Sandhouse Lane NR and surrounds

A bright sunny day with a slight breeze. Very few butterflies about, so Odonata were the order of the day.

Downy Emerald - Cordulia aenea
Only recently have these been rediscovered in the county. I'd missed them in previous years but there were a fair few to be seen today. I did not see any perched individuals making photography more challenging !








Four-spotted Chaser - Libellula quadrimaculata
More obliging - frequently seen perched.





Red-eyed Damselfly - Erythromma najas



Azure Damselfly - Coenagrion puella





Large Red Damselfly - Pyrrhosoma nymphula

Red-footed Falcon @ Coronation Pit

Finally caught up with the Red-footed Falcon at Coronation Pit, Stewartby, although eleven Hobby proved easier to photograph due to sheer numbers and, therefore, opportunities.

Extremadura, Spain, May 2008 - Part 1

An adult Great Spotted Cuckoo showing silvery-grey crown and ear coverts.



Here, the juvenile Great Spotted Cuckoo has dark crown feathers and sepia coloured upperparts with rusty-brown primaries.

Male Lesser Kestrel perched on the roof of the Bullring, Trujillo.



Male Lesser Kestrel showing upperwing in flight.




Male Lesser Kestrel showing underwing in flight.

Female Lesser Kestrel showing underwing in flight.

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

Wood Warbler @ Octagon Farm Spinney

The two Black-winged Stilt found at Willington yesterday evening had departed for Abberton Reservoir, Essex, so another chance to photograph Wood Warbler at Octagon Farm Spinney was second prize. This one, however, was not so easy !





A walk past the Sandy Warren heath restoration area at the Lodge produced nothing too exciting - so Robin and Blue Tit will have to do !

Wood Warbler @ MVCP

I must confess - Warblers are probably my favourite 'tribe'. This migrant Wood Warbler was singing between the thundery showers and eventually posed well for the camera.

Sandwich Tern @ Stewartby Lake

After twenty years of birding in Bedfordshire I finally connected with a Sandwich Tern found by mjgbirder at Stewartby Lake !

Norfolk Day Trip

At Titchwell, a Siskin awaits its turn to use the feeders.



Along the Meadow trail, a few Cetti's Warbler played hide and seek from the camera and a male Chaffinch posed in the blossom.





Down in the Brecks, a Woodlark in song flight.

Black-tailed Godwit & Common Redstart

A very cold easterly wind today and a trip up country to see the flock of Black-tailed Godwit that have been present at Fenlake Meadows NR since the 13th Apr. There were 16 present this morning and were feeding constantly. No sign of the Stone Curlew at Tempsford, but nearby the Common Redstart at the end of Station Road was feeding from a hedge which gave some shelter from the wind.

Dunstable STW

17th Apr:

A Barn Swallow takes a rest from feeding in the keen easterly wind - the hirundines were keeping very low above the water taking advantage of the insects on the leeward side of the plantation.



16th Apr:

The first Sedge Warbler of the Year for the site was keeping low at the front of the lagoon.



A pair of Blue Tit were foraging in the dead stuff above the Sedge Warbler.





A small 'charm' of Goldfinch fed alongside a pair of Linnet.



A Green Sandpiper was, suprisingly, the first this year at the site. The Whooper Swan 'on patrol' chases off a Canada Goose.





A pair of Grey Wagtail wait to feed - the male showing a black throat patch.

Early Cuckoo

At Dunstable STW my earliest UK Common Cuckoo was a suprise but brief find. They were also reported from Pulloxhill and at Woodwalton Fen, Cambridgshire. The local Tufted Duck were clocking up some 'airmiles'. A partial leucistic Common Moorhen was found - one of last year's progeny.

Garganey

This super male Garganey was found late afternoon at Dunstable STW. It was feeding continuously with the local Teal. This was the first record here for over twenty years !

Dunstable STW Migrants

Today a few waders at last. Two Redshank were chased off the scrape by the local Moorhen. The 'local' pair of Little-ringed Plover were joined by a second male. After a spate of threat posturing the intruder flew off. A pair of Grey Partridge took some time out for a dust bath. Barn Swallow numbers increased to fourteen late afternoon, and three Willow Warbler were singing in the plantation.