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.

Blow's Downs, Dunstable: Ring Ouzel

This male Ring Ouzel has been showing regularly for a few days on the slope above 'Tesco' supermarket at Blow's Downs, Dunstable. The bird was on show for about an hour whilst I used a couple of small handily growing Hawthorn bushes for cover above the bird's chosen area. It gradually worked it's way up the slope halving the distance between us, however, with the 1.4x converter attached to the camera two 'stops' are lost resulting in lower light levels. I'm seriously thinking of digiscoping again as the Dslr performance is somewhat lacking with small birds at these distances in British lighting conditions !

Dunstable STW: Mink

A first for me - American Mink. An alien specie which has a cosmopolitan taste and will eat pretty much anything ! Here it has a dead Rabbit.

Dunstable STW: Black Redstart

A Black Redstart was found in front of the lagoons this afternoon and was present until dusk. This sighting is hot-on-the-heels of the first migrant two days ago at Blow's Downs, Dunstable (which only stayed one day). The conditions were gloomy with occasional fine drizzle which did not help photography !



Included is this very blurred shot showing the tail colour...

Dunstable STW: Thursday

A Common Stonechat was feeding off the dead Elms along the approach track and is probably the same one that was reported in the log over the last couple of days.



With the popularity of 'Alabaster' Mallards on the decline, these three Mallard have nothing to do ! :~)



A Muntjac Deer scavenges under the bird feeders.

Grovebury Quarry

A quick scan of this working sand pit near Leighton Buzzard this afternoon produced four Goosander. Unfortunately they were at the southern end of the pit - too far to DSLR. A female/1st winter-type Common Stonechat was more obliging. There seems to be a passage of these birds lately with six birds at Blows Downs, three at Harlington Bottoms, a 'flock' of ten at Pegsdon, and a few more elsewhere no doubt.

Eggington

No sign of the Barn Owl after an early start but did, however, find a fresh owl pellet beneath a post used by said owl, which, adding two and two together equals...?



Spring is in the air, but some winter visitors will be around for a couple of months yet. This Fieldfare was feasting, along with the local Blackbirds, on these haws.



Would you be offended if I posted yet another European Robin shot ?

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 !