Bedsbirds Images Blog

Blunham White-front

2012-01-27T18:32:00.002Z

Radwell White-fronts

2012-01-07T14:50:00.002Z

I scanned the flock for about 45 mins before they flew in from the Viaduct pit area.

Extreme distance photography but you can see four of five of the six White-fronted Geese in this shot. The sixth was separate from this group and indeed flew in first from the back pits. The five here flew around for a few minutes before landing.

Two Great Northern Divers - Stewartby Lake

2012-01-04T18:14:00.001Z

A short video clip of the two Great Northern Divers on Stewartby Lake. Taken using a Canon S95 compact camera attached to a Nikon ED50 (27x) scope via an adaptor. The birds were at a distance of about 500 yards and I was using approx 9x zoom on the camera.

Great Northern Diver

2012-01-02T20:09:00.000Z

Great Northern Diver, Brogborough Lake, 2nd January 2012

Hoodwinked Crow

2012-01-02T17:34:00.002Z

A video grab of a grey Carrion Crow

H6C

2011-12-31T20:11:00.000Z

Greylag Goose H6C at Blunham Lake, 31st December 2011. I wonder where it was ringed?

Common Sandpiper & Magpie - Stewartby Lake

2011-12-31T18:54:00.002Z

Another photo of the Common Sandpiper taken on the sailing club bank of Stewartby Lake. in slightly better light than I had for the last photos. I just wish it had walked past the car a few minutes earlier when the light was much better as it was for the Magpie. Photos by Martin Green.

Scaup

2011-12-31T17:09:00.000Z

Female Scaup, Brogborough Lake, 31st December 2011

Southill Sparrows

2011-12-30T16:57:00.000Z

A leucistic House Sparrow amongst Tree Sparrows in Southill, 30th December 2011.

Common Sand & Grey Wag - Stewartby Lake

2011-12-29T22:02:00.002Z

A few photos of the very confiding Common Sandpiper on the sailing club bank of Stewartby Lake. The sandpiper came within 12 feet of Dave Ball's car. Unfortunately, the combination of the poor light and the highly active nature of the bird made it very hard to get both the head and tail in focus at the same time. I'll hopefully get another chance when the light is better... The Grey Wagtail was also on the sailing club bank. Photos by Martin Green.

White-fronted Goose, Lt Barford

2011-12-28T14:52:00.003Z

Nordic Jackdaw

2011-12-27T16:51:00.000Z

Nordic Jackdaw Corvus monedula monedula - Derek Whites Eggs pit, 27th December 2011. An overlooked Scandinavian migrant in the county. To find out more click here and here.

Barn Owl

2011-12-26T08:21:00.000Z

Barn Owl, Old Warden, 26th December 2011

Hook-tip Gull

2011-12-23T20:31:00.006Z

This first winter Black-headed Gull was noted in Wardown Park, Luton on 18th December amongst 600 or so of its mates. Maybe a useful adaptation for stealing bits of stale bread from the local Mallards...

Great Northern Diver - Stewartby Lake

2011-12-10T17:22:00.004Z

A record shot of the Great Northern Diver taken around 3pm this afternoon from the sailing club bank of Stewartby Lake. The diver was very active most of the day, only staying on the surface for a few seconds at a time, making it hard to get better photographs. Photograph by Martin Green.

Stockgrove CP

2011-12-05T21:57:00.000Z

The woodland birds are great entertainment at Stockgrove CP at the mo!

Dan Trim

White-fronted Goose

2011-11-23T08:55:00.000Z

White-fronted Goose, Broom GP, 23rd November 2011

Long-tailed Tit & Goldcrest - MVCP

2011-11-20T21:25:00.001Z

A couple of photos taken on a very foggy day. The Goldcrest photo is actually the best image I have got of one on site so not too bad. Photos by Martin Green.

White-fronted Goose

2011-11-20T18:41:00.004Z

Juvenile Eurasian White-fronted Goose, Grovebury 20/11/2011

Pintail

2011-11-20T18:31:00.003Z

Fifteen Pintail (inc. 7 males) at Grovebury 12/11/2011, put up by a low flying helicopter.

Sparrowhawk

2011-11-20T17:05:00.001Z

This Sparrowhawk was taking apart a Feral Pigeon at Derek Whites Eggs pit this afternoon. Doesn't it have long legs!

