Another Beds Great northern Diver

I was out today to do my WeBS count of Roxton. Roxton really has gone downhill in the last year and recent visits have been pretty birdless. Today started well with a female Red-crested Pochard - a site first for me and a year tick. I nipped back to the car to get my camera but couldn't relocate the bird. Thinking it may have flown to the oldest lake along the river (which is normally very quiet indeed), I decided to pay a rare visit to this lake. This is very rarely watched and I only visit about 4 or 5 times a year. True to form, the lake had 5 or so Tufted Ducks and a Mallard or two and the flock of Greylags. Then I saw what I assume would be a Cormorant but it looked a bit pale.... Raising my bins revealed a Great northern Diver. From photos of the other two, I'm sure this is the third found in a month. The Priory bird looks darker around the cheeks. I spent some time trying to photograph it but failed apart from the above.

Pink-footed Goose

Not the best of shots! This bird (presumably this same one) has been wintering in the Ivel/Ouse valley for a few years now - Broom/Blunham/Roxton mainly. Never really sure if it is too wild but it must be a bit suspect as there is only the one - although it only seems to be around in the winter.

17th December birding

Cuckoo Bridge Lake - a rarely watched site - usually because there is little here except good numbers of Mute Swans. Only 56 today but I've seen over 80 here before.

Redwing at Pegsdon Hills

A Redwing seen at Pegsdon Hills, 16th December 2006 by Steve Blain

Thurleigh raptors

The set-a-side next to Thurleigh airfield in north Bedfordshire is superb for raptors at the moment with Hen Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard all seen there in the last few days. The shots above are of a female type Merlin (top) and an adult female Peregrine (bottom) seen there on 16th December 2006, by Steve Blain

Stewartby Lake Gull roost

Gulls roosting on Stewartby Lake, 9th December 2006 by Steve Blain.

Great Northern Diver at MVCP

Great Northern Diver on the Pillinge at Marston Vale Country Park, 9th December 2006 by Steve Blain

Melanistic Black-headed Gulls

Please click on the images for a larger view








Ray comments:"I first picked it up looking down to the sailing club from the 'Beach' . it immediaterly stuck out like a sore thumb in the Bins as being so much darker than all the other Black heads in flight but as I got nearer I was struck by the amount of white in the tail, and, having got nearer still by how pale it appeared in the wing and head compared to what I remembered of the bird the other day. However as soon as went back into the air it immediately stood out alongside the other Gulls so I remain somewhat confused,undecided etc and stuck firmly sitting on the fence as to wether it was a different bird or just different lighting conditions!!!!

The 2 from the other morning (see below) are an attempt to show the tail and some colour comparison with the other Black heads and the rest are from this afternoon.

Regards Ray Roche"

Golden Plovers

Part of a good flock of Golden Plovers at Biggleswade. 4th December 2006 by Steve Blain.

Little Owl

A Little Owl seen at night just outside Old Warden, 1st December 2006 by Steve Blain