Smew

Smew, Blunham Lake, 30th December 2008 by Steve Blain.

Leucistic Herring Gull - Stewartby Lake

A couple of records shots of the regular leucistic Herring Gull taken in the scrapyard corner of Stewartby Lake this morning. Photos by Martin Green.

Hybrid?

Any ideas? This is a video still of a bird at Blunham today - TuftedxScaup perhaps?

Bramblings

Upto 11 Bramblings are visiting my garden at the moment, here are two of them. Broom, 29th December 2008 by Steve Blain.

Waxwings

These two Waxwings were outside Alan Outens house in Clifton on 28th December 2008.

Coccothraustes Coccothraustes !

Record shots of a suprise find near Milton Wood, Woburn. This lone Hawfinch eventually flew in to Woburn Park.

Christmas Quacker...

Drake Scaup still at Stewartby Lake, close to the shore off the sailing club bank about 9am. Photo by Martin Green.

Slavonian Grebe

Slavonian Grebe, Brogborough Lake, 22nd December 2008 by Steve Blain

Coal Tit

Seen on the feeders at DSTW, the first site record for over ten years, the last one seen there on 3/05/98.

Little Egret

Frequenting the ditches along Wood Lane.

Ring-necked Parakeet

Ring-necked Parakeet, Southcott, Linslande, 17th December 2008 by Rory Morrisey

A pale Buzzard

Common Buzzard, Ireland, 14th December 2008.

1st winter Scaup at Chimney Corner

Not much of a photograph as you might expect but you can see a few grey feathers coming through.

11th Decembr garden sparrowhawk Putnoe

A posing Sparrowhawk that sat in the Ivy clad apple tree near the back of our house for at least an hour and a half this morning.With 2 different Blackcaps today and yesterday,and our first record of Jays in the Garden,an interesting few days. Ray Roche

Wintering Garganey

Drake Garganey, Blunham Lake, 8th December 2008 by Steve Blain. This returning bird looks set to winter with us again this year.

Red-crested Pochards

3 Red-crested Pochards, Stewartby Lake, 7th December 2008 by Steve Blain.

Slavonian Grebe

Slavonian Grebe, Brogborough lake, 6th December 2008 by Neil Wright.

Bean Geese

The four Tundra Bean Geese are still hanging around the Cainhoe-Clophill area, usually in their favourite field along the Clophill road. 6th December 2008 by Steve Blain.

Bob Duckhouse's RBF

Thanks to Bob for sending his cracking shot of the flycatcher.

2 Black-necked Grebes

Black-necked Grebes, Priory CP, 30th November 2008 by Steve Blain. Presumably these same two individuals were seen at Paxton Pits (Cambs) the day before, and at Furzton Lake (Bucks) the day after.

Slavonian Grebe

Slavonian Grebe, Brogborough Lake, 30th November 2008 by Steve Blain. 'Slav's' are getting increasingly scarce in the county, with only two records in the past two years.

9 Whooper Swans

9 Whooper Swans on the village pit, Broom GP, 29th November 2008 by Steve Blain

Goosander at Harrold

American Purple Gallinule

An American Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) was picked up dead during spring this year by one of the keepers of the Southill Estate. The bird has only come to light because of a chance encounter with Barry Nightingale, who regularly does WeBS and other surveys on the private estate.

Whether this bird arrived naturally, or escaped from a collection is unknown. How this individual arrived in Bedfordshire I suspect we'll never know. Currently the bird in a deep freeze waiting more analysis.

There is only one accepted British record, of an immature picked up exhausted on St Mary's, Isles of Scilly, 7th November 1958 (British Birds 53: 145-146, plate I; G. A. Pyman and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 53: 164; K. Williamson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 53: 371; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 42). Obviously the most likely answer is of an escaped bird from a collection, but this type of information, for this species, is difficult to come by. If anyone has any information for American Purple Gallinule being in ANY collections in the UK (or even in Europe) I'd be most interested.

The record has already been submitted to BBRC for their further investigation.

What a year Bedfordshire is currently having!

Steve
Beds county recorder

Photos by BN, BS and GD

RBF

I was hoping for some sun today, but precious little about. Still, musn't grumble !



Come on, don't be so shy !

Not flies for lunch again !

Tony Knight's RBF

Hert's birder Tony Knight kindly forwarded this shot of our star bird.

Red-breasted Flycatcher

Taken on Monday, 24th November by Neil Wright.

RBF

Photo by Mike Neal

DJO in action pointing out the bird!

A cracking start to the day!

Another one of Andy's shots...

Red-breasted Flycatcher at Leagrave Marsh

The second Red-breasted Flycatcher for Beds was discovered yesterday at Rotten Corner, Leagrave Marsh by Jon Palmer - great record !