Local Patch - 17/05/09

A narrow band of heavy rain failed to drop any scarce terns on to the site. After the rain, a Reed Warbler finally sat still to dry out.



A Little Ringed Plover feeding on the 'scrape'.

Local Patch - 02/04/09

New arrivals today included a Sedge Warbler (first in Bedfordshire this spring?), singing male Blackcap, a second Little Ringed Plover, and a few Barn Swallow and House Martin which moved on quickly. A passing Peregrine was mobbed by the local Lapwing.



The resident pair of Grey Wagtail fed on the waters edge.

Local Patch - 30/03/09

New arrivals included another Little Ringed Plover - this one spending much of the day feeding and loafing on the scrape. The first Red Kite for the site this year 'appeared' above the scrape quite low before drifting off east. JL picked out a House Martin as the Hirundine numbers increased in the afternoon - certainly my earliest record in the UK ! Four new Mute swans joined the three 'residents' - one adult and three immature birds.

Todays shots were always going to be a bit rough as i'd left on the 1.4x converter, this only performs well with lashings of sunlight - which didn't happen.

Waders

A Ringed Plover replaced yesterdays Little Ringed Plover at Octagon farm, and there was a Green Sandpiper along a brook near junction 13 of the M1.





A male Reed Bunting singing at Octagon farm.



A flock of 145 Barnacle Geese were back at Willington, some of them sporting red darvic rings.