YELLOW-LEGGED GULLS at Bedford

Di and I spent a very pleasant late morning (10.55 to 1.35) strolling around Sharpenhoe Clappers followed by lunch at The Lynmore country pub at the bottom of the hill.

The array of wildflowers in full show were stunning but so too were the Buttys - 16 species seen inc over 50 Chalkhill Blues - the vast majority were fresh males which I got some good photos of and especially also photos of a coupled pair. A total of 12 Dark Green Fritillaries were seen too. A Marsh Tit showed well in the wood and a Green Woodpecker sat atop a fence post for a while.

Highlight of the pub at lunchtime - apart from the very good beef and horseradish sandwich and pint of Tribute - was a superb Hummingbird Hawkmoth at one the hanging baskets in the garden.

Early evening, I visited the borrow pits on the north side of the A421 s.w. of Marsh Leys, Kempston - a Little Ringed Plover, a Grey Heron and 3 Little Egrets gave good views from the new blue footbridge over the main road.

Just around the corner, along the Kempston western by-pass, a large flock of gulls were settled in a dry field ~ 115 Lesser Black-backs, 50 B H Gulls, 1 f.s. Great Black-back and an excellent tally of 21 mostly adult Yellow-legged Gulls were all scoped from the car (Martin Plamer)