White-fronted Goose

2011-11-20T08:54:00.000Z

White-fronted Goose, Biggleswade Common, 20th November 2011.

Caspian Gull - Stewartby Lake

2011-11-19T19:55:00.005Z

This video of one of the three Caspian Gulls in the Stewartby Lake roost this afternoon was taken at a range of about 300-400 yards using a Canon S95 compact camera attached to a Nikon S95 via an adaptor:

Video by Martin Green.

When kestrels attack....

2011-11-19T19:52:00.005Z

This video was taken at a range of about 100 yards near the MVCP pillinge using a canon S95 compact camera attached to a Nikon ED50 scope via an adaptor.

Video by Martin Green.

And here is a video still of the moment of impact:

Tundra Bean Geese

2011-11-19T07:52:00.000Z

Tundra Bean Geese, Cainhoe Lakes, 19th November 2011. This is the second time in recent years Tundra Bean Geese have turned up at this site.

Merlin

2011-11-19T07:51:00.000Z

Male Merlin, Broom GP, 19th November 2011

Caspian Gull

2011-11-15T15:13:00.000Z

Caspian Gull, Stewartby Lake, 15th November 2011 by Martin Palmer. One of two adults present that evening.

Priory Gannet 14/11/2011

2011-11-14T17:34:00.004Z

I'm sure there will some better images out there. Here is my digiscope effort as the bird swam close to the north shore. While I was there it also flew round a few times and was seen to perform two shallow angle plunge dives (or crash landings?)

Gannet

2011-11-14T08:16:00.000Z

Two more shots of the juvenile Gannet found at Priory CP by Tony Gill, 14th November 2011. The upper shot was taken by Dave Kramer, and the lower shot by Steve Blain.

Red-breasted Merganser

2011-11-13T17:07:00.001Z

Red-breasted Merganser on The Pillinge, MVCP, 13th November 2011

Slav Grebe

2011-11-13T17:04:00.001Z

Slavonian Grebe, Broom GP, 13th November 2011. Check out its call below!

Slavonian Grebe at Broom GP by Steve Blain

Caspian Gull

2011-11-13T08:20:00.000Z

Adult Caspian Gull, Quest pit, 13th November 2011. The lower shot, although poor, shows the wing-tip pattern typical of Caspian Gull, with broad white tips to P10 and P9, shafts of white (or 'tongues') in to the black, and a black band on P5.

Black Redstart

2011-11-12T14:16:00.001Z

Black Redstart, Devon Drive, Biggleswade, 12th November 2011. A nice surprise while having a bacon sarnie for lunch!

White-fronted Geese

2011-11-09T13:29:00.000Z

Four of the ten White-fronted Geese in fields north of Broom GP, 9th November 2011

Leucistic Golden Plover

2011-11-06T18:07:00.000Z

Leucistic Golden Plover, fields north of Southill, 6th November 2011

Garganey

2011-11-01T21:25:00.000Z

Garganey, Blunham Lake, 1st November 2011

Mute Swans

2011-11-01T11:50:00.000Z

These two colour-ringed Mute Swans were at Blunham Lakes on 1st November 2011. They were both originally ringed on The Embankment in Bedford. 772 was ringed on 11th March 2011 and this is the first time it's been seen away from the ringing site. 984 was originally ringed on 15th July 2011 and has been seen at Priory CP on 10th September, before turning up at Blunham.

Many thanks to the BTO, and Mike Reed in particular, for the information above.

Caspian Gull

2011-10-29T20:23:00.004Z

First-winter Caspian Gull with adult Yellow-legged Gull, Stewartby Tip, 29th October 2011

Ivel Osprey

2011-10-28T15:04:00.001Z

Picked these two images up from BirdForum taken by a local fisherman Paul Keeble at Henlow.

Firecrest and Goldcrest at The Lodge

2011-10-24T12:28:00.000Z

Black Redstart

2011-10-23T10:50:00.000Z

Black Redstart, The Lodge, 23rd October 2011

Hen Harrier - Hulcott

2011-10-22T18:58:00.004Z

This juvenile Hen Harrier at Hulcott Wood was found and photographed by Neil Wright.

The Lodge. 21st October.

