
Heading back to another hide at College Lake we found quite a few more warblers, as well as a few Brown Argus - first for me - and more Small Copper. Birding wise were 2 possible Garganey that we didn't pay any attention to until one was confirmed 2 days after - typical - and loads more Terns. An adult YLG made a brief appearance before swirling away to the East, and a Chalkhill Blue was also seen. Here are some pictures from the day.
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| ad Common Tern mobbing C Buzzard |
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| Lapwing and juv LRP |
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| Green Woodpecker feeding |
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| f Common Blue |
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| juv f Green Woodpecker |
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| 3 Little Egret, BHGs and juvs |
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| 3 Oiks |
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| f Common Blue |
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| juv BHG |
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| juv Common Terns |
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| One of 2 possible Garganey - this one is a Mallard though |
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| Small Skipper |
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| Brown Argus butterfly |
Though I had to leave shortly after, we had a great time birding throughout the morning and early afternoon and I was pleased to meet another, like-minded person of my age. And it wasn't the last I saw of him this summer!
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