GLAUCOUS still present

The juvenile Glaucous Gull was in the roost again late this evening at Stewartby Lake where also an Oystercatcher was on the yacht slipway and a drake Scaup swimming and diving along the same shoreline.

In the middle of the day, Di and I saw flocks of 20+ and 40+ Lesser Redpolls at The Lodge and in the porch to the Osprey Building were 2 Dotted Borders, 1 Yellow-horned and 1 March Moth.

Around 1.45pm there were no Waxwings in the vicinity of Bedfordshire Growers north-east of Biggleswade (M J Palmer)

WHITE-FRONT still at Meadow Lane

The first-winter EURASIAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE is still with Greylag Geese on 100 Acre at Meadow Lane GP this afternoon (Steve Blain) whilst the PINK-FOOTED GOOSE remains at Broom GP.

110 TREE SPARROWS in Southill roost

I counted 110 TREE SPARROWS leaving a roost in Southill this morning between 7 - 7.30 am, of which 70 fed in Chapel Lane.This included the colour ringed individual which I reported on Dec 28th last year.

In the fields North of Southill, 1 Stonechat (Steve Heath).

GLAUC still present

The juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL was again present at Stewartby Lake today (Barry Nightingale/Tony Revell) whilst 22 Waxwings were at the end of Sycamore Close, Biggleswade 13:00 before flying off east. Also two Oystercatchers on Derek Whites Eggs pit but little else.

Just for completeness - Mark Ward saw 10 Waxwings at the Lodge yesterday (24th) lunchtime - per Steve Blain/Richard Bashford

Biggleswade WAXWINGS still present

c.60 Waxwings at Beds Growers between Biggleswade and Potton at 12.45 (David Fisher)

BITTERN at Warren Villas

Nick Hammond saw a Bittern at Warren Villas NR on Sunday (20th) morning (per Steve Blain)

Plenty of WAXWINGS still on offer

Still 51+ Waxwings in the car park of Beds Growers, along the road between Biggleswade and Potton this lunchtime (Steve Blain/Mark Ward)

08:50 21/02/11 Waxwing Beds Luton 08:30 40 at Freeman Avenue on cotoneaster, opposite access road to chip shop and car park (per Steve Blain)

Didnt see them on Saturday but yesterday there were 24 on the Cotoneasters opposite the chemist in Barton-le-Clay and the same number this mornig seen at 09.00 and again at 12.30. Main resting perch seems to be the tall trees on corner of Manor Road and Lime Close. Also perch on nearby TV aerials and phone lines. Sometimes are feeding on other tree nearer to Manor Road but this almost depleted of berries (Ian Kelly)

28 behind Ford showroom near doctors surgery in Shefford late morning (Andy Plumb)

Showy BARN OWL

Hunting the fallow field and river bank at SP917243 from 1615 to 1635 at least yesterday, Sunday 20th. View from the green bench on Black Bridge Path (the former railway line, now a shared use path) close to the bridge over the river and canal. The bird mainly hunted the flood meadow looking toward All Saints but also perched up in trees above the river towards Tiddenfoot Waterside Park.

Fastest and most convenient access from anywhere in Leighton Buzzard is by bike, map here... http://www.gocycleleightonlinslade.org/assets/pdf/62_street-2010.pdf (Graham Shortt)

GLAUC still present

The juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL was again in the Stewartby roost this evening. Also a Ringed Plover flew over late afternoon (Steve Blain)

Another blank on the Rustic Bunting

11:26 20/02/11 Waxwing Beds Biggleswade 10:50 50+ in trees by Beds Growers on Potton Road this morning

10:02 20/02/11 Waxwing Beds Clifton 09:45 eight in Rookery Walk mid-morning

No sign of the Rustic Bunting again this morning. Thanks to everyone who turned up and looked. There was a female Merlin seen just after 8am by Steve Rooke though (per Steve Blain)

GLAUCOUS GULL still present

The juvenile Glaucous Gull again roosted at Stewartby Lake this evening, per Neil Wright and Keith Owen.

Negative news on Rustic Bunting; WAXWINGS still around

Despite appalling weather conditions with driving rain, searching by up to 20 observers failed to reap any benefits as far as Rustic Bunting went today.

