Tawny Owl

Tawny Owl, Southill, 28th December 2009. Another shot can be found here.

Whooper

Whooper Swan, Broom GP, 28th December 2009

Cetti's Warbler - MVCP

A couple of shots of one of the Cetti's Warbers at the MVCP. Photographs by Martin Green.

Xmas Garden Birding

A selection of birds seen in my parents garden near Stewartby Lake over the last 3-4 days. Photos by Martin Green.

'Sooper' Roxy

A real treat on my local patch - I was pretty lucky to see it though as it flew about a minute after these photos were taken. I've only just noticed the Grey Wagtail in the top photo...

Half way to America...

From a bit of SCB, surfing the net - this appears to be an American Wigeon x Pintail

Lesser Redpolls & Slavonian Grebe

A few photos of a flock of 50+ Lesser Redpolls that were in the MVCP "sewage works plantation", they were also seen later on by Bob Hook near the visitors centre. This is by far the biggest flock I have ever seen on the Country Park, with probably about double the number that was in the next biggest flock I have seen here. If they hang around I'm hoping they might be joined by one (or both...) of their rarer cousins...

Star-bird of the day was a Slavonian Grebe found by Martin Palmer. It was found about 3.30pm and I saw it shortly afterwards with Dave Ball. The grebe was about 3/4 of the way across Stewartby Lake from the gullwatch and managed to vanish after we had been watching it for about 2-3 minutes, but it may well still be about... I tried to take some record shots of it as I had never photographed one on the lake before, but unfortunately I could not find the bird in the photos when I was by the lake. So imagine my surprise when I discovered this masterpiece of imagery when I got back home... Which just goes to show that there are some things that even PhotoShop can't fix... :-(

Photos by Martin Green.

Treecreeper - MVCP

This Treecreeper was picked up on call by Neill Wright near the MVCP Pillinge hide. (Well done Neil!) They are pretty rare on the Country Park - recorded just about annually. Photo by Martin Green. (Neil got a much better photo which may appear on the blog soon...)

Great Northern Diver - Brogborough

This Great Northern Diver was found by Keith Owen, along with a short-staying Kittiwake. Photos by Neil Wright.

Bullfinch near Hulcote Wood

This Bullfinch was photogaphed by Neil Wright.

Two Caspian Gulls

Two adult Caspian Gulls, Quest Pit, 15th November 2009. There are a few more shots of them here.

Hybrid Duck

Hybrid Duck, Brogborough Lake, 14th November 2009 by Steve Blain. Unfortunately not a Lesser Scaup!

Pheasant & Caspian Gull - MVCP

The Caspian Gull was in the Stewartby gull roost this evening along with an adult Yellow-legged Gull and a possible adult Caspian Gull - all found by Keith Owen. I thought I'd include the Pheasant photo just to show that I can (sometimes) get reasonable photos of birds when they are not about 400 yards away... And for those of you who are even less well versed in the niceties of gull identification - the Caspian Gull - is in the top photo.. :-) Photos by Martin Green

Kittiwake - Stewartby Lake

This Kittiwake was found in the Stewartby Lake gull roost by Keith Owen. Photograph by Martin Green.

Caspian Gull - Stewartby Lake

Three in-flight record shots of the Caspian Gull found by Steve Blain. Photos by Martin Green.

Caspian Gull

First-winter Caspian Gull, Stewartby Lake, 8th November 2009 by Steve Blain.

Black Redstart

Some wonderful shots by Simon Hill of one of two Black Redstarts seen near Upper Shelton on Saturday 7th November 2009. The other (a male) was more elusive and wouldn't pose for a photo, according to Simon.

Stonechat

Male Stonechat, The Riddy, Sandy, 5th November 2009. Photo by Richard Lawrence.

Firecrest

Firecrest, The Lodge, 5th Nov 2009. There is another shot here.

Scaup montage from Brogborough

One first year male and four first year females present Thursday evening 5th November. Just a few record shots as the light started to fade.

Firecrest

First-calendar year female Firecrest, The Lodge, 4th November 2009. Photo by Mark Gurney.

Brogborough Ducks

A quick stop at Brogborough at mid-day today saw an increase in the Scaup to four, Goldeneye to eleven and the female RC Pochard still present. 2/11/09

Grey Plover

Grey Plover, Derek Whites Eggs pit, 19th October 2009

Rock Pipit

Rock Pipit, Derek Whites Eggs pit, 17th October 2009

Quality

Diver sp

Diver sp - south over the Pinnacle, Sandy at 08:25 this morning. It was dropping so will hopefully be picked up at Broom later...

Wheatear

Wheatear, Pegsdon Hills, 4th October 2009

Stonechat

Stonechat, Pegsdon Hills, 4th October 2009

Leach's Petrel

A distant view of Peter Smiths stunning Petrel at Stewartby

Peregrine - MVCP 27th September 2009

A Peregrine (probably male - didn't look overly big or bulky) that spent a couple of hours on a pylon near the MVCP access track. Thanks to Phil Candlish for letting me use his 600mm lens. Photo by Martin Green.

Leach's Petrel

Leach's Petrel and rescue boat, Stewartby Lake, 26th September 2009. Well done Pete Smith for a wonderful find! A brief bit of video can be found here and some excellent shots by Mark Thomas can be found here.

Whinchat

Whinchat, Broom GP, 25th September 2008 by Steve Blain