Chinese Water Deer

1 Of 8 Chinese Water deer seen whilst searching game strips around Steppingly

Long-eared owl

This is another shot of the same bird photographed by Steve on the 26th

Little Owl

This bird was photographed just outside Great Barford on the road to Wilden. Photographed on the 26th

Yellowhammer

A female Yellowhammer at the set-a-side near Thurligh. 28th December 2006, by Steve Blain

GND at Cuckoo Bridge

Another shot of the juvenile Great Northern Diver, 27th December 2006 by Steve Blain

Red-crested Pochard

Not a great image really! Taken on 27 Dec. I guess this bird does seem to be a bit pale - on the back especially. Photo by Richard Bashford

Having a stretch...

Pink-footed Goose at Cuckoo Bridge Lake

With about 5 Greylags. Photographed on 26 Dec by Richard Bashford

Great Northern Diver at Cuckoo Bridge Lake

Getting rather used to turning up at Lakes and seeing Great Northern Divers! This one (which could well be the Roxton or Blunham bird - or are they the same?), at least gave me the chance to photograph it. Also Pink-footed Goose and 2 Goldeneye here.

Long-eared Owl

Just one of over 100 species found on Christmas day 2006, this Long-eared Owl was one of a pair. Image taken 26th December 2006 by Steve Blain

Buzzard

A Common Buzzard near Old Warden, 25th December 2006 by Steve Blain

Corn Bunting video

Corn Bunting singing at the Thurleigh set-a-side. 24th December 2006 by Steve Blain

Great Northern Diver at Roxton video

Great Northern Diver quite late on the evening it was found by RIB at Roxton.

Blunham 22 December

The fog has been with us in the Ivel Valley for five days now. As I passed Blunham Lake today, it appeared to be less intense so decided to scan the lake. When I arrived I could see the far side and was amazed to see a Great northern Diver. I assume this is the Roxton bird but I see from Birdguides there is a record from there this afternoon also! The Garganey was still present and is moulting quickly.

Another bird from Thurleigh

A male Stonechat by the side of the road at Thurleigh. 20th December 2006 by Steve Blain

Red-footed Falcon video

Male Red-footed Falcon MVCP, June 2006

Peregrine Falcon video

Peregrine Falcon - ex BT building, Bedford, UK. 12th August 2006

Hen Harrier

Another couple of shots of the over-wintering adult female Hen Harrier at Thurleigh.

Thurleigh Hen Harrier

An outstanding shot of the wintering Hen Harrier at Thurleigh by Andy Whitney. 19th December 2006.

Birding in the fog

Geese and Swan, and Ducks at a very foggy Broom GP, 19th December 2006 by Steve Blain

Great northern Diver at Roxton

Taken at Roxton Lakes on the 18th Dec by David Fisher

Wintering Garganey

Some dodgy shots of the stunning male Garganey currently wintering at Blunham Lakes. The plumage is developing very quickly on this little duck. 18th December 2006, Steve Blain.

Another Beds Great northern Diver

I was out today to do my WeBS count of Roxton. Roxton really has gone downhill in the last year and recent visits have been pretty birdless. Today started well with a female Red-crested Pochard - a site first for me and a year tick. I nipped back to the car to get my camera but couldn't relocate the bird. Thinking it may have flown to the oldest lake along the river (which is normally very quiet indeed), I decided to pay a rare visit to this lake. This is very rarely watched and I only visit about 4 or 5 times a year. True to form, the lake had 5 or so Tufted Ducks and a Mallard or two and the flock of Greylags. Then I saw what I assume would be a Cormorant but it looked a bit pale.... Raising my bins revealed a Great northern Diver. From photos of the other two, I'm sure this is the third found in a month. The Priory bird looks darker around the cheeks. I spent some time trying to photograph it but failed apart from the above.

Pink-footed Goose

Not the best of shots! This bird (presumably this same one) has been wintering in the Ivel/Ouse valley for a few years now - Broom/Blunham/Roxton mainly. Never really sure if it is too wild but it must be a bit suspect as there is only the one - although it only seems to be around in the winter.

17th December birding

Cuckoo Bridge Lake - a rarely watched site - usually because there is little here except good numbers of Mute Swans. Only 56 today but I've seen over 80 here before.

Redwing at Pegsdon Hills

A Redwing seen at Pegsdon Hills, 16th December 2006 by Steve Blain

Thurleigh raptors

The set-a-side next to Thurleigh airfield in north Bedfordshire is superb for raptors at the moment with Hen Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard all seen there in the last few days. The shots above are of a female type Merlin (top) and an adult female Peregrine (bottom) seen there on 16th December 2006, by Steve Blain

Stewartby Lake Gull roost

Gulls roosting on Stewartby Lake, 9th December 2006 by Steve Blain.

Great Northern Diver at MVCP

Great Northern Diver on the Pillinge at Marston Vale Country Park, 9th December 2006 by Steve Blain

Melanistic Black-headed Gulls

Please click on the images for a larger view








Ray comments:"I first picked it up looking down to the sailing club from the 'Beach' . it immediaterly stuck out like a sore thumb in the Bins as being so much darker than all the other Black heads in flight but as I got nearer I was struck by the amount of white in the tail, and, having got nearer still by how pale it appeared in the wing and head compared to what I remembered of the bird the other day. However as soon as went back into the air it immediately stood out alongside the other Gulls so I remain somewhat confused,undecided etc and stuck firmly sitting on the fence as to wether it was a different bird or just different lighting conditions!!!!

The 2 from the other morning (see below) are an attempt to show the tail and some colour comparison with the other Black heads and the rest are from this afternoon.

Regards Ray Roche"

Golden Plovers

Part of a good flock of Golden Plovers at Biggleswade. 4th December 2006 by Steve Blain.

Little Owl

A Little Owl seen at night just outside Old Warden, 1st December 2006 by Steve Blain