Best day birding in Beds this year !

A super day, started with more waders at Broom GP, Turnstone from 6-6.20am, Bar-tailed Godwits - 5 present and 33, 7 and 21 all NE, Whimbrel - 3NE and Dunlin 2NE. Other birds included 16 Arctic Terns NE.

A quick phonecall and dash to Willington produced a singing Wood Warbler found by John Bowler and two Ring Ouzels in the place where I found the bird on Friday.

Finished the day with a Black Tern at Broom found by Tim Robson.

Wit a wooh !

Boring boring Bar-wits !!

Part of 22 that went NE at Broom this morning, having roosted last night.

Broom Bar-wit and Shank fest !

Amazing morning at Broom, found a Spotted Redshank when I arrived at 0630hrs, then over the next 7 hours had 46 different Bar-tailed Godwits in flocks of 5, 8, 28, 2, 1, 2. Most flew through NE but 5 birds (4 smart males) hung around all day with the Spotshank. Also had 2 Greenshank in from the west and onto the new works and 2 Dunlin straight through.

Day off - max birding !

Sand Martin


Hobby


Common Tern


Nightingale

Wheatear

Swift

Gadwall

Little Tern

10 hours birding today, highlight being a brief fly thru Little Tern at Broom GP at 0730hrs - Beds tick and 1st site record. At Willington male Ring Ouzel and lots of migrants, Cuckoo, Reed Warbler, Nightingale, Whitethroats etc.

Flying visit to RAF Coningsby

Wi,Wi,Wi,Wi,Wi,Wi, Whimbrel !

Over Broom GP this evening.

Nature's Spring Colours

Sand Martins and wild duck chase

Guest appearance

Lions drinking at Lake Nakuru, Kenya 2006 - Chris Townend

Shepherd's Delight !

Migrants have landed !

Wheatear on the runway !


The usual suspects !

10 hours in the field today - very hot day !
Started at Croydon Hill in Cambs, had a fly over female Marsh Harrier which I lost in the morning fog as it headed into Beds. Top Farm airfield produced a smart male Wheatear on the grass aircraft strip and a Yellow Wagtail.

Broom GP produced singing Sedge Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and 8 fly over Yellow Wagtails.

Willington was slightly better with 3 adult summer Little Gulls and another Sedge Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat.

Raft ahoy !

Spent the whole day yesterday repairing and refloating the Broom GP tern raft, thanks to Tarmac Ltd for the financial support.

Added new polystyrene floats, new mesh sides and fresh gravel and chick shelters - des res !

Looks good and almost immediatly in use by Black-headed Gulls.

Very hot day, thanks to Jenny, Robin and Matt.

Another 3 points 'bagged' at the Hawthorns!

West Brom 0 v Sheff Wed 1

Friday April 13th

A fantastic night in Birmingham saw the owls do the double over the baggies with a great performance against a very good attacking home team, live on SKY TV.

A goal from "da da da da dah Deon Burton" on 59 mins sent the Owls to four straight wins on the trot.

The atmosphere in the ground was tremendous with delirious scenes of celebration by the travelling barmy army. The fact WBA had two players sent off for foul play in last five minutes just added to the ecstasy !

Saw the players and Brian Laws leaving after the match - congratulated them, pics coming soon.

BOING BOING 3 points the playoffs !!

Blossom@Clopton Village

Peregrine studies

Adult Male


Landing male



Different male with missing inner secondaries

Shepherd's Warning and Garganey

Beautiful sunrise in Gamlingay April 12th


One is lonely but ....



Three is a crowd !

Pointless trip for the Tractor Boys !

SWFC 2 - Ipswich Town 0
Hillsborough April 9th 2007

Cracking strikes from Glen Whelan and Steve Maclean shortly after the break kill off the tractor boys in style, taking the owls unbeaten run to eight games with three wins on the bounce. Play offs 6 points away with four games left.

Trees!

Willow, Elder, Sea Buckthorn, Alder, Ash, Field Maple, Hazel, Holly, Hawthorn, Cotoneaster they are all now planted in the cliff top dell !

In 10 years we will get birds !!

Recent Buckton Images