Beds Yearlisting with Martin Palmer

All 15 (fifteen) BEWICK'S SWANS were present at Radwell, viewable distantly from the A6 pull-in, mid afternoon - I'm guessing these are the dozen from Priory CPk having joined the three present at Radwell during the week between Xmas and New Year - also at least 118 Mute Swans and a single Egyptian Goose as well as lots of Wigeon, Greylags and Canada Geese were seen.

I'd started off today, visiting the south-east of the county with 4 Red Kites and a Woodcock seen, then enjoyed the sight of 40+ Corn Buntings on telegraph lines west of Barton Hill Farm.

At Moor Lane, Maulden, mid morning, I located 23+ Lesser Redpolls accompanied by a very smart Mealy Redpoll. There were no Redpolls at all at Coopers Hill, Ampthill a little later.

Late morning there was a male Peregrine over Rookery South ClP with the female viewable very distantly atop one of the Stewartby brick chimneys - 20+ Linnets flew south-east over the railway and wildfowl included 67 Teal, 8 Wigeon, 40 Mute Swans, 103 Mallards and c130 Pochard (but no Tufted Ducks) - 80+ Greylags flew over.

Soon afterwards from London Lane, south of Houghton Conquest, there were 3 Brambling amongst the numerous Chaffinches and well over 100 Linnets

Around 1.00pm, 10 Red Crested Pochards were at Chimney Corner South ClP (5 drakes, 5 females) and plenty more Pochards and other wildfowl.

A Grey Wagtail was a year tick at Marston STW c3.15.

Stewartby Lake roost was poor with probably under 50 total large gulls - no tipping on the adjacent landfill over the New Year being the cause but 14 Goldeneye were on view plus 3 Scaup in a brief scan about the lake.

Last light I joined DHB, PH, KRO, SCB+C trying to find our way round the Wixhams, off the A6 south west of Elstow, so S E Owl wasn't seen which would have been my hundreth species in Bedfordshire for the year.

Still quite a few common birds to catch up on, most notably Siskin, Bullfinch, Meadow Pipit and Golden Plover plus some owls I hope......Best wishes,MJP