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).



Tuesday 29 December 2015

GREAT WHITE EGRET in Woburn Park

GREAT WHITE EGRET still in Woburn Park this morning (10:30). It flew from small pools immediately south of Park Farm to a tree in the general area called Henrietta Gardens. If you stand with your back to Shoulder of Mutton Pond the tree is about 40-50 yards in front of you, to the west. It is within a small fenced area with rushes and is a favourite loafing spot for Grey Herons. It was with two herons this morning.
Also 3 Red Kites, 74 Gadwalls, 266 Wigeons, 23 Cormorants, 9 Shovelers and two Egyptian Geese.


Barry Nightingale  

Monday 28 December 2015

DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE at Stewartby Lake

Martin Green discovered a DARK-BELLIED BRENT GOOSE in Scrapyard Corner, Stewartby Lake, late morning - the bird relocating to the sailing club green and remaining until dusk (see images below). Whilst watching the Brent, Martin phoned me again to say that Paul & Neil Wright had found a SIBERIAN-TYPE CHIFFCHAFF with the 6 or so wintering Common Chiffchaff at Marston Sewage Works and all four of us (plus Stephen Northwood) studied it shortly later. A pair of Common Goldeneye was also on the lake, plus Common Kingfisher and 47 Great Crested Grebe.

At nearby Brogborough Lake, I counted 55 Common Goldeneye at the west end, while the juvenile GREAT NORTHERN DIVER flew east to join the Stewartby Lake long-stayer......