Starlings, Collared Doves & Yellow Wagtails

A strange combination and in truth no real connection between the first two and the last apart from the fact that all the pictures were taken on the same day.

The Starlings & Collared Doves pix's were taken from an open window next to a pine tree in my Cardington Garden. A set up that allowed close up's in what was very good light. The Yellow Wags pic was taken late in the evening in poor light out "in the field". I am including the pic of the Yellow Wags because of their relative rarity value.

Northern Wheatear

My first spot for the year of these delightful birds was on Friday 13th!

I picked up the first one just after 8am on a dull cloudy morning in Bedford River Valley Park along the newly planted hedge line to the East of 100 acre pit at TL 0857 5024.

Unfortunately due to the dull conditions and maximum zoom employed the images are pretty scratchy

When I followed this bird a short distance to the west I was pleased to find 3 other birds, 4 in total.

I did go back the next day but could only locate one Wheatear in some rough ground to the north of the hedge line.

Another Heron & More Ducks But No Common Terns

Dropped by Riverside Pond briefly after work to see if I could connect with any newly arrived Common Terns but my luck was out. The dark clouds were pouring in from the west but for a brief interlude the light was perfect.

Plenty of Blackheaded Gulls, Mallards, Gadwall and another very obliging Grey Heron fishing in Riverside Brook. In a stand of trees next to The Great Ouse I found Reed Buntings, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbler & Blackcap as well as the usual Blackbird and Blue & Great Tit. The Pen Mute Swan was on the nest in the reed bed and I could hear the rambling song of a  Sedge Warbler on the margins.

On the opposite Bank in the vicinity of the 100 Acre pit I observed through some very dodgy binoculars the usual Canada & Greylag Geese, Coots, Moorhen, Tufted Duck & Lapwing.

Please feel free to click on the pics for a lager version

Gadwall on Riverside Pond

Riverside Pond, Priory Country Park

Riverside Brook

Two images of The Great Ouse Looking Downstream

Mallard on The Great Ouse

Grey Heron - Detail

Grey Heron on Riverside Brook

Sunday 8th April 2012

My very dank and cloudy Sunday morning walk revealed 75 bird species but nothing that could be added as a new tick for the year. The transient Yellow Wags were not of the ploughed field at Willington when I was there but there were reports later in the day. Lots of Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Linnets and Mipits but no Sedge Warbler or Terns. Given the awful conditions I was glad to see anything, on a positive note it was great to see the pair of Buzzards over Octagon Farm Pits and the Oyster Catchers at Willington.

Conditions were not conducive with photography so later in the day I called into the Cut behind Aspects Leisure Park in Bedford in the hope of finding the resident Heron on the weir, I was not disappointed. It always amazes me at the amount of wildlife that can be found in spots like this, and from a photography point of view animals in an urban environment are always less skittish.

The pictures below are a fraction of the wildlife observed here in the space of about 30 minutes.

100 Acre After Work

Briefly called into 100 Acre on my way home from work.

Glad to hear lots of Chiffchaffs and to watch 10 Sand Martins gliding on the strong winds. Apart from the more common birds a Kestrel sat on the power lines between hunting and a Redshank was calling from the edge of the pit. A single Oystercatcher flew over calling and the Pen Mute Swan was found sitting on her nest in the usual place. Finally a Grey Heron landed on the river bank directly opposite me and I was able to fire off a few pix before it noticed me and lazily took to the air.

Click on the pics for a larger view

25 Minute Stroll by Riverside Brook

Had 25 minutes to spare this afternoon so I took a quick stroll by Riverside Brook from Riverside Pond (Priory Country Park) up to the Iron Bridge on Cycle track 51.

The weather was excellent and I was rewarded by my first Speckled Wood Butterfly of the year.

There were several Chiffchaffs singing by the Iron Bridge and I was lucky enough to get a shot of one.

Sunday on 100 Acre

Very pleasant walk from the iron bridge at Priory Marina (Cycle Track 51) up to Rogers and back again. Fairly thin pickings on 100 acre with a few Greylags, Canadas, and Tufted Duck, a couple of pairs of Gt Crested Grebe and Black Headed Gulls and Coots etc. On the brighter side some Lapwing and several pairs of Redshank.


Lots of Skylarks to the East of the pit and a couple of Snipe and a single Oystercatcher over.

Very thin picking on what is left of the Rogers pit. Just a pair of Teal a pair of Redshank & a Lt Egret, there was a Raven cronking out of sight on the far side of the river.

Apart from more Redshank (6 together at one point) the only thing of note on the way back was a Sand Martin on the wires by the cycle track, it was very reluctant to move allowing me to get some fairly decent pix.