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).



Sunday 3 January 2016

Two LITTLE GULLS at dusk on Stewartby

Initially sheltering under a brolly, I spent the last two hours of the day at Stewartby Lake gull watchpoint with some success. After the downpour passed through, the last hour was fine and almost bright.
The murmuration of Starlings over Rookery North was brilliant but then I picked out not one, not two, but three Peregrines passing them, two of which did a food pass. A fourth Peregrine was atop one of the old brickworks chimneys as well – amazing!!

Earlier I’d found a splendid winter adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL, not too large compared to the BHG’s so presumably a female, some dusking to head already appearing, thickish red bill with pale distal end and nice white primaries and tail etc. LGRE twitched the Med and one of the Peregrines successfully but then left as did the Med just as Bob Hook arrived. Pete Smith was parked up in the sailing club carpark and I was on the mobile to him when Bob saw the Kingfisher zap past.

Late on, I found 2 LITTLE GULLS, nearer PS than Bob and I and Pete managed to see them to -  both with white wing tips and puny alongside a couple of Common Gulls, one had a winter head pattern but the other already had some extensive black to the ‘hood’. The light was fading now and unfortunately when some late BHG’s arrived we lost them too view, only a few minutes before Lee dashed back in the interim having scored with 3 Greater Scaup at Brogboro’ and the pair of Goosander I’d seen on Drakelow, Woburn Park earlier today.

Many of the few hundred BHG’s lingered here merely for a ‘wash and scrub up’ before heading over the north corner towards Grafham, ditto the likely 50 or more total Common Gulls. 2 Great Black-backs, 5 Lesser Black-backs and 22 Herring Gulls completed the 7 species gull roost tonight.

39 G C Grebes were noteworthy, also 5 Dabchicks and a Little Egret.

At Eversholt Lake in the mire this morning, I found a flock of 60-100 Siskins by the lakeside but failed to find any Mandarin, Goosander, Woodcock, Raven, Bullfinch or Marsh Tit there or thro’ Milton Wood in very muddy, slippery conditions.


MJPalmer

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