[helen159]

I was out walking with my friend last week in the region of Lane End, Bucks, when we came across two highly coloured pheasants. When I got in I looked them up and they appear to be Lady Amherst's pheasants!

I've done a bit of research and can only find articles saying they were very rare and usually only in Bedfordshire. These two were definitely males, and certainly not either the common pheasant or the golden pheasant. Every marking on the birds were the same as the bird book I found, except that I seem to remember their underbellies/sides were more brown mottled, than dark blue and white (I likened it to a 'painted Faberge egg'). Most notable was their tails, the orange on the back and the very distinctive white mask over their eyes and on their 'black/blue' head.

Have I seen an extremely rare bird, or are they increasing in numbers? Interestingly, they stayed on the path, looking at me, my friend and our two dogs (on leads fortunately) then they slowly walked into the woods, giving short clucking sounds (unlike the common pheasant screeches).

Unfortunately, I didn't take a photo on my phone but intend to go back to the place to see if I can find them again.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Helen