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.

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.

Had a lovely morning at the Lodge Sandy today, plenty to see the Cuckoo was a bit flighty but still showed quite well, alas I couldn't find the Spotted Flycatchers but ran into some other beauties especially the Wren, they are all very vocal at the moment. I enclose a few photo's of the morning now I am back up and running with my Camera and lens after my recent disaster.

Some more visitors to our Clifton garden this year

All were again taken through the closed window. The Tree Sparrow is really just a record shot to prove it was there. I got better shots here in Feb 2009