Total Number of Species Recorded in 2011

2010 saw a total of 196 species recorded in Bedfordshire. Of this total, LGRE recorded 183, closely followed by Jim Gurney and Steve Blain on 181, Lol Carman on 180, Martin Palmer on 179 and Bob Chalkley on 177.

In 2011, a total of 452 species was recorded in Britain and Ireland of which I recorded just 69% (312); Bedfordshire recorded 204 species (of which I saw 94% at 191), Hertfordshire 192 (of which I saw 88.5% at 170) and Buckinghamshire 192 (of which I recorded just 86% at 165)

In 2012, I came fourth (on 168), following Steve Blain (177), Jim Gurney (174) and Martin Plamer (171).



Friday 31 August 2012

First bit of county excitement for some time - SPOONBILL at Broom

The "Ivel Valley Dream Team" headed to Derek's (nothing much except good
numbers of Little Grebes), then Gypsy Lane East, set up scopes. Mr
Blain did not swear at all but calmly noted at around 12.20, that there
was a Spoonbill on the small island with some Black-headed Gulls. We
managed to enjoy this bird on the deck for some 10 seconds (during which
time Steve whipped out his iPhone for this shot
http://bedsbirds.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/spoonbill.html before the bird
headed over the road, then Gypsy Lane West, Ash Covert and to the main
lake at Broom. It circled here for about five minutes, nearly landing
twice but eventually circled higher and higher. It was still over GLW
at 12.35 but headed north after that. Utterly fabulous!

Also two Hobbies over main lake Broom.

SCB/DOM/RIB

Thursday 9 August 2012

HONEY BUZZARD at the Lodge and numerous WHINCHATS

A big surprise in the form of a HONEY BUZZARD on my lunchtime walk to the shop and back today.

I picked it up circling low to the north over the shop as I approached at around 14.20 (when on raising my bins I expected to see a Red Kite due to the 'droopy' wings and tail-twisting). It circled for a few minutes overhead, gaining height all the time, enabling eight other people in the vicinity to see it.

It eventually headed off strongly south (ish).

Mark Ward

Also in Beds, up to 6 WHINCHATS have been seen NE of Wilstead, with others elsewhere