The Lodge RSPB - bumper number of SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS

TUESDAY 31 MAY

The last day of May started off rather chilly and overcast (with the odd light shower) but as the day progressed, a ridge of high pressure moved in from the Southeast bringing clear skies, sunshine and increasing temperatures. As such, it was a very pleasant evening.

Apart from a brief excursion to Bedfordshire, most of my time was spent locally, where I was delighted to see more SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS and an abundance of HOUSE SPARROWS.......

THE LODGE SANDY RSPB (BEDFORDSHIRE)
(1200-1515 hours)

Spent several enjoyable hours in the company of the reserve warden Andy Schofield attempting to fathom out what was happening with the FIRECREST by the reserve gatehouse - very intriguing to say the least. This bird, first seen by Andy in mid March, was still present and singing from a variety of trees and shrubs - but was incredibly difficult to see - flitting between branches largely out of view in the foliage. It sang several times from a tall Cedar in the car park and from the line of Laurels bordering the car park and was joined on at least two occasions by a singing male Goldcrest.

Perhaps of more significance were the SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS - new for me for the year in Beds. The reserve this year is hosting up to five pairs of this diminishing summer migrant, with 1-2 pairs in the gatehouse garden and adjacent coppice, another singing male in the vicinity of the first grid on the access road and two different pairs in the Lodge house gardens themselves. Terrific news - and supplemented by the pair not far away in Tempsford Churchyard.

Steve Blain, Mark Ward, Andy and I also enjoyed remarkable views of a family group of Nuthatches - three juveniles all lined up on a branch waiting to be fed in turn by the parents

A COMMON CROSSBILL flew high across the 'new' heath and at least 7 Common Swifts were overhead.

DEREK WHITE'S EGGS A1 PIT, BIGGLESWADE (BEDFORDSHIRE)

Not much happening other than a pair of Little Ringed Plovers chasing each other about, 27 Black-headed Gulls (several pairs nesting on the central island), 6 Common Terns (also nesting) and a pair of Linnets feeding on the mud.