Great Grey Shrike Streatley

Popped up early afternoon to Streatley to see if I could finally bump into the Great Grey Shrike. To my delight it was showing really well on the telegraph wires running parallel to the Icknield Way path up from the Swiss Cottages. The bird likes to keep its distance 200-300 yards but was showing really well. Lovely to see at last after many attempts. I also note the GGS at Thurleigh was reported today so a bit of an influx, lets hope they stay.

Caspian Gull

Adult Caspian Gull, Broom GP, 20th October 2013

Merlin

Male Merlin, Broom GP, 17th October 2013

Great Grey Shrike action

Not sure what it was doing, but the beetle was not long for this world...

Great Grey Shrike

Great Grey Shrike, The Lodge, 14th October 2013. iphonescoped.

Gannet

Immature Gannet over Broom GP, 13th October 2013

Stonechat @ Willington

In the sheep fields this morning.

Brent Goose

Brent Goose, Broom GP, 12th October 2013

Arctic Tern

Arctic Tern , Brogborough Lake, 12th October 2013

Pintail

Pintail at Blunham Lake, 12th October 2013

Dunstable Sewage Works 06-10-2013

Once again the first Sunday of the month visit arrived today, unfortunately for the 4th month in a row the fishermen were on site when we arrived, so there were not many birds on the ponds 1, 2, 3 & 4. I can also report that due to a huge effort by Rob Dazley and a few helpers the scrape has now been fully cleared and will from hear on in give everybody in the hide fantastic views of the scrape and ponds to the side, well done to all those who have put the effort in, it is a great improvement. Unfortunately not too much water in the scrape today as it needed to be dry to enable all the works, but next month should be fine.

My bird list today is as follows, Kestrel, Buzzard, Magpie, Jay, Crow, Jackdaw, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Bulfinch, Meadow Pipit,  Reed Bunting, Coot, Moorhen, Water Rail, Grey Heron, Green Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Black Headed Gull, Kingfisher,Teal, Pochard, Blackbird, Song & Mistle Thrush. Some photo's from the Hide enclosed

White-fronted Geese

Two juvenile White-fronted Geese, Broom GP, 2nd October 2013