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.

If you want to know what Bedford River Valley Park is all about CLICK HERE.

For some more pictures of the area CLICK HERE