Stonechat

Spent a few hours looking for a Common Crane, unsuccessfully, which was tracked around the Great Ouse/Ivel river systems.
Stonechat seem to be scarce after the hard winter, so I was pleased to see this male feeding around a farm on Biggleswade common. The common itself was full of birds - Linnet, Skylark, Corn Bunting, Reed Bunting. Disturbance from dog walkers was a problem so photography was limited.

Stewartby/MVCP

A female Red-crested Pochard resting by the sailing club lawn

A male Common Stonechat wintering behind the sewage works

An immature Mute Swan against a snowy backdrop

Sailing on Stewartby Lake

Snow Bunting, Beans & Chats

Early frost followed by a sunny day and a chance to catch up with some notable Bedfordshire birds. This male Snow Bunting at Brogborough Tip was another excellent find by our county recorder Steve Blain.







After a few unsuccessful attempts last year, the wary Tundra Bean Goose family group showed well at Cainhoe, although distant.





A pair of Common Stonechat frequented a rough patch of ground adjacent to the Cainhoe lakes.

Extremadura, Spain, May 2008 - Part 2

A male Montagu's Harrier



A curious Southern Grey Shrike



A Calandra Lark in song flight



Corn Bunting



Do you get White Stork here ? :~)



Common Stonechat

Dunstable STW: Thursday

A Common Stonechat was feeding off the dead Elms along the approach track and is probably the same one that was reported in the log over the last couple of days.



With the popularity of 'Alabaster' Mallards on the decline, these three Mallard have nothing to do ! :~)



A Muntjac Deer scavenges under the bird feeders.

Grovebury Quarry

A quick scan of this working sand pit near Leighton Buzzard this afternoon produced four Goosander. Unfortunately they were at the southern end of the pit - too far to DSLR. A female/1st winter-type Common Stonechat was more obliging. There seems to be a passage of these birds lately with six birds at Blows Downs, three at Harlington Bottoms, a 'flock' of ten at Pegsdon, and a few more elsewhere no doubt.

Thurleigh

The promise of a sunny day after a few days of rain and gloom resulted in an hours drive up to Thurleigh. Compared to this time last year, the number of Yellowhammer, larks and finches were much reduced. However, a female Hen harrier was again present.



The setaside is ideal for Common Stonechat - at least two pairs were in evidence again this year.

Thurleigh: Hen Harrier - a county tick

This adult female Hen Harrier has been seen regularly near Thurleigh, Bedfordshire. Despite birding regularly in the county for eighteen years i've never seen one, so it was a welcome addition to the list.

One of the three or four Stonechat present on the set-aside: