First bit of county excitement for some time - SPOONBILL at Broom

The "Ivel Valley Dream Team" headed to Derek's (nothing much except good
numbers of Little Grebes), then Gypsy Lane East, set up scopes. Mr
Blain did not swear at all but calmly noted at around 12.20, that there
was a Spoonbill on the small island with some Black-headed Gulls. We
managed to enjoy this bird on the deck for some 10 seconds (during which
time Steve whipped out his iPhone for this shot
http://bedsbirds.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/spoonbill.html before the bird
headed over the road, then Gypsy Lane West, Ash Covert and to the main
lake at Broom. It circled here for about five minutes, nearly landing
twice but eventually circled higher and higher. It was still over GLW
at 12.35 but headed north after that. Utterly fabulous!

Also two Hobbies over main lake Broom.

SCB/DOM/RIB

HONEY BUZZARD at the Lodge and numerous WHINCHATS

A big surprise in the form of a HONEY BUZZARD on my lunchtime walk to the shop and back today.

I picked it up circling low to the north over the shop as I approached at around 14.20 (when on raising my bins I expected to see a Red Kite due to the 'droopy' wings and tail-twisting). It circled for a few minutes overhead, gaining height all the time, enabling eight other people in the vicinity to see it.

It eventually headed off strongly south (ish).

Mark Ward

Also in Beds, up to 6 WHINCHATS have been seen NE of Wilstead, with others elsewhere