2011-10-21T15:52:00.004Z

The 6 Woodlark showed reasonably well for a period before moving to the new heath and out of sight. And whilst waiting I happened to look behind me and saw an Osprey complete with fish.

Woodlark

2011-10-20T19:48:00.001Z

One of six Woodlarks currently at The Lodge, 20th October 2011

Radwell Stonechat

2011-10-16T10:38:00.003Z

Highlight of my WeBS count on Saturday.

What's at then end of the rainbow?

2011-10-13T13:37:00.000Z

Happy birders after seeing a Woodlark fly over The Pinnacle on vismig, 13th October 2011

Stonechat

2011-10-09T18:08:00.000Z

One of a pair of Stonechats on Biggleswade Common, 9th October 2011

Peregrines

2011-10-01T20:49:00.000Z

Peregrines, Stewartby, 1st October 2011

Black Tern

2011-09-27T18:47:00.003Z

juv. at Dunstable STW this afternoon.(27/09/11)

Marsh Harrier

2011-09-27T18:39:00.003Z

juv. watched in Rookery this morning despite the intense disturbance.(27/09/11)

Tawny Owl

2011-09-25T20:51:00.000Z

Tawny Owl, Sheerhatch Wood, 25th September 2011

Whinchat

2011-09-15T13:09:00.000Z

This Whinchat was part of a chat flock on Biggleswade Common, 15th September 2011. The flock consisted of two Whinchat and a colour-ringed male Stonechat. I'm currently trying to find out where the Stonechat was ringed...

Renhold Manx

2011-09-13T14:57:00.002Z

This is an image taken by St Tiggywinkles staff of the Renhold Manx Shearwater found on 13th September. It was released at the coast a week later.

Spoonbill & Black Tern - Stewartby Lake

2011-09-11T21:22:00.004Z

The photographs were taken by Neil Wright this afternoon at Stewartby Lake.

Spoonbill over MVCP

2011-09-11T19:55:00.003Z

A very poor record shot of the Spoonbill flying over the far side of the Pillinge taken from outside the visitors centre, but one that I was very pleased to get the chance to take. Much, much better photos taken at Stewartby Lake by Neil Wright to follow. Photo by Martin Green.

Wryneck

2011-09-10T10:45:00.000Z

Wryneck in a Tebworth garden, 10th September 2011. This bird was originally seen for fiften minutes on the 8th, before being seen again for around an hour on 10th. Many thanks go to the householder for letting me take a peek at this wonderful bird.

Spoonbill

2011-09-10T09:54:00.000Z

Spoonbill, Quest pit, 10th September 2011.

Black Terns & Ruff - MVCP

2011-09-09T19:52:00.003Z

Two digiscoped images of the Ruff on the Pillinge this afternoon. My 157th species photographed on the country park. These were taken using a Canon S95 camera attached to a Nikon ED50 scope.

A couple of photos of the three Black Terns on Stewartby Lake this afternoon. They were unusually obliging and made many close fly-pasts of the visitors centre bank.

And, finally a video of one of the Black Terns. Photos and video by Martin Green.

Whinchats

2011-08-27T20:23:00.000Z

Three of the seven Whinchats on Biggleswade Common, 28th August 2011.

Wood Sand

2011-08-23T20:20:00.000Z

Juvenile Wood Sandpiper, Broom GP, 24th August 2011. Often found feeding on the floating mats of weed in the middle of the main lake.

Interesting gull

2011-08-18T21:14:00.001Z

This interesting gull roosted on Stewartby Lake on 17th and 18th August 2011. Perhaps simply a Yellow-legged Gull with a streaky head towards the extreme end, or maybe it has some atlantis influence?

Turtle Dove

2011-08-12T17:58:00.001Z

Turtle Dove, Devon Drive, Biggleswade, 12th August 2011. A lovely bird to have in your garden!

Med Gull

2011-08-08T20:54:00.002Z

Juvenile Med Gull, and the Broom GP gull roost on the washout pit, 8th August 2011. This evenings roost was around 1600 birds in total, including 11 Yellow-legged Gulls.

