Raptor Rapture

Slightly less bright today with stronger winds, but as yesterday, keeping with the flight theme. These Common Buzzard took full advantage of the updraughts in the Bison Hill area of Dunstable Downs.

One of these individuals (seen in all three images) looked as if it had swallowed a cricket ball ! I presume it's just a full crop - let me know if you have an alternative theory ...







A Red Kite drifted by and did not show wing tags. It did not hang around - constantly harried by corvids.





By the time i'd noticed him, this juvenile Peregrine had almost got away after a quick interaction with the local Kestrel.

Local Patch - 09/10/08: Flight fancies

Some reasonable light this morning, and a chance to practice (non-too successfully) tripod work with birds in flight.

Two Shoveler show off their underwings.



A Black-headed Gull, now in winter plumage, hunts for scraps over the lagoons.



Another Black-headed Gull (this one a 1st-winter plumaged bird) spots a UFO on the horizon

A Common Buzzard lowers its under-carriage

Local Patch

After a foggy start the sun came out and it only remained for the birds to sit still in front of the camera. Well, that rarely happens to me, but a Wren did sit still long enough for a couple of quick shots.



The Kingfisher post lived up to its name.



A local Common Buzzard drifted over. The Honey Buzzard invasion failed to materialize here !



Cormorant numbers have been increasing lately - up to 18. I prefer them to fishermen ...

Pegsdon & Deacon Hill

This juvenile Common Buzzard was lingering behind the Deacon Hill summit, but drifted away quickly when it saw the camera !



A few birders have been participating in a 'vismig' vigil at various high spots around the county. Currently, there are plenty of Meadow Pipit migrating south - these are best seen in the first two hours after sunrise. This individual was part of a flock feeding locally.

Common Buzzard

A bright, sunny day that should have produced some good shots. However, there was a cold breeze which probably kept the birds hidden. I was glad, therefore, when I noticed this Common Buzzard close to the road just outside town. The car proved an effective hide, but a high hedgerow hampered the view.

South Bedfordshire

Although the light was reasonable (for winter) the birds refused to come close for anything other than record shots - two of the three Red Kite (as last year), a pair of Raven and Common Buzzard.











Ahh, yes - another European Robin image !

New Year's Day and Partridges

A local mooch didn't produce much, but at least it stayed dry and the light was better than of late.

First up was a rather dark Common Buzzard just outside town.



This Muntjac Deer was feeding just outside the Paris House Restaurant, Woburn.



On to the 'Potsgrove Loop' where a couple of beds birders alerted me to five Grey Partridge behind a hedgerow. The birds had moved further in to the field when this shot was taken. A flock of twenty Meadow Pipit proved more difficult to approach. They're seen in most years at this spot.





At my regular local patch this Lesser Redpoll dropped down to feed briefly in deteriorating light. Six Red-legged Partridge stayed low in a nearby field, while a Blue Tit stopped en-route to some nearby bird feeders.

Dunstable STW

A Water Rail skitted around the scrape often persued by the local Moorhens.





Two of six Green Sandpiper ventured close to the camera.



This Migrant Hawker spots its next meal.

This pair of Wigeon arrived today.



Collard Dove.



Woodpigeon.



A juvenile Common Buzzard splits away from a group of four others.



A Comma takes in the last rays of the day.



A Common Darter does likewise.

Sunday Best

In the south of the county, Raven, yet again, avoided the camera. Luckily, Little Owl, Common Buzzard and Red Kite were on show.







Whilst counting Common Buzzard at Potsgrove nine Chinese Water Deer were warily crossing a field, and almost went unnoticed.