Stockgrove Country Park

On a dull and blustery day I took myself off to Stockgrove to check my camera was working properly after I dropped it quite heavily yesterday. Going on the results with a different lens on, it seems ok which is more than I can say for my poor old 300mm f4 which is now in need of some major surgery.

Anyway the usual stuff was at the bridge, sadly still no Marsh Tit on site.

A Happy and Prosperous New Year to all in the Beds Birds fraternity.

Cheers

Sean

Siberian Chiffchaff

Siberian Chiffchaff, Marston Sewage Works, 29th December 2015 by Neil Wright

Brent Goose

Brent Goose, Stewartby Lake, 28th December 2015 by Martin Green.

Caspian Gull

Caspian Gull, Broom GP, 28th December 2015

Siberian Chiffchaff

Siberian Chiffchaff, Marston Sewage Works, 28th December 2015

Great Northern Diver

Great Northern Diver, Stewartby Lake, 28th December 2015

Mealy Redpolls

Two Mealy Redpolls, Broom GP, 26th December 2015

Goldcrest

I had a trip around Bedfordshire today looking for the Great Northern Diver at Stewartby, Firecrest at Meadow Lane, Great White Egret at Willington, & Dartford Warbler in Aspley Heath. I completely failed on all 4 counts not a sign when I was about, but all were reported later in the day so they are still about.

Never mind I can console myself with some very close views of a Goldcrest at Aspley Heath and some Long-tailed Tits at Stewartby so it wasn't a complete bomb out on the photographic front.

Great White Egret

Great White Egret, Cuckoo Bridge Lake, 19th December 2015

Med Gull

Med Gull, Meadow Lane, 15th December 2015 by Martin Palmer

Scaup

Scaup, Meadow Lane, 15th December 2015 by Martin Palmer

Firecrest

Firecrest, Meadow Lane, 15th December 2015 by Martin Palmer

Firecrest

Firecrest, Meadow Lane, 13th December 2015

Cuckoo Bridge GWE

Must be about the tenth record for Beds and my third found on a WeBS count.

Firecrest

Firecrest, Meadow Lane, 11th December 2015 by Martin Palmer.

Kestrel

Kestrel, Tiddenfoot WP, 2nd December 2015 by Rory Morrisey

Green Woodpecker

Green Woodpecker, Potton, 2nd December 2015 by Ray Piercy. An odd coloured bird.

Cormorant

Leucistic Cormorant, Stewartby Lake, 28th November 2015. I'm not sure 'leucistic' is the correct term for the plumage type this bird features - 'browning' might be it?

Luton park Gadwall

Another addition to my Wardown Park duck list today when doing WEBS count

Scaups at Cuckoo Bridge

For such a mediocre site - few birds except Mallards and Mute Swans, this is the third record of Scaup I've had here - first a flock of seven about five years ago, then a single the same year and then two today.

Short-eared Owl

Short-eared Owl, GLE, Broom GP, 4th November 2015

Penduline Tits

Penduline Tits, Broom GP, 31st October 2015.  Unfortunately on a private section of the complex.

Bufflehead

Just a few of today's Bufflehead at Priory CP, 29th October 2015.  It was metal ringed on its right leg. This hasn't stopped previous claims getting accepted - the Roadford Reservoir, Devon bird of 1998-1999 was also ringed.