Trip reports
Day Trip to Jubilee River and Christmas Common
Sunday, 21 September 2008
A group of 10 went on our first trip of the season. We had glorious
weather with sunshine and a light breeze. A total of 57 bird species were
seen and 2 heard.Highlights at Jubilee River were arange of raptors -
sparrowhawk, hobby, kestrel, red kite,and a buzzard being mobbed by a
flock of crows - snipe in flight, and a common sandpiper. We also saw the
resident terrapin and a number of dragonflies and butterflies. Moving on
to Christmas Common on the edge of the Chilterns escarpment, we had
excellent views of red kites, including around 30 of them following the
plough, much as gulls would do, in a field in the valley bottom. None of
us had witnessed this before. Wheatear and redstart were also present, and
we had sightings of both roe and fallow deer. A great day out!