MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY (Week 5)
Another hard frost overnight and a light covering of snow. Cloud moved in during the day and forced temperatures up slightly, to 6 degrees C. Remained dry throughout.
The first day of February was spent entirely in Bedfordshire, mainly with the intention of adding Merlin to the Year List. After several hours of searching, failed once more in this quest. In fact, added just one new species to my Bedfordshire Year List - Marsh Tit.
CHESS RIVER VALLEY (BUCKS)
No sign of the Great White Egret today but 5 LITTLE EGRETS (including 4 standing together in the early morning sun at Church Covert NR) and 3 Grey Herons (including two at Bois Mill Lake).
LUTON HOO LAKE (BEDFORDSHIRE) (Stire with no general access)
With a new month upon us, I carried out a full inventory of the wildfowl present with the following results -:
Great Crested Grebe (1), Grey Heron (2), Mute Swan (11 including 6 first-winters), WHOOPER SWAN (2 adults), Gadwall (4), Common Teal (an impressive 146 at the top end), Tufted Duck (36), Northern Pochard (82) and Coot (162). A single RED KITE was once again prospecting its usual nest tree.
WARDOWN PARK, LUTON (BEDFORDSHIRE)
Just the two 'resident' adult WHOOPER SWANS on the lake.
BARTON HILLS (BEDFORDSHIRE)
(0900-1200)
Spent some time traversing the public footpaths leading south from the B 655 between Barton-le-Clay and Hexton but failed to intercept Andy Plumb's ringtail Hen Harrier seen at 0735 hours. At one stage, the blue sky above the heavily vegetated 'bowl' at TL 092 302 was filled with 7 RED KITES, 2 Common Buzzards and 2 Common Kestrels. Just west of Weyting Hill is an excellent game crop strip, which was attracting the birds of prey and a very likely place for the harrier. I flushed a single covey of 8 Red-legged Partridges. I checked out a Northern Goshawk territory but despite perfect weather, there was no sign of either adult.
Nearby, I met up with Bill Last, and explored another downland site, where a pair of MARSH TIT were new to my Bedfordshire Year List and a further RED KITE was seen. Very disappointingly, just 1 LONG-EARED OWL was left in last week's roost.
BARTON HILL FARM AREA, STREATLEY (BEDS)
Decided to check the other (southern) side of Barton Hills for the Hen Harrier but there was no sign of it. The 58-strong covey of Red-legged Partridges was still in the same place as in recent times, feeding in the crop at TL 107 285.
SHILLINGTON (BEDS)
I widened my search for the harrier but to no avail. Two Common Kestrels and a relict population of 5 House Sparrows in Shillington village were all that was noteworthy.
HOLWELL AREA (HERTS)
Just east of the A 600, at least 860 Woodpigeon were feeding on a crop, with 66 Common Starlings at Holme Farm.
STOTFOLD (BEDFORDSHIRE)
(1400-1700 hours)
Another long vigil at the Corn Bunting site in the hope of connecting with the female Merlin that many have seen, and Mike Lawrence has superbly photographed. Not a sniff I am afraid and the only excitement provided by Three Counties Radio and a film and commentary team.
The number of wintering CORN BUNTINGS since my last visit have seriously depleted, with the peak count in the Poplar trees being of just 587 birds, a reduction of 272. YELLOWHAMMERS on the other hand were well up, with 115 peaking. The Eurasian Skylark flock too has increased and now up to 270. Other species included 25 Stock Doves, a single 'gang' of 52 Carrion Crows, 96 Common Starlings and 4 Lapwings over.
Near Radwell Lake, a Sparrowhawk zipped over the A1 at dusk
Another hard frost overnight and a light covering of snow. Cloud moved in during the day and forced temperatures up slightly, to 6 degrees C. Remained dry throughout.
The first day of February was spent entirely in Bedfordshire, mainly with the intention of adding Merlin to the Year List. After several hours of searching, failed once more in this quest. In fact, added just one new species to my Bedfordshire Year List - Marsh Tit.
CHESS RIVER VALLEY (BUCKS)
No sign of the Great White Egret today but 5 LITTLE EGRETS (including 4 standing together in the early morning sun at Church Covert NR) and 3 Grey Herons (including two at Bois Mill Lake).
LUTON HOO LAKE (BEDFORDSHIRE) (Stire with no general access)
With a new month upon us, I carried out a full inventory of the wildfowl present with the following results -:
Great Crested Grebe (1), Grey Heron (2), Mute Swan (11 including 6 first-winters), WHOOPER SWAN (2 adults), Gadwall (4), Common Teal (an impressive 146 at the top end), Tufted Duck (36), Northern Pochard (82) and Coot (162). A single RED KITE was once again prospecting its usual nest tree.
WARDOWN PARK, LUTON (BEDFORDSHIRE)
Just the two 'resident' adult WHOOPER SWANS on the lake.
BARTON HILLS (BEDFORDSHIRE)
(0900-1200)
Spent some time traversing the public footpaths leading south from the B 655 between Barton-le-Clay and Hexton but failed to intercept Andy Plumb's ringtail Hen Harrier seen at 0735 hours. At one stage, the blue sky above the heavily vegetated 'bowl' at TL 092 302 was filled with 7 RED KITES, 2 Common Buzzards and 2 Common Kestrels. Just west of Weyting Hill is an excellent game crop strip, which was attracting the birds of prey and a very likely place for the harrier. I flushed a single covey of 8 Red-legged Partridges. I checked out a Northern Goshawk territory but despite perfect weather, there was no sign of either adult.
Nearby, I met up with Bill Last, and explored another downland site, where a pair of MARSH TIT were new to my Bedfordshire Year List and a further RED KITE was seen. Very disappointingly, just 1 LONG-EARED OWL was left in last week's roost.
BARTON HILL FARM AREA, STREATLEY (BEDS)
Decided to check the other (southern) side of Barton Hills for the Hen Harrier but there was no sign of it. The 58-strong covey of Red-legged Partridges was still in the same place as in recent times, feeding in the crop at TL 107 285.
SHILLINGTON (BEDS)
I widened my search for the harrier but to no avail. Two Common Kestrels and a relict population of 5 House Sparrows in Shillington village were all that was noteworthy.
HOLWELL AREA (HERTS)
Just east of the A 600, at least 860 Woodpigeon were feeding on a crop, with 66 Common Starlings at Holme Farm.
STOTFOLD (BEDFORDSHIRE)
(1400-1700 hours)
Another long vigil at the Corn Bunting site in the hope of connecting with the female Merlin that many have seen, and Mike Lawrence has superbly photographed. Not a sniff I am afraid and the only excitement provided by Three Counties Radio and a film and commentary team.
The number of wintering CORN BUNTINGS since my last visit have seriously depleted, with the peak count in the Poplar trees being of just 587 birds, a reduction of 272. YELLOWHAMMERS on the other hand were well up, with 115 peaking. The Eurasian Skylark flock too has increased and now up to 270. Other species included 25 Stock Doves, a single 'gang' of 52 Carrion Crows, 96 Common Starlings and 4 Lapwings over.
Near Radwell Lake, a Sparrowhawk zipped over the A1 at dusk
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