WAXWINGS at last - and BEWICK'S, RCP's and dodgy GARGANEY

THURSDAY 6 JANUARY

Well it rained heavily all morning, rendering ordinary birding pointless. At around lunchtime, it eased off somewhat and I ventured out. Waxwings were my main target and eventually I saw some in Bedfordshire......but still not Hertfordshire.....

Tried both Watford then Welwyn Garden City but failed in my quest to intercept any of today's flocks thereabouts.....much better luck in Bedfordshire though

BILTON WAY INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, DALLOW ROAD, LUTON (BEDFORDSHIRE)

At last, finally caught up with BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in Bedfordshire in 2011. Early afternoon, I located a flock of 21 on the Bilton Way Estate, feeding on ornamental berry bushes and shrubs alongside the feeder road. They were very mobile and frequently spooked and did not settle much.

I located a further 36 birds in trees by Foxdell Junior School and Foxdell Recreation Ground.

Earlier, Paul Anness, Tony Donnelly and others had seen 75 birds in the vicinity.

Driving north towards the brick pits of Mid-Bedfordshire, 8 Goldfinches were seen in Millbrook and a group of 12 Common Magpies together at Quest Pit.

KEMPSTON HARDWICK PITS (BEDFORDSHIRE) (TL 035 450)

The party of 10 RED-CRESTED POCHARDS were showing well today (5 drakes and 5 females), feeding just north of the reedbed in the middle section. I also recorded my first Beds wader of the year - 14 Lapwings.

A good number of wildfowl was present including 12 Mute Swans, 66 Mallard, 98 Common Teal, 58 Eurasian Wigeon, 298 Tufted Duck and 112 Northern Pochards.

RADWELL WORKINGS (BEDFORDSHIRE)

The majority of the swans were feeding in the fields towards the west of the complex at TL 010 580 and included 167 Mutes (24 first-years) and 15 adult BEWICK'S SWANS. There were also 146 Greylag Geese present but I could not locate the lone Egyptian Goose present during the first few days of the year.

A redhead GOOSANDER was on the southernmost pit closest to the A6 as well as Grey Heron, 85 Eurasian Wigeon and 15 Gadwall.

BLUNHAM LAKE (BEDFORDSHIRE)

My first local Mistle Thrush was a bird feeding in a Rowan in Blunham village.

Blunham Lake was still largely frozen but the western flank was filled with birds. The drake GARGANEY of highly suspicious origin was present - trailing a pair of Mallard - whilst other wildfowl present included 48 Gadwall, an impressive 136 Common Teal, 1 drake Shoveler, 53 Eurasian Wigeon, 27 Tufted Ducks, 8 Northern Pochard and 3 female Common Goldeneyes.