Osprey

2011-08-05T08:08:00.002Z

Osprey, Eversholt, 5th August 2011, by Marin Palmer

Common Scoter

2011-07-31T16:47:00.003Z

Adult male Common Scoter found this morning on the Leighton Buzzard by-pass. From the look of the injuries it looks as though it mistook the road for water and hit the road in the early morning mist.

The double

2011-07-28T15:43:00.000Z

Pied Flycatcher, Bedford Park, 28th July 2011

Wood Warbler, Bedford Park, 28th July 2011

Well done to Martin Palmer for capturing both the Wood Warbler and the Pied Flycatcher that were in Bedford Park on 28th July 2011.

Pied Fly

2011-07-28T07:11:00.000Z

Pied Flycatcher, Bedford Park, 28th July 2011

This Pied Flycatcher was in the same group of trees a Wood Warbler was also frequenting. An excellent couple of finds for David Roche in Bedford Park, 28th July 2011.

Caspian Gull

2011-07-23T07:14:00.001Z

Adult Caspian Gull, Kempston, 23rd July 2011. Late summer is becoming an increasing good time to find this species in the county, mainly amongst the migrating flocks of Lesser Black-backs.

Grey Wagtails Bedford river 18 July

2011-07-19T14:52:00.005Z

Breeding confirmed for the regular pair of Grey wagtails along Bedford River - with at least 2 recently fledged young being fed by both parents. Ray Roche

Spotted Flycatcher Bedford

2011-07-08T06:34:00.000Z

3 young Spotted Flycatchers in the nest and Days away from fledging.Filmed on 26th June with the nest empty on 1st July, and adults present carrying food. Confirmed feeding young on 6th July. Adults birds initially picked up by David while nest building we were able to follow them through to confirm successful breeding. Ray roche

Greenshank and Redshank - MVCP

2011-07-02T22:52:00.001Z

These birds were on the MVCP Pillinge this afternooon.

Video by Martin Green.

Grey Jackdaw

2011-06-18T11:50:00.005Z

I saw this bird last year at the Viaduct pit at Radwell. Still here a year later. Still a bad photo though, taken by phone down the telescope...

Bedroom Treecreeper

2011-06-15T11:26:00.003Z

This Treecreeper was photographed by Jenny Sprod on her bedroom window in Ampthill. She says
"Having not seen a treecreeper for donkey's years (anywhere), this little bird flew in to a bedroom window this morning. It stayed there for quite a while recovering, and I was quite anxious for it, but then after about half-an-hour it suddenly flew off. We have some very mature trees behind us, oak and horse chestnut, so maybe it will be around for a while, although I think it will be almost impossible to see!"

Hirundines - Stewartby Lake

2011-06-12T18:44:00.001Z

A few photos of a flock of about 60 hirudines hawking for insects low over Stewartby Lake in the rain. Photos by Martin Green.

Yellowhammer - MVCP

2011-06-11T17:27:00.001Z

This Yellowhammer was singing in the MVCP carpark at 8am. Photo by Martin Green.

Reed Bunting - MVCP

2011-06-11T09:19:00.002Z

This Reed Bunting was videoed from the boardwalk near the MVCP Visitors Centre at a distance of about 40 yards. I used my Canon 600D with a 100-400mm lens set to 400mm with about 6X video zoom. Video by Martin Green.

Great Spotted Woodpecker Bedford

2011-06-09T13:55:00.000Z

A very vocal and curious young great spotted woodpecker being fed by both parents. Filmed on May 27th and clearly near to fledging. At least 1 juvenile foragiong in the area a week later. Ray Roche

Another Phalarope shot

2011-05-30T18:46:00.000Z

Red-necked Phalarope, Rookery South ClP, 30th May 2011 by Lol Carman.

Red-necked Phalarope

2011-05-30T15:27:00.001Z

Red-necked Phalarope, Rookery South ClP, 30th May 2011. A long way off!

Red-necked Phalarope

2011-05-30T15:07:00.002Z

Well done to Keith Owen for finding the first really twitchable Red-necked Phalarope in Bedfordshire. Never very close while I was there but it's the dot just behind and to the right of the Coot....honest...

Slavonian Grebe

2011-05-22T08:32:00.001Z

Slavonian Grebe, Priory CP, 21st May 2011. About as pristine as you can get- stunning!

Slav @ PCP 21/5

2011-05-21T10:33:00.002Z

I am sure better images will appear of this superb bird.

