Friday 30 March 2012
Dovecote Lake, Willington, Bedfordshire
Not so many birds around Dovecote Lake & the Washout Pit at this time of year but still well worth a visit, especially early in the morning.
Thursday 29 March 2012
Mixed Bag of Pix
From Bedford Riverside Park at first light to Great Barford before work and onto the fields of Cardington in the evening.
Click on the images to see a larger version
Click on the images to see a larger version
Wednesday 28 March 2012
Dawn on Greensand Ridge
A small selection of the pics I took from the Greensand Ridge Walk near Old Warden Tunnel Nature Reserve just as the sun was coming over the horizon. It was crisp and clear and a beautiful sight, I just hope I've captured a little of the magic.
Tuesday 27 March 2012
Sunday 25 March 2012
Octagon Farm
Decided to take a walk around the Octagon Farm lakes this morning and managed a few shots despite the fog closing in within 20 minutes of my start.
Took the road from Meadow Lane down to where the proposed Travellers Site is to be located, the rubbish still hasn't been cleared from the illegal encampment last year and to be honest it was a terrible mess. Quickly passing over the tarmacked area I came to the stillness of the main lake where the sun was just rising over the horizon.
Despite the relative lack of birds, the view here is always wonderful especially as the sun rises. Without wanting to sound too controversial, I am unsure how the plans for the Bedford River Valley Park marries in with any sort of development let alone a travellers site. It seems to smack of an extreme lack of vision but Bedford Borough seem determined to push through their plans.
For the record there were the usual Tufted Duck, Pochard and Coot on the lake and I disturbed a Grey Heron as I arrived. In the cultivated field between the lake and the A421 there were 5 Lapwing and about 100 Golden Plover (too far away in the increasing fog to get a decent image).
A small skein of Canada Geese passed overhead.
I could hear the constant yaffle of Green Woodpeckers drifting eerily through the mist and 3 Cormorants were perched in a dead tree next to Elstow Brook.
After passing the small brick bridge that leads to the farm I continued east in the ever deepening fog.
Further along Elstow Brook I came across the pair of Green Woodpeckers in the trees next to the small lake next to the main access road. There were several Canada Geese here, Mute Swans and Moorhens. A Buzzard was calling nearby and I heard a Chiffchaff and spied a male Reed Bunting on the lake edge.
The fog was now really thickening so I decided to turn back along the southern edge of the lakes next to the new workings. I could soon hear a Redshank nearby and got close enough to see it through the gloom before it made off calling constantly. The only other birds I could make out here were some Canada Geese.
Just before I got back to the A603 this rather obliging Woodpigeon sat still long enough for me to snap this.
Took the road from Meadow Lane down to where the proposed Travellers Site is to be located, the rubbish still hasn't been cleared from the illegal encampment last year and to be honest it was a terrible mess. Quickly passing over the tarmacked area I came to the stillness of the main lake where the sun was just rising over the horizon.
Despite the relative lack of birds, the view here is always wonderful especially as the sun rises. Without wanting to sound too controversial, I am unsure how the plans for the Bedford River Valley Park marries in with any sort of development let alone a travellers site. It seems to smack of an extreme lack of vision but Bedford Borough seem determined to push through their plans.
For the record there were the usual Tufted Duck, Pochard and Coot on the lake and I disturbed a Grey Heron as I arrived. In the cultivated field between the lake and the A421 there were 5 Lapwing and about 100 Golden Plover (too far away in the increasing fog to get a decent image).
A small skein of Canada Geese passed overhead.
I could hear the constant yaffle of Green Woodpeckers drifting eerily through the mist and 3 Cormorants were perched in a dead tree next to Elstow Brook.
After passing the small brick bridge that leads to the farm I continued east in the ever deepening fog.
Further along Elstow Brook I came across the pair of Green Woodpeckers in the trees next to the small lake next to the main access road. There were several Canada Geese here, Mute Swans and Moorhens. A Buzzard was calling nearby and I heard a Chiffchaff and spied a male Reed Bunting on the lake edge.
The fog was now really thickening so I decided to turn back along the southern edge of the lakes next to the new workings. I could soon hear a Redshank nearby and got close enough to see it through the gloom before it made off calling constantly. The only other birds I could make out here were some Canada Geese.
Just before I got back to the A603 this rather obliging Woodpigeon sat still long enough for me to snap this.
If you want to know what Bedford River Valley Park is all about CLICK HERE.
For some more pictures of the area CLICK HERE
Friday 23 March 2012
Fog on Priory Country Park
This morning was of a non event bird wise, with just the occasional ethereal shape fading in and out of view. Very foggy, damp & dank.
Thursday 22 March 2012
Elstow Brook Cardington
Took a short stroll around Cardington late this afternoon which culminated with covering the short section of Elstow Brook between Meadow Lane and Smeaton's Bridge (Bedford Road).
As well as the usual Mallards and Moorhens I was pleased to see 4 Grey Herons, 2 Little Egrets and a Buzzard perched in a dead tree being mobbed by a couple of Crows. The star of the show however was this lovely Grey Wagtail which was feeding by the bridge.
Click the pic to see a larger version.
As well as the usual Mallards and Moorhens I was pleased to see 4 Grey Herons, 2 Little Egrets and a Buzzard perched in a dead tree being mobbed by a couple of Crows. The star of the show however was this lovely Grey Wagtail which was feeding by the bridge.
Click the pic to see a larger version.
Monday 19 March 2012
Pied Wagtails
Took a stroll around Cardington Village after work and came across a lot of Pied Wagtail activity on the recently tilled field next to Bedford Road at TL 085 482. I estimate about 25 birds in total.
Got these pictures when a pair came close to the field edge.
Sunday 18 March 2012
Biggleswade to Warren Villas
Took a very early stroll along the River Ivel from Biggleswade to Warren Villas this morning. Just into my walk I was amazed to see a young Otter swimming upstream hugging the opposite bank. Unfortunately because of the early low light my camera was still in it's bag so no pictorial record I'm afraid.
Bird wise the highlight was a pair of Oystercatchers on Derek Whites Eggs site and another pair at Warren Villas.
Bird wise the highlight was a pair of Oystercatchers on Derek Whites Eggs site and another pair at Warren Villas.
Friday 16 March 2012
Fat Woodpigeons Hoovering up the Bird Food
Things are getting expensive in my Cardington Garden as more Woodpigeons than ever are visiting the feeding stations and gobbling up all the bird food.
This trend has been highlighted in recent BTO reports one of which is here.
Also had a Grey Squirrel in the garden this week (for the first time in twenty years) and to add insult to injury the local cats (who studiously chase the birds) are completely ignoring it!
This trend has been highlighted in recent BTO reports one of which is here.
Also had a Grey Squirrel in the garden this week (for the first time in twenty years) and to add insult to injury the local cats (who studiously chase the birds) are completely ignoring it!
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