More Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting, Brogborough tip, 31st January 2009 by Neil Wright.

Gutter snipe

Willington settling lagoon 25th January 2009, retrap from Jan 3rd 2009.

Brogborough Tip

Two SB's showing well on fence posts late morning... A close-up of the cracking Snow Bunting, photos by Martin Green.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting, Brogborough tip, 24th January 2009. What a cracker!

One Woodcock well-preserved

Woodcock on my kitchen table after being found dead and frozen in a neighbours garden in Wychwood Avenue, Luton on 30th Dec. This is one of five (all others alive) that I have seen locally this year which seems to have been very good for them after the New Year cold spell, along with Snipe and Water Rail. This bird has now been presented to Luton Museum who will be preparing it for exhibit, the first in their collection.

Another hybrid

This bird has been at Blunham for a few days - clearly very Gadwall like but with this green tinged Red-crested Pochard-like pale cheeks and neck and dark cap.

Snow Bunting, Beans & Chats

Early frost followed by a sunny day and a chance to catch up with some notable Bedfordshire birds.
This male Snow Bunting at Brogborough Tip was another excellent find by Steve Blain. The light was reasonable, however, it was a difficult act to follow given the quality of images posted so far !







Although distant, the wary Tundra Bean Goose family group showed well at Cainhoe.





A pair of Common Stonechat frequented a rough patch of ground adjacent to the Cainhoe lakes.

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting, Brogborough tip, 19th January 2009 by Lol Carman. Many thanks to Lol for sending through these shots.

Snow Bunting, Waxwing and Brent Geese

A super Snow Bunting at Brogborough Tip, Jan 18th 2009 - good work SB!

The first ever Waxwing ringed in Bedfordshire, Biggleswade Jan 8th 2009

Three Brents at Broom, Jan 12th 2009 - more good work SB !

Tree Sparrow

Tuesday 13th January, the flock of tree sparrows still showing well at Clifton although quite mobile from one field to the other, helped by a local sparrowhawk too. Also later that day a Harrier species flew across a field between Wrestlingworth and Cockayne Hatley, seen while walking my dog.

Brent Geese

Three Brent Geese, Broom GP, 12th January 2009 by Steve Blain. Presumably the three that have been at Paxton Pits (Cambs) recently?

Brambling

Brambling, Broom, 11th January 2009 by Steve Blain.

Tree Sparrow

Tree Sparrow, Clifton, 10th January 2009 by Steve Blain. There is still a wonderful mixed bunting, finch and sparrow flock on the outskirts of the village with 20+ of these things mixed in.

Caspian Gull

Caspian Gull, Stewartby Lake, 10th January 2009 by Steve Blain.

Bittern

This Bittern showed really well today in the frozen reedbed at Brogborough Lake, 10th January 2009 by Steve Blain.

Radwell duck

This bird does have white undertail coverts but I think the head shape is a bit too Pochard-like for a Fudge. Comments welcome!

Waxwing, Greenfield

The four Bohemian Waxwing were feeding on Sorbus this morning, but the freezing fog stuck all day ruling out any decent photography...

Waxwings at Biggleswade - Rose Lane - 07/01/2009

Very obliging birds. Good to see Nigel there and, as a beginner,

to pick up some tips from a real pro!

Blunham Pintails

These were a joy to find at Blunham this lunch time. Usually a sign the washes are freezing over. These present with the Garganey, over 300 Gadwall and severl hundred other wildfowl.

Waxwings

Some wonderful images of the two Biggleswade Waxwings by Nigel Blake, 6th January 2009. More can be found on Nigels Flickr website here.