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.

Peregrine

A Peregrine spooked the local avifauna for a few minutes this morning. It flew out of Houghton Regis Chalk pit - a regular wintering site in recent years.
This is the fastest animal in the world - it can reach up to 200mph. Its name means "Wandreing falcon".

Jingle Bells, Batman Smells ...

... but the Robin did not fly away ! (I won't write the rest of this childhood adaptation of a popular Carol)

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.

Rainham Marshes RSPB Reserve

A juvenile Red-backed Shrike was just outside the reserve viewed from a public footpath along the bank of the Thames.







The current visitors centre will eventually become an educational building. An interesting strucure indeed - my first thought was 'yuk' ! (and remains so).



A Wood Sandpiper was just a bit too distant.



A distant Northern Wheatear.



A few Little Egret were dotted around the reserve.



This Ruff showed well from the hide.





My best view of a Water Vole. This is a top site for these declining creatures.







Roesel's Bush Cricket Metrioptera roeselii. A scarce cricket, mainly found near coasts but increasing inland.



A Migrant Hawker.

A distant shot of the QEII bridge which carries the M25 motorway over the River Thames.



A nice spot, overall, difficult to believe it's not far from busy London.

Dunstable STW

Starting bright but clouding over by lunch, much cooler too. The Blackwit has left the building. A dozen Common Swift feeding over the lagoons with all three hirundines present too. A couple of Yellow Wagtail through; Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Hobby and Common Buzzard seen. Missed a brief view of an early returning Water Rail.



A pair of Wardown Park Whooper Swan are still present.



One of two loafing Grey Heron.



Speckled Wood



Small White



Yesterday, a fresh looking Shaggy Inkcap ...



... now looks like this

Dunstable STW

Present for five days this Black-tailed Godwit proved difficult to approach - too many nettles !



Somewhat easier to photograph was this Painted Lady - the tip of the left antenna is missing.



A male Banded Demoiselle.

Willen Lake, Bucks

At Willen lake, Milton Keynes, a Wilson's Phalarope was too far to DLSR but this Hobby performed well outside the hide.



A Grey Heron waits patiently.

Spain: April 2007 Part 1

This Alpine Accentor showed well down to six feet.



Record shot of Alpine Swift



A flock of Bee Eater fed by the roadside.



A chance encounter of Black-eared Wheatear on a roadside fence.



Black Redstart



A Black Kite with some carrion.