Elsewhere in the county, WAXWINGS were the only birds of interest - 43 being seen by Chris Dreary in Pilgrims Close in Harlington at 15.00 hours

LOCAL MEGA - RUSTIC BUNTING in Biggleswade

Back in the office now. I did not see it again but the area looks great and of course is already home to many hundreds of buntings this winter. I saw over 500 Corn Buntings and around 100 Yellowhammers. But this RUSTIC BUNTING was on its own on wires north of Hitchmead School at the end of Stratton Way, Biggleswade. I watched it for about 1 minute through the scope - good views. Most notable was its white belly and nice rusty streaking down the flanks. Quite a strong malar and super too of course. I reckon a winter male but not really had a chance to browse the books.

If you want to go and have a look, parking might be tricky for more than five or six cars and please remember, you are near a school. Walk north from the back of the school along the road/footpath. The bird was on the wires where the hedge starts on the right - c150m. But clearly it could be anywhere and hopefully, there will be a few pairs of eyes looking over the weekend (Richard Bashford)

OYSTERCATCHER added but still no Caspian Gull - GLAUC roosts again on Stewartby

MONDAY 14 FEBRUARY (VALENTINE'S DAY)

With the wind veering more to the SSW today, the mild conditions continued. It was also very bright, with some sunshine and blue skies, and dry throughout.

More local birding today, although a visit to West Essex was purely to target a new county bird - COMMON RAVEN.......

BROOM GP (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Two redhead GOOSANDERS on Peacock's Lake were presumably migrants whilst the Washout Pit held a pair of COMMON SHELDUCK and 86 Lapwings; not much else of note other than 4 Little Grebes, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, 2 Common Teal and 14 Pochard.

CHIMNEY CORNER NORTH (BEDFORDSHIRE)

The pair of OYSTERCATCHER were still present by the shooting butts on the left shoreline.

STEWARTBY LAKE (BEDFORDSHIRE)

A healthy turnout of observers at the roost - 12 in all - but again no Caspian Gull, although the juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL returned for its second successive night, 3 adult YELLOW-LEGGED GULLS and the first-winter MEDITERRANEAN GULL (Dave Fisher).

(Andy Grimsey had seen the two redhead SMEW in Quest Pit during the afternoon)

LESSER SPOT in Flitwick Wood

Tony Revill had a female LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER in Flitwick Moor this morning. It was roughly at TL046350 along the footpath that runs along the stream through the centre of the wood (per Steve Blain).

GLAUCOUS GULL in the Stewartby roost; 2 SMEW in Quest

SUNDAY 13 FEBRUARY

The wind veered to the SE today but temperatures still held up. Although the rain held off until late morning, it then moved in and continued into darkness, somewhat hampering viewing.

The milder weather experienced over the weekend certainly spurned on some of the earlier migrants, with a marked arrival of OYSTERCATCHERS in our region, some more RINGED PLOVERS, COMMON SHELDUCKS, many FIELDFARES and numerous gulls reorienting northwards........

EVERSHOLT LAKE (BEDS) (SP 980 323)

I was delighted to see an exceptional 33 GOOSANDERS on Eversholt Lake this afternoon, 16 of them full adult drakes. They afforded outstanding views as they partook in head-throwing courtship display around the island.

QUEST PIT, STEWARTBY (BEDS)

Two redhead SMEW were showing well on the northernmost part of the Quest complex, the two birds diving in tandem and keeping very close together. Lol Carman had found them shortly earlier.

MARSTON VALE COUNTRY PARK (BEDS)

Steve Blain located a first-winter MEDITERRANEAN GULL in the pre-roost gull flock which was sitting in fields adjacent to the access road to the reserve. I joined him ten minutes later and watched the bird sleeping within the flock - it was my first of the year in Beds.

STEWARTBY LAKE (BEDS)
(with MJP, Lol, SCB, Dave Ball and Andy Plumb)

As MJP exclaimed, Sunday is not a great day at the Stewartby roost as gulls feeding on the working tips during the week completely change their patterns once the landfills shut at the weekends. As such, this evening's in the rain was a mixed bag......

The highlight of course was a juvenile GLAUCOUS GULL - the first to be recorded in the county since 2008. It was a typical individual, with large size, dark biscuit plumage and hefty thick bill, bright pink at the base and black blob-ended towards the tip. MJP first sighted it, as he did the adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL which was also present (this bird showing quite extensive black on the head and bright red bill but not the white forehead or white eye-lids of other birds I have seen recently). The albinistic Black-headed Gull was once again present with an estimated 7,000 Black-headed Gulls in total, with perhaps 250 Common Gulls and 100 Herring Gulls, 150 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 46 Great Black-backed Gulls.

