Total Number of Species Recorded in 2011

2010 saw a total of 196 species recorded in Bedfordshire. Of this total, LGRE recorded 183, closely followed by Jim Gurney and Steve Blain on 181, Lol Carman on 180, Martin Palmer on 179 and Bob Chalkley on 177.

In 2011, a total of 452 species was recorded in Britain and Ireland of which I recorded just 69% (312); Bedfordshire recorded 204 species (of which I saw 94% at 191), Hertfordshire 192 (of which I saw 88.5% at 170) and Buckinghamshire 192 (of which I recorded just 86% at 165)

In 2012, I came fourth (on 168), following Steve Blain (177), Jim Gurney (174) and Martin Plamer (171).



Sunday, 15 February 2015

Friday/Saturday Birding (MERLIN at last)

BEDFORDSHIRE BIRDING.....
 
13/2
 
Adult PINK-FOOTED GOOSE with badly damaged wing still present with Atlantic Canada Geese at HARROLD-ODELL COUNTRY PARK, along with 150 Greylag, 6 Mute Swans, 18 Gadwall, 85 Tufted Duck, 4 Common Goldeneye, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail and some very showy Redwings (see images below)




























Nearby, a female Sparrowhawk, 4 Common Buzzard & a Common Kestrel at FELMERSHAM and 148 Mute Swans with adult WHOOPER SWAN in Kale crop by RADWELL SEWAGE WORKS/GRAVEL PITS







No sign of any Owls on THURLEIGH AIRFIELD 1600 hours to dark, but 470 European Golden Plover, 100+ Lapwing and this Common Buzzard roosting on a haystack



 
14/2
 
Thanks to a number of people including Martin Stevens, Tim Stowe & Stuart Warren, finally connected with GYPSY LANE WEST'S wintering adult male MERLIN - showing very well on the T-bar posts scattered about the site. It chased & caught an unfortunate Meadow Pipit and flew to a tall Oak to dismember & eat it - lots of record shots attached






















 
Two RINGED PLOVERS remained on GYPSY LANE EAST from yesterday, as well as a GREEN SANDPIPER, both SHELDUCKS, 450 Lapwing, 80 European Golden Plover, 7 Shoveler and a scattering of wildfowl





No sign of any Egyptian Geese once again nor of the Cardington Peregrines (although Roy Dunham had seen the pair earlier)
 
On WATLING STREET at SP 946 293, another dead Barn Owl - this one unringed, with both the BLACK-NECKED GREBE and Whooper Swan pair still showing well at DUNSTABLE SEWAGE FARM - the former now starting to get some colour.



 
Another blank on Corn Bunting but COMMON RAVEN and LITTLE OWL pair at a site deserted in over 20 years - also Green & Great Spotted Woodpecker, singing Song Thrush & Greenfinch







 
A Common Treecreeper at EVERSHOLT LAKE was my first in Beds this year while 11 GOOSANDER were welcome (7 drakes), with 45 Greylag Geese (my first record here), drake MANDARIN DUCK, 15 Chaffinch, 70 Greenfinch (roosting) and singing male Song Thrush all noted










 

A reasonable roost at STEWARTBY LAKE, where 1,700+ Black-headed Gulls were joined by at least 1,260 Common Gulls (spring passage birds presumably, mostly adults), 27+ Herring Gull, 19 Lesser Black-backed Gull and a single adult Great Black-backed Gull; 79 Great Crested Grebe was my largest Beds count this winter with PEREGRINE roosting on chimney and a murmuration of at least 4,000 Common Starlings.

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