Hybrid Ring-necked x Tufted Duck

2011-05-15T08:21:00.002Z

Hybrid Ring-necked x Tufted Duck, Dunstable Sewage Works, 15th May 2011. More can be found here.

TL15A Atlas Upgrade

2011-05-14T17:50:00.002Z

Eleven ducklings newly fledged.

Grovebury continued

2011-05-08T10:02:00.001Z

Grovebury Waders

2011-05-08T09:51:00.004Z

A selection of waders seen at Grovebury over the two spring Bank Holidays, Whimbrel, Grey Plovers, Oyc., Comm. Sandp. Dunlin and two different groups of seven Barwits

LRP - Stewartby Lake

2011-05-06T19:26:00.005Z

This very obliging Little Ringed Plover was on the main slipway on the sailing club bank of Stewartby Lake. A long awaited MVCP photo-tick for me, the 156th species I've photographed on the MVCP / Stewartby Lake.

We may not get anything like the number or variety of waders that Rookery does, but at least they are close enough for even me to ID... ;-) Photographs by Martin Green.

Tundra Ringed Plover

2011-05-05T06:53:00.000Z

Tundra Ringed Plover, Broom GP, 5th May 2011

Little Gull

2011-05-05T06:52:00.000Z

Little Gull, Broom GP, 5th May 2011

White Stork - Stewartby Lake

2011-05-03T19:54:00.004Z

This White Stork appeared from the Marston Moretaine side of the Marston Corner of Stewartby Lake just after 1.20pm. It was initially picked up by Bob Hook whilst I was photographing a Green Hairstreak on the ground.(I'm very glad one of us was looking up...) In the ensuring chaos I remembered to change the focusing mode on my camera and dial in some extra exposure, as well changing the image stabilising mode on my lens. Unfortunately, I had forgotten that I had changed the ISO setting on my camera to 200, rather than my usual 400 so the shots aren't as sharp as they should have been... Bob and I took it in turns to keep on the bird and phone the news out as it drifted away to the East. The stork was in view for a total of about 5-6 minutes. Photographs by Martin Green

Turnstones

2011-05-03T06:51:00.000Z

Turnstones, Broom GP, 3rd May 2011

Knot and Barwit

2011-05-02T06:48:00.000Z

Knot and Bar-tailed Godwit, Broom GP, 2nd May 2011

Avocet

2011-05-01T16:29:00.000Z

Avocet, Broom GP, 1st May 2011

Arctic Tern

2011-05-01T16:28:00.000Z

Arctic Tern (and Avocet), Broom GP. 1st May 2011.

Come in number 53

2011-05-01T16:21:00.001Z

Broom's 53rd Whimbrel of the day, after flocks of 22, 25, and 5 flew through during the morning. 1st May 2011.

Lesser Whitethroat - MVCP

2011-04-30T20:58:00.000Z

This Lesser Whitethroat was singing near the MVCP access track, unfortunately it was rather breezy at the time. Videoed using a Canon 600D camera and a Canon 100-400mm lens. Video by Martin Green.

Turnstone - MVCP Pillinge

2011-04-30T19:53:00.005Z

This Turnstone was on a brick island about 80 yards in front of the MVCP Pillinge hide from just before noon to at least 2pm. I was very pleased to see it as if I have seen one on the park before it was at least 20 years ago... :-) Digiscoped using a Nikon ED50 scope and a Canon S95 compact camera. Here is a video of the bird taken with my Canon 600D and Canon 100-400mm lens:

Photograph and video by Martin Green

Med Gull

2011-04-30T16:35:00.000Z

First-summer Med Gull, Broom GP, 30th April 2011

Purple Heron - MVCP

2011-04-29T19:14:00.001Z

My contribution to the collection of dodgy photos of the Purple Heron... This one was taken at Wetland 9 of the MVCP where the heron dropped in for a few minutes on its return journey to Rookery after visiting Brogborough Lake. Unfortunately my camera initially refused to focus properly when the bird was a bit closer and more side-on... I'm not complaining though as I was convinced I had missed my chance to see it at the MVCP... :-) Photographs by Martin Green.

Marsh Harrier

2011-04-28T17:23:00.001Z

Marsh Harrier high over Broom GP, 28th April 2011