A Sparrowhawk was also seen

Broom GP WeBS count

The cold snap we has certainly put a terminal decline to Brooms wildfowl which never fully recovered.....Highlights today were a flock of 6 COMMON SHELDUCK on the new washout and a 1st of the year Ringed Plover also on the new wash out.

The full list-Black-headed Gull 45; Canada Goose 2; Common Gull 5; Coot 137; Cormorant 7; Gadwall 10; Golden Plover 19; Great Crested Grebe; 5 Grey Heron 1; Greylag Goose 2; Herring Gull 1; Lapwing 35; Lesser Black-backed Gull 3; Little Grebe 7; Mallard 22; Moorhen 4; Mute Swan 20; Pochard 11; Shoveler 8; Snipe 1; Teal 62; Tufted Duck 53; Wigeon 39

Total number of species: 25 Individuals: 506

Matt Burgess

OYSTERCATCHERS and RINGED PLOVERS arrive as mild weather continues

At Willington Gravel Pits this afternoon at last an Oystercatcher, by the fishing (Dovecote) lake, one Little Egret and pair of Common Shelduck on the main lake (Dave Ball).

At least 3 other Oystercatchers were discovered today in Bedfordshire (two at Chimney Corner North and another at Oak Farm), with a Ringed Plover and 6 Common Shelducks at Broom GP

Castle Mills and Octagon Farm WeBS counts

WeBs count high lights today:

2 Little Egret
3 Common Redshanks
1 Green Sandpiper
1 Common Buzzard (over)
12 Teal

Octagon Farm

Very quite this morning no sign of the Water Pipit and no Pied Wagtails on the fields just a few Sky Larks and the odd Meadow Pipit. Also 7 Mute Swans, 19 Tufted Duck, 6 Coots, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cormorant.

The small Pits near the A421 had more duck than usual with 28 Tufted Ducks, 6 Mallards, 9 Coot - Nick Cook

Pair of PINTAIL at Grovebury

Johnny Lynch and Peter Smith recorded a pair of PINTAIL and a redhead GOOSANDER at Grovenury Pit this morning.

Wardown Park Whoopers and Egyptian Geese

On a quick outing for WEBS this morning, only one of the two Egyptian Geese (first noted on Boxing Day) still remaining and four Whooper Swans today. A park first for me up by the museum was four Siskins in the trees. Nearby in my garden, male Blackcap and male and female Brambling still present, all having been around since a week before Christmas (Andy Grimsey)

Southill PINK-FOOT and BRAMBLINGS still there

A single PINK-FOOTED GOOSE still with the remaining 67 Greylag Geese at Southill Lake.

Good-ish count of Pochards - 78, otherwise duck numbers fairly low, inc 29 Tufted, 15 Teals and 2 Gadwall. 11 GC Grebes, some displaying. 24 Grey Heron nests occupied, 34 birds present. Also 2 Red Kites, 5 Common Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk.

Near the right-hand bend between Warden Warren tree nursery at least 25 BRAMBLINGS still, some of them very smart now, and two MEALY REDPOLLS (Barry Nightingale)

ICELAND and CASPIAN GULL at Stewartby Roost

Had a Tree Sparrow with two colour-rings on in Southill this afternoon (yellow on left, blue over metal on right). I'll send off the details and see if we can find out where its from.

A 2cy Peregrine causing havoc in Rookery.

In the Stewartby roost this evening:

juvenile ICELAND GULL
First-winter CASPIAN GULL
First-winter MEDITERRANEAN GULL
400 Herring Gulls

Steve Blain

SHORT-EARED OWL still performing well at The Wixams

Brendan Glynne enjoyed fabulous views of 1 of the 2 wintering SHORT-EARED OWLS this afternoon over a 90-minute period

TREE SPARROWS still in Southill Village

Lots of interest around here today, a lovely Red Kite drifted low over the house, still 14 Tree Sparrows and a Brambling in the garden and loads of Fieldfares around - Paul Donald

DUNLIN at Radwell

A female Goosander, 14 goldeneyes and 3 herons nests at Harrold. And a heron eating a weasel...

260 wigeon, 190 mute swans, 2 snipe and a Dunlin at Radwell (Richard Bashford)

The Woburn Area today

At Eversholt Lake ; 8 Goosanders (3 drakes) and 83 Greylags were the wildfowl highlights, but the best was a Barn Owl in the vicinity.

