Stewartby Lake roost

I visited Stewartby Lake roost from 4.22 to 5.17 this evening and had some real treats…… plus 1 P Smith in his Landrover on the far side of the lake who wasn’t there for the long haul, though, to be fair, from his parked position in the sailing club car park, the gulls would have been at an awkward angle to scrutinize!

Anyhow…… a good sized roost with numerous Common Gulls amongst the many hundreds of B H Gulls assembled. At least 6 Herring Gulls were present, inc 1 argentatus, also 2 adult Great Black-backs, an eventual total of 31+ Lesser Black-backs, the adult winter Med Gull was present again but best were a pair of adult Yellow-legged Gulls though regrettably, after scoping them for ten minutes or more, they flew off north, presumably to roost at Grafham, a couple of minutes after 5.00pm – a new species for the Beds year-list!

The juvenile Great Northern Diver was showing very well late on, staying on the surface for several minutes and still present in the middle of the lake at 5.15pm. A Water Rail was by the gull watchpoint and a Kingfisher flew close past me, whilst the Great Spotted Woodpecker came into its roost tree by the watch-point c4.30.

MJP