Bullfinch

Avian-wise it's fairly quiet, so a Bullfinch in Houghton Regis chalk pit will have to do. I find it difficult to get the camera close to these shy birds. This male came a bit closer as it fed on hawthorn whilst waiting for a Hummingbird Hawkmoth to reappear on a nearby buddleia.



In the meantime,while it's quiet, you may like to checkout other wildlife images here:
http://insectsbyandywhitney.blogspot.com/

'Channel' Wagtail

Whilst exploring an under-recorded area for butterflies near Eggington, I discovered a Blue-headed x Yellow Wagtail hybrid (flava x flavissima) or 'Channel' Wagtail. The bird was quite some distance in to a bean field, so the images have been enlarged for viewing.





In the same area, a pair of Yellow Wagtail were carrying food, and at least one fledged juvenile bird was seen.

Lesser Whitethroat

Back in Bedfordshire, this Lesser Whitethroat was singing from a Blackthorn hedge and eventually showed well - albeit briefly.

France - Day trip 10/06/09

We started birding near Bologne at 07:40 - just 3 1/2 hours after leaving Bedfordshire. First stop was a forest near the coast at Mont Saint Frieux. Our target bird was Black Woodpecker, which we heard calling during a downpour, but did not see. Brief views were had of Crested Tit, and Short-toed Treecreeper was heard.

We then moved inland to Romelaere, an area of marsh and lake near St. Omer. En-route, a flyover Honey Buzzard and Hen Harrier caused some excitement as did Serin in St Omer. At the marshes on the Romelaere reserve we found Great White Egret, Little Bittern and Golden Oriole. Good birds can be found in car parks. On this occasion a pair of Lesser Peckers were flitting around - our fourth specie of woodpecker on the trip.

Nightjar @ the Lodge

A Nightjar this close does not happen very often. A male was found snoozing on a log within feet of the path on the restored heathland.





Earlier a Wood Sandpiper was discovered on the scrape at Dunstable STW

King's Wood, Heath & Reach

The begging call of this Tawny Owl gave away its location - a confirmed breeding record for the atlas project !

A family of Long-tailed Tit were sat together in a secluded dell 'chilling'.

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'.

Peppershot.

The story, as told in the June edition of 'Birdwatch' magazine, is of Essex birder of Nigel Pepper who 'fessed up' to making a false claim of Hermit Thrush at Chipping Ongar in October 1994. His reason ? - a protest against supression of rarities in Essex. I have had occasion to give medical aid to someone who shot themselves in the foot. I do suspect, however, that Mr Pepper is beyond my help...

Temminck's Stint @ Castle Mill GP

Plenty of waders reflecting how good these gravel workings are at the moment. Amongst the usual suspects a Temminck's Stint was the pick of the bunch - courtesy of 'Bird Finder Blain' !.

Rye Harbour NR -29/04/09

After leaving 'Dunge' a short journey to Rye Harbour NR and the chance of Little Tern. There were at least five birds, but they were high in the sky. Two other tern species breed here on this well managed nature reserve - Common Tern and Sandwich Tern.



This pair were much easier to photograph :-)







The smart Mediterranean Gull thrive on the reserve.



Unexpectedly, a Kittiwake flew low overhead in to the sun.



Migrant waders were thin on the ground, this Bar-tailed Godwit tried to find a spot to land.



Northern Wheatear breed here too.

Dungeness - 29/04/09

A warm and sunny day with little wind and calm seas meant sea-watching was unproductive, the exception was a single Pomarine Skua.

The only frustrating part of the day came much later. On reaching home, news broke of a Crested Lark to the observatory ! This bird had possibly been present for three days, and you would have thought ... well,never mind, these things happen !

On the land, Linnet and Meadow Pipit and Black Redstart were found around the power station.









A few Whimbrel were noted around the old gravel pits.



A Cormorant citadel.

Grovebury Quarry

A few migrants included Common Sandpiper, a pair of Little Ringed Plover, two Yellow Wagtail and a female White Wagtail. A sizeable Sand Martin colony is taking shape in this working sand pit. Lesser Whitethroat and Blackcap sang from the thickets.

Local Patch - 18/04/09

Some sun at last ! - but back at work.

New birds included a pair of Oystercatcher.

The Little Ringed Plover were displaying today.

Local Patch - 17/04/09

Weatherwise, another murky day. At least the rain stopped around lunch time.

New birds in today:
Whitethroat - 2 singing males.
Dunlin - a summer plumaged bird on the scrape
Yellow Wagtail - 1 over

New birds seen by others:
Lesser Whitethroat, Black-tailed Godwit.

The Common Sandpiper remains, as does Green Sandpiper and the male Shelduck.

Local Patch - 16/04/09

A very gloomy and rain filled day so photography was uninspiring. Oystercatcher and Yellow Wagtail were seen. Other new birds included a Common Sandpiper and a male Shelduck on the scrape. A Little Egret put in an appearance.

Easter Bonanza !

For a small inland county a red letter day by anyone's standards.

Local Patch - 11/04/09

A dank drizzley grey day when cameras should be left at home !

New in today:
On the scrape, the first Yellow Wagtail this year fed and bathed, and the first Water Rail for some weeks skittered around the margins. Hirundine numbers were well in to double figures.





Such were the poor light levels that these shots were taken (hand-held) at ISO 800, and 1/200 and 1/100 sec. shutter speed respectively

South Bedfordshire

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

South Beds Badlands

On the local patch early morning saw the first Willow Warbler followed by Goshawk and Red Kite. The mist rose revealing the graceful Mute Swan.



News broke of the first Redstart seen in the paddocks at Blow's downs. Digiscoping would have secured a reasonable image, instead a rather distant record shot will have to do !



This Woodpigeon was feeding on freshly emerged leaves.



Elsewhere, a Firecrest was very active, but stood still long enough for this image, albeit in rather low light.



Just as active was this singing Marsh Tit.



This Meadow Pipit defied convention by posing in a tree.



Nuthatch