In Woburn Park highlights were 4 Goosanders (1 drake), a drake Mandarin, a constant stream of Fieldfares (together with Starlings) moving through northwards, somewhere between 500- 800, 57 Tufted Ducks, 127 Wigeons and 37 Gadwalls. Five heron nests occupied (Barry Nightingale)

ICELAND GULL, Common Chiffchaff and Barn Owl added to Year List - LGRE

FRIDAY 11 FEBRUARY

Today was extremely pleasant. Following yesterday's all-day deluge of rain, today was dry, bright and surprisingly mild, with temperatures reaching 13 degrees C - the warmest day of the year so far. Hence, the first migrating northbound waders were on the move, with Ringed Plovers appearing at a number of inland sites.

My target for the day was Tony P's ICELAND GULL and a few other species I was still to find this year in Bedfordshire. The gull was a real treat.

STEWARTBY LAKE AND ENVIRONS (BEDS)

After hearing that Steve Blain and Barry Nightingale had both seen the Iceland Gull at Stewartby Landfill, I made my way straight over. Arriving at about 1300 hours, I initially checked the lake, but there were just 37 large white-headed gulls present - 17 of them surprisingly Great Black-backed Gulls.

I then moved over to the tip but work for the day had ceased and there were no gulls present. I then came across a large roosting flock of gulls roosting in fields west of Kempston Hardwick and viewable by looking east from the railway crossing. The Iceland Gull was not with them, but the flock did contain a further 39 Great Black-backed Gulls, 58 Herring Gulls and 23 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

I then returned to the main gull watchpoint at Stewartby Lake and there it was ! In a flock of just 25 birds, the ICELAND GULL was the left-hand bird and showing very well. It was a typically bleached juvenile with its dark eye, black-tipped pale bill and pale biscuit-chequered upperwings and upperparts. I phoned RBA and others and continued obtaining excellent views as it sat preening and bathing about 80 yards out. It seemed very settled and over the next hour Lol, Pip and Paul Wright arrived - the bird still showing well. At 1535 hours, it took flight and flew off east on its own, disappearing towards the landfill.

The two (pair) GREATER SCAUPS were still present on the east shore (with 2 Northern Pochards), along with 21 Great Crested Grebes. Otherwise, just Great Spotted Woodpecker and 18 Linnets noted, the latter flying around the landfill.

(At Rookery Pit South, two redhead SMEW and a drake PINTAIL were seen by others)

BEDFORD SEWAGE WORKS AND OCTAGON FARM (BEDS)

There was no sign of Lol's pair of Ringed Plover from earlier nor of the wintering Water Pipit but I was very pleased to see the overwintering COMMON CHIFFCHAFF at last - showing well and calling in the hedgerow opposite the house at the far end of Meadow Lane.

BLUNHAM (BEDS)

I was also very delighted to finally catch up with BARN OWL, kind courtesy of Jim Gurney. Jim had been seeing a bird regularly close to his home and tonight it did not disappoint. It afforded fantastic views as it appeared from its roost-site at 1645 and proceeded to perch on fenceposts and hawthorns to search for food. It came incredibly close and was seen to be unringed and was a real treat to watch.

STEWARTBY LAKE (BEDS)

I then returned to Stewartby in the hope of adding Mediterranean Gull, two different individuals of which had roosted this past week. There was a good crowd of watchers when I arrived, including Keith Owen, Paul Wright, Lol and Bob, but no Meds. The juvenile ICELAND GULL flew back in at 1650 hours and remained to roost, whilst amongst the 9,000 or so roosting Black-headed Gulls was the regular albinistic-mantled individual

WAXWINGS in Luton

In gardens between top end of Colin Road and Richmond Hill. 24 counted, may have been a few more, on two trees around 11:00 am for about 30 minutes. Small number of starlings also in one of the trees at the same time, but mainly separate from the Waxwings. Both species could be moving around together (Ron Spain)

ICELAND GULL still at Stewartby; and SCAUP and GOOSANDER

Stewartby Lake between 0830 and 1000; 2 GREATER SCAUPS, 2 Wigeon, Chiffchaff in song, Water Rail, redhead GOOSANDER were the highlights. juvenile ICELAND GULL in the nearby field courtesy of SCB (Barry Nightingale)

And more WAXWINGS in East Beds

I had occasion to visit SE Beds today and noted a couple of Waxwing flocks during my journey. The first was a flock of c30 in the SW corner of Arlesey (near the railway line, probably in grid square TL 18 34), just before 8 a.m. Later, at midday, there were 24 Waxwings at Sandy railway station (between Platform 1 and Stratford Road), which then flew off towards the town. This adds to the several Sandy records reported on this site by other observers over the past couple of days (Colin Everett)

Second-winter ICELAND GULL at Stewartby this afternoon

The bird was with a group of around 30 Great and Lesser Black Backed and Herring Gulls around the centre of the lake. I watched it for 5 minutes between 13.40 and 13.45, went to phone David Kramer and when I returned a couple of minutes later, it had gone. The gulls were commuting to and from the tip however, so there's a decent chance that it might be in the roost later.

