South Bedfordshire

This Red Kite was some compensation after a fruitless search for a Ring Ouzel. Other notables were: Fieldfare (11), Willow Warbler (2).

Barton Hills NNR

Fairly quiet after dawn in a two hour walk around this great reserve near Barton. A Red Kite flew in from the east joining a Common Raven.
No visible migration was apparent and the only ground migrants were two singing Chiffchaff and a male Blackcap.



Song Thrush



Barton Hills NNR, looking north-west.

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.

Red Kite

Fantastic light this afternoon and a fly-over Red Kite.



Despite the snow, this Wren managed to find a few flying insects to eat.

Montagu's Harrier @ Broom

Another county lifer after a twenty year wait - Montagu's Harrier - a bird that asked questions. It was considered to be a juvenile/1st-Winter male melanistic form (another first for me).









A Red Kite wandered over as the crowd dispersed

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 !

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.

Brilliant Bunting

Present since 31st January, this record shot of a Little Bunting showed on and off until about 09:30 this morning at Amwell nature reserve in Hertfordshire. Digi-scoping would definately have the edge on this occasion ! The bird associates with Reed Bunting at the feeding station set between two reed beds.



A few Water Rail can often be seen scurrying between the reedbeds.



One of three Red Kite at a location in the south of Bedfordshire. Also seen were a pair of Raven, three Common Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Siskin.



Not another Robin shot !