The Great Ouse From Hillgrounds to Queens Park Footbridge

Had a nice stroll along this section of river which I last visited over 40 years ago. It is certainly a lot more ordered than I remember but there are still plenty of "wild" sections which merit further investigation. I found Common Blue Damselflies & Male & Female Banded Demoiselle, (Banded Demoiselle seem to be everywhere this year). Not a lot of birds on the river, Mallards and young and Canada Geese and young, and a single Common Tern drifted airily downstream. Many Corvids and Blackbirds and some Warblers.

Well worth a return visit when I have more time.

GB's

It was much too windy to get any serious birding done today so I contented myself with capturing some images in my Cardington garden. Lots of fledglings in evidence and so far I've observed fledglings of Blackbirds, Wrens, Robins, Starlings, Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Dunnocks, Pied Wagtails and Song Thrushes. There is also a Collared Dove Nest in some Ivy above the Old Outhouse.

More Damselflies

Went for my usual Sunday morning birding stroll this morning. The weather was fine and there was lots to see. Bird highlights this morning centred around the warblers up and down the Great Ouse.


Just as I was returning to the car I decided to check out one interesting section of bank by National Cycleway 51. Found a lot of Damselflies in one small 10 yard section of bank. Azure, Common Blue and Red-eyed were numerous along with many Banded  Demoiselle.

Female Red-eyed Damselfly

Common Blue Damselflies Mating

Azure Damselfly

Male Red-eyed Damselfly

Banded Demoiselle

Found both males and females by Elstow Brook just outside of Cardington this evening Unfortunately it was a bit late and the light was fading fast so I'll be returning.

A very pleasant walk during which I saw Grey Heron, Rook, Lapwing, Grey Partridge, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, White Wagtail and Yellow Wagtail as well as lots of more common species.

This Morning

Some images from my morning stroll around Priory Country Park.

Orange Tip

Sunbeams

Wild Rose

Grey Heron Captures

Bank Holiday Birding

Took a stroll down Meadow Lane and on to 100 Acre early this morning. Lots of Sedge Warblers, Blackcaps and Whitethroats along the old railway line at the end of Meadow Lane, along with a very nice Mistle Thrush and White Wagtail. Highlight on 100 Acre lake was a very settled and excellent pair of Oyster Catchers, Common Turns and Redshank. Unfortunately most of these birds were too distant to adequately photograph which leaves me with these.