Also present were the two Scaup, both just of the sailing club (Tony P)

And WAXWINGS still in Sandy

25 along Beamish close, off Sunderland Road, Sandy at 13:45, per Nick Cook.

WAXWING flock still in Flitwick

A flock of 17 WAXWINGS in trees by the Swan Pub, Flitwick per Steve Northwood.

WAXWINGS in Stopsley, Luton

Two birds sat in a tree this morning (07.30am) trilling away in Ashcroft Park, just outside Sacred Hearts Primary School, Stopsley, TL 105 234. After 5 minutes they both flew off across the park, still trilling, heading towards Stopsley Village.A lovely surprise (Mike Russell)

WHITE-FRONT and SMEW still present

WEDNESDAY 9 FEBRUARY

ROOKERY PIT SOUTH (BEDFORDSHIRE) (1400 hours)
(View this private pit only from the public footpath viewpoint at the SE corner at SP 019 403)

Following Steve Blain's posting, I was very pleased to finally catch up with the redhead SMEW that had been present in the Stewartby area since late December 2010 - the bird showing very well roll-preening along the southern shore, just beyond the reedbed. It represented my 112th species in the county this year.

Also present were 3 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Little Grebe, 33 Mute Swans, 18 Common Teal, 2 Eurasian Wigeon, 15 Tufted Duck, 69 Northern Pochard, 28 Coot, 500+ Black-headed Gulls, 446 Common Gulls, 9 Herring Gulls, 14 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 2 Stock Dove.

MEADOW LANE GRAVEL WORKINGS (BEDFORDSHIRE)

The first-winter EURASIAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (pale pink bill and orange legs and narrow white forehead blaze) was still present amongst 140 or so Greylag Geese and 200+ Atlantic Canada Geese to the north of the Bedford sewage treatment works at the north end of the gravel pits at SP 085 505.

There were also a few Little Grebes, Gadwall and Wigeon present on the pits but no sign of either the Water Pipit or Common Chiffchaff at the sewage works (whilst Jim Gurney solitarily flushed a single Jack Snipe from the hardstanding pools at Octagon Farm).

GOOSANDERS at Eversholt

21 GOOSANDERS at Eversholt Lake at 09:00 this morning (John Temple)

WATER PIPIT at Fenlake Meadows

On Fenlake at lunchtime, the highlights were:

1 WATER PIPIT (on the area of recently cut sedges and puddles just east of the pools).

1 Common Stonechat (on the fence on the east side of the pool).

Tony P

DIRECTIONS

It's the area of water meadows to the south-west of Priory CP, on the southern bank of the Great Ouse.

it's best accessed from the small car park on the A603 Cardington Road, just by the junction with the B656. Walk north from the car park and there's a shallow pool and marshy areas that are usually good for Snipe. You'll need wellies because it's very wet underfoot.

Lingering WAXWINGS

25 WAXWINGS by the station in Sandy, per Dave Buckingham, and 28 by the Bricklayers Arms in Potton this morning (Steve Blain)

Today's county ramblings with Martin Palmer

Stewartby Lake roost on a nice calm bright Tuesday afternoon held clicker-counted totals of 1210 Common Gulls (SCB was clearly closer in his count than me last Sunday), 212 Lesser Black-backs, 140 Herring Gulls, at least 32 Gt Black-backs inc 7 first-winters.

On the basis of the Common Gull count, I would estimate a B H Gull presence of nearer 5,000 than 3,000 but within that range. The albinistic bird was again present, but with all the counting I didn't happen across a Med Gull this evening.

The usual Gt Sp Woodpecker flew to its roost hole by the gull watchpoint and the 2 drake Scaup were still present - an adult and a first winter.

At lunch time I did a raptor triangle tour but failed to find the hoped for Raven. Nonetheless a minmum of 12 Common Buzzards were seen in one round scan, also 3 Sparrowhawks and a Kestrel. Another Kestrel was at Cardington with a Peregrine seen nearby - MJP

Both MEDS roosted again on Stewartby

The near summer plumage adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL, likely a male, and the first-winter Med Gull were again in the roost at Stewartby this evening seen by myself, Keith Owen, Lol Carman - happy birthday, Steve Blain and Neil Wright from the gull watchpoint. Dave Ball and Martin Green saw the adult bird from the Marston shore but both had seen both birds with me at the roost from the gull watchpoint c4.00pm yesterday afternoon when Jim Gurney and Neil Wright later connected with this excellent species.

