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

Penduline Tit on a Day Out In Beds 29-12-2014

A cracking day out in Beds today with another lifer for me made possible for me by the Wright Bro's who pointed me in the right direction yesterday evening for the Penduline Tit, which I might say was very obliging at 08.30 this morning. Then also helping me to finally get a half decent shot and views of the Siberian Chiffchaff at Marston Vale this afternoon, so a big thanks to them. I enclose a few shots for the record of the Penduline, Goldcrest, Song Thrush, Siberian Chiffchaff and Blue Tit for the records

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Dunstable Sewage Works 05-10-2014

Before the excitement of the Willington Hoopoe, I was at the Monthly open day 1st Sunday of the month at the Dunstable Sewage Works, It was really cold with the first frost of the year on the scrape which was full of Teal (no sign of the Gargany), the Kingfisher was hovering and feeding in front of the hide, three Water Rail were involved in a territorial punch up, 3 Snipe were playing there usual hide and seek game as was the Green Sandpiper. The Wren and Dunnock were very active and the Robin as usual was trying to rule the roost. Pied, White? & Grey Wagtail were seen with the usual Gadwall, Shovler, Tufted, Mallard Ducks & BH Gulls etc and far too many Cormorants.
A lovely morning made all the more fantastic with the re-appearance of the Hoopoe in Willington.

Morning Walk Around The Lodge Sunday 9th Feb 2014

14 brave souls got out of their beds this morning with the wind and rain howling through the rafters and went up to the Lodge for the Beds Birds morning walk hosted by Gen Carpenter. On arrival the driving rain relented and we were left with a pleasant dry but very windy walk around the site, starting at the top heath finishing about 2 1/2 hours later after pretty much a full circuit in the hide.

Due to the wind it was pretty quiet generally but I still managed to come across the usual suspects on site, Raven, Sparrowhawk (2 fly-throughs whilst I was in the hide), Buzzard, Crow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Jay, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Goldcrest, Blue, Great, Coal, Long-Tailed Tits, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, (sadly no Lesser Spotted)? Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Robin, Wren, Dunnock, Common Redpole, Blackbird, Fieldfare. I didn't come across any Crossbills, Redwing, Song, Mistle Thrushes or Siskin.

As usual a good day out with the Beds Birds Gang and thanks to Gen for being the leader for the day, job well done.

Lovely morning at Dunstable Sewage works which is open to all Birders 08.00 to 12.00 on the 1st Sunday of every month. Bit short on water birds and waders as the Anglers were in when they shouldn't have been, but overall achieved 34 species seen this morning by me notably, Kingfisher, Yellowhammer, Corn Bunting, Wren, Dunnock, Pied or White Wagtail which was hawking for food, I couldn't work out which so posted a photo so any help appreciated, Common Whitethroat and lots of very noisy Reed & Sedge Warblers, there seem to be loads more Warblers on site this year than last. The Water Rail was heard on many occasions but didn't appear, I also got a report from 3 very reliable sources that we had a Turtle Dove flyover but as usual I missed that one.

White Or Pied???