The local mallard population seems to have discovered the improved state of the River Chess. In recent days I have seen them swimming on the river at Chesham Moor and taking off from the vicinity of the water gardens. Downstream I regularly see large groups of swans on the water meadows around Latimer. Despite the recent cold snap the feeders are not being cleared at the rates I would have expected from previous years. I am still getting a good selection of birds in the garden however, today I have seen robin, dunnock, starling, house sparrow, goldfinch, wood pigeon, blue tit and long tailed tit. One dunnock chose to sing from the tip of a tree this morning which had me hoping for a new visitor for a second until I was able to get a better look. Driving back from the garden centre today I saw a large bird of prey over Latimer Bottom. I didn't get a clear view and am not sure if it was a buzzard or a red kite. I have seen both in that area before.
Once upon a time you could find me birding on the Thames marshes almost every weekend through the winter. For various reasons I am now seldom able to travel to good birding sites. I am lucky, however, to live in the beautiful Chiltern Hills and this blog is to document the birds that I see on my own patch.