RED-THROATED DIVER still present on Stewartby

After a mediocre Ist January birding around MK lakes decided to have a look around Bedfordshire today.

Meeting up with Jack O' Neill at Woburn we immediately had cracking views of 180+ WAXWINGS feeding off the white rowans on the corner of Duck Lane and Leighton Street. They were perching up on the Antique hall roof then coming in to feed; they were also bathing and drinking in nearby house gutterings. One lone Mistle Thrush was calling and trying to keep them away from its favourite food source. also there

At Stewartby Lake, we soon found the RED-THROATED DIVER present for its second day at the railway end of the lake, leaving a wake behind it which was easily picked up by the low sun. At the other end we had a redhead SMEW, the continuing drake NORTHERN PINTAIL, 2 kingfishers, Green Woodpecker, a group of 4 GREATER SCAUPS (2m, 2f) and two (difficult) EURASIAN BITTERNS in the corner nearest Marston Moretaine. The icing on the cake was a superb flyby PEREGRINE. We also had Sparrowhawk and Common Kestrel nearby.

On Pip Housden's suggestion we took advantage of the recently opened new roads to nip over to Radwell where Jack saw a Gippo Goose. We both saw a couple of BEWICK'S SWANS with a larger flock of Mutes nearby. Also present redwing & fieldfare flocks.

A first rate day's birding. Just goes to prove I should go over the border a bit more often (Dick Bodily).