Today, I counted 26 Great Black-backs - about half of which were first-winters, 191 Lesser Black-backs and exactly 150 Herring Gulls but no Yellow-legged Gulls were present. I under-counted and SCB likely over-counted Common Gulls due to the flock relocating during our counts but probably there were maybe 800 or more present - MJP

Sunday - SMEW in Rookery

A red-head SMEW is in Rookery South this afternoon. It's hard to see as it's asleep and tucked up in the reeds. 14.50 - Steve Blain

Saturday - WHITE-FRONT present until dark

The young EURASIAN WHITE-FRONT was still present at dusk, but no sign of the Egyptian Goose or Pink-foot. Unfortunately the White-front was struggling to walk and didn't look too healthy.

Also the WATER PIPIT flew over towards the sewage works, and a Common Chiffchaff at the end of Meadow Lane (Steve Blain)

EURASIAN WHITE-FRONT at Bedford Sewage Works

Saturday Afternoon: A first-winter EURASIAN WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was with Greylags on the new pit on the Hundred Acre field (north east of the sewage works bridge at Priory) until 3.00pm at least. Also an Egyptian Goose (Tony P).

Linslade WAXWINGS increase in numbers

The flock in Linslade numbered around 280 at 14.30, counted by John Lynch, Pete Marshall and myself. They were in the rear gardens of Rosebery Avenue and Golden Riddy eating apples. Some had also been seen in Leighton Buzzard at lunchtime so they are obviously moving about a bit (Geoff)

WAXWINGS in Linslade - Saturday

An estimated 100-150 Waxwings by Euston House on Soulbury Road, Linslade, in trees by the railway bridge at 10 a.m., then around 80 there at 11.30. A large flock of c.150 also seen over Bideford Green late morning was probably the same gang (Geoff).

A Gallinago Treat - LGRE

FRIDAY 4 FEBRUARY

Following on from yesterday, the gale force SW winds associated with a deep Atlantic low pressure system continued throughout the day making birding quite difficult. It was fairly mild though with some light drizzle in the air. Mainly grey and overcast.

HOUGHTON REGIS CHALK QUARRY (BEDFORDSHIRE)

A Gallinago feast with three species being encountered in the reedbed and marshy area - 3 JACK SNIPES, 4 COMMON SNIPES and a WOODCOCK - the Common Snipes being my first in the county this year (111)

STOKE GOLDINGTON VILLAGE (NORTH BUCKS)

A well-stocked number of feeders in the garden opposite Orchard Barn at the end of Orchard Way and Dag Lane yielded 8 TREE SPARROWS - as well as at least 15 Great Tits, 4 Blue Tits, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Dunnock, 1 male Greenfinch, 11 Chaffinch, 10 Goldfinches and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers

Just SE of the village and in crop fields east of the B526 (at SP 845 478), a flock of 270 Fieldfare was feeding and 10 Chaffinches.

MOTORWAY PIT, RIVER GREAT OUSE, GAYHURST (NORTH BUCKS) (SP 853 449)

The adult WHOOPER SWAN was still present, along with 63 Mute Swans

LITTLE EGRETS back at Warren Villas, Sandy

3 Little Egrets flying over the disused quarry works on Biggleswade Common at 8.50 this morning, heading towards Warren Villas - Tim Robson

WAXWING invasion at John O'Gaunts, Sandy

The WAXWING invasion continues at John o' Gaunt Golf Club today. With only two previous records of Waxwing at the club up to November of last year, I am now geting 1 or 2 records a week. Previous maximum count was 10, but this was smashed today when i counted 31 in a tree coming down to feed on Cotoneaster berries (Steve Thompson)

FGYPTIAN GOOSE in Rookery Pit

20/30 siskin's in Rookery Pit; also one Egyptian Goose and 30 Mute Swans (Allan Cutts)

Potton WAXWINGS

30+ in a tree at north end of Newtown Court at 09:10 this morning (Jamie Wells)

Skein of PINK-FOOTED GEESE head NW over The Lodge

David Spivack had a skein of PINK-FOOTED GEESE flying high NW over the Lodge at 11am (per Richard Bashford).