Great Northern Diver - Rookery

The long-staying Great Northern Diver photographed at Rookery North by Martin Palmer.

Ruddy Duck

A bit of a rarity these days. This winter male Ruddy Duck was at Gypsy Lane West this lunchtime. 

Pink-foot number two

This bird was with the greylags by Harrold Bridge yesterday. The long-staying injured bird was still by the small lake in the park.

Day Out Flitwick Moore, Blows Down & Dunstable Sewage Works

Started out very early with my mate Mark on a quest to Flitwick Moore for the third time to try and get a decent picture of the Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. Unfortunately I failed in this mission once again even after giving it 4-5 hours on site, saw the little beggars again at the bottom end by the bridges but no pictures!!

We did however bump into Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Jay, Magpie, Crow, Jackdaw, Buzzard, Blackbird, Dunnock, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Robin, loads of Wren & Treecreepers, Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tit. We then moved on to Blows Down where Wheatear and Ring Ouzel were reported, we only managed to catch up with the Wheatear, I then moved on to DSW where I ran into Teal, Mallard, Pochard, Snipe on the main scrape along with 2 Water Rail, lets hope they are a pair?

Great day out around Beds and thanks to Mark for his company and patience as we didn't get the LSW on film, we did try very hard, perhaps next time we will be lucky.

Erythristic Chaffinch

A erythristic Chaffinch, Potton, 9th March 2014 - images by Colin Campbell and Sharolyn Parnham. Erythrism is where the red or chestnut pigment replaces other pigments and is a rare abnormality.

Siberian Chiffchaff song

The remaining Siberian Chiffchaff singing at Marston SW, 8th March 2014.  There is a Common Chiffchaff singing in the background too.

The Lodge. Sandy.

 Wednesday 5th March, took a stroll to the Hill Fort. Just a single Crossbill flew over and out of sight, but plenty of activity from the Ravens, Common Buzzard, and displaying Sparrowhawks. Also 2 Brimstones passed. 

Crossbill song

'Glip' Common Crossbill singing, The Lodge, 7th March 214

Flitwick Moore & Eversholt

A morning out in the field with good friends Mark & Bridget started at Flitwick Moor where we were lucky enough to bump into Lesser Spotted, Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker, Coal, Great, Blue & Long-Tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, loads of Wren setting out there territories, Goldcrest, Robin, about 4-6 Tree Creepers, Buzzard, Magpie, Jay, Crow, Jackdaw, Sparrowhawk, Blackbird, Song Thrush and a possible singing Blackcap.

We then moved on to Eversholt Lake via Westoning where we ran into Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, some possible Mealy mixed in with the flock (as some were very light and grey), Fox, Grey Heron, Roe Deer, Yellowhammer, Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest, 3 pairs of Goosander, Canada Goose, plus 5-6 unusual Hybrids of the same with white heads adult & juv, Maderine, Mallard, Coot, Buzzard, Robin, Wren and Dunnock.

All in all a very good day all-around for sightings, however a bit thin on the ground for any decent photo's, as once again the light was against us. Second Sunday in a row when the promised sunshine has not arrived.

Great Northern Diver

Great Northern Diver, Stewartby Lake, 1st March 2014