Presumed hybrid Scaup x Tufted Duck

Presumed hybrid Scaup x Tufted Duck, Rookery North pit, 30th January 2016.  This appears to be a returning bird to the brick pits with a shot of it from Brogborough in March 2015 here.

Shag

Shag, Stewartby Lake, 24th January 2016.  Ringed in the summer of 2015 on the Farne Islands.

Slavonian Grebe

Slavonian Grebe, Brogborough Lake, 24th January 2016

Two hybrid ducks

Hybrid Tufted Duck x Pochard, Brogborough Lake, 24th January 2016

Presumed drake hybrid Tufted Duck x Scaup, Brogborough Lake, 24th January 2016

Leucistic Cormorant

More images of the leucistic Cormorant, Stewartby Lake, 24th January 2016

Slavonian Grebe

Slavonian Grebe, Brogborough Lake, 22nd January 2016 by Lol Carman

Mealy Redpolls

Two more shots of the Broom GP Mealy Redpolls, 20th January 2016. How many are in the area is anyone's guess.  The bird in the bottom image is ringed.

Great White Egret

Great White Egret, Roxton Lakes, 17th January 2016 by Patrick Safford

Chiffchaff

Common Chiffchaff, Marston Sewage Works, 17th January 2016

Siberian Chiffchaff

Siberian Chiffchaff, Marston Sewage Works, 17th January 2016

Shag

Shag, Stewartby Lake, 17th January 2016

First snow of the year at The Lodge

I popped into The Lodge this morning to see if the snow had brought the Brambling and Siskin to the feeders, initially unfortunately not so I popped over the road to the Heath and was surprised to find some pretty substantial mixed flocks of birds feeding on the seed in the fields, containing mainly, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, the odd Siskin, Lesser Redpole & Dunnock. There were also quite good quantities of Red -legged Partridge, Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare, Redwing in the area so not a bad move on the photographic front.

I eventually ended up back at the feeder by the shop and at last a Brambling appeared very briefly so not a bad morning in the field. During my earlier visit to the feeders we also had a very brief visit from a Stoat but he was far too quick for me to get a shot, next time i will nab him.

Shag

Shag, Brogborough Lake, 16th January 2016 by Lol Carman

Brambling

Brambling, Sandy Heath, 10th January 2016

Firecrest

Firecrest ringed in a Potton garden, 9th January 2016 by Derek Gruar. A juvenile Female according to Derek.

Tawny Owl

Tawny Owl, Old Warden, 9th January 2016

Mealy Redpoll

Mealy Redpoll, Broom GP, 8th January 2016

Great Grey Shrike

Great Grey Shrike, Poppy Hill, Langford, 3rd January 2016. Viewing details are here.

Brent Goose Dunstable STW 01-01-2016

The sewage works always seems to throw up something unusual on News Years Day, last year it was the Black-necked Grebe, this year a single Brent Goose turned up and was found originally on pool 3 by Mick Price. The bird showed quite well for a couple of hours on pool 4 but unfortunately it wasn't on site for long and moved on before any non-permit holder access could be arranged.

I enclose a few pictures for the site record.

Happy New Year Everyone

Sean