The A6 pit at Radwell

This area is surely one of the best bits of habitat in the county and days must go by without it being watched. A shame its so far away from where any birders live. In this shot are around 300 of Greylag, 350 Canadas, 250 Lapwing and a few Mute Swans. Over 100 Mutes in the Radwell complex, Peregrine over and the Black-necked Grebe on the pit near here with over 100 Wigeon.

It's exotic at Harrold-Odell CP...

Black-necked Grebe Radwell

The Black-necked Grebe was still showing well at Radwell around 5pm today. These two photos show how much the lighting level affected the appearance of the bird. Photos by Martin Green.

Radwell Black-necked Grebe

Like buses...only in grebe form...

Little Gull - Stewartby Lake 23rd September 2008

Record shots of one of two Little Gulls that I saw in the gull roost about 5pm. They both took off about 5.05pm and flew around for a couple of minutes before disappearing off high between the chimneys and the scrapyard corner. I do have one or two shots that include both birds, but as they are (even) worse than the above I'll spare you looking at those... Photos by Martin Green

Garganey

Garganey, Blunham Lakes, 22nd September 2008 by Steve Blain.

Magpie

Magpie, The Pinnacle, Sandy, 21st September 2008 by Steve Blain.

Ringing at Beeston

Kestrel

Meadow Pipit

Both trapped in nets set for pipits in a stubble field at Beeston. Thanks to Del Gruar

Redstart

Juvenile Redstart, Pegsdon Hills, 20th September 2008 by Steve Blain. More can be found here.

Whinchat with breakfast

Captured with caterpillar on the fence posts to NW of Deacon Hill trig point Pegsdon. Sunday 14th Sept (digiscope).

It's behind you.. !

Congratulations to Andy and Michelle, may all your Buzzards be Honey's.. :-)

Caspian Gull Scouts (Airbourne Division)

Rumours of a new secret weapon in the Bedfordshire gullwatchers armoury are rife after the following was sighted at Stewartby Lake this evening. So far there has been no comment on the speculation as to the likely source of all that hot air.. :-)

Osprey at Stewartby Lake 16th September

The above Osprey at Stewartby Lake today is not the same bird I photographed near the MVCP Visitors Centre last Sunday (14th September). Note the damaged (short) outer (p10) primary on the right wing. There is a photo of the bird I saw on Sunday (which has a short outer (p10) primary on it's left wing) on the image blog below. Photo by Martin Green.

Black-necked Grebe at Wyboston

My second Black-necked Grebe found on a Wyboston WeBS count in as many years. It actually flew in as I was doing the count. This is a juvenile bird. Had me scratching my head for a bit as it seems to show some features of Slavonian. On some of my out of focus shots - of which there are many, the head shape is more Slav than BNG.

Honey Buzzard

Not only was this bird a county tick for me it was No 191 for my year list!!!!!

Osprey at MVCP

This Osprey, which was being mobbed by a Common Buzzard, flew past the MVCP Cafe about 1pm. Photo by Martin Green

Northern Wheatear

Not the sharpest shot of this Northern Wheatear at Sharpenhoe Clappers, but it did reveal more plumage detail.

Juv Curlew Sand

Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, Meadow Lane GP, 11st September 2008 by Steve Blain.

Sharpenhoe Clappers

Whilst crossing the top field to get to the wryneck, this whinchat posed for a couple of shots before moving on. Shame the wryneck wasnt as obliging.

Last of the summer wryno's

Bedfordshire's finest !

Wryneck

A record shot of, what turned out to be, an elusive bird. This is the second record of Wryneck found by SW at Sharpenhoe Clappers in three years ! Let's hope it shows again...

Gannet

Juvenile Gannet, Stewartby Lake, 7th September 2008 by Steve Blain. Possibly the same bird which flew south over Paxton pits this morning?

Blackwits et al

Recent images from DSTW.







One of the less gruesome images from the garden

Pec Twitch

Many thanks to Jack (looking to the left in this shot), for the call. After calling our County recorder (who beat me there...) and shooting off an email to the group, I packed the kids in the car and drove over. I probably spent more time rescuing the kids from the nettles than watching it though.