Waxwings and Redpolls.

A trip out yesterday and finally found the 20 Waxwings in Potton And then onto The Lodge for the Redpolls. More Redpoll images on my blog

http://backinbirdland.blogspot.com

Pochard

Pochard, Priory CP, 28th January 2011, by Mike Neal

Another Arctic Redpoll

Coues' Arctic Redpoll, Rowney Warren, 27th January 2011 by Dave Parsons. The third Arctic Redpoll in Bedfordshire this winter.

Potton garden Waxwings

Crest smoothed down by the North wind

Interesting view of the tongue here

Crest ruffled by the North wind

Clifton Waxwing

1 of 22 seen today in Fairfax Close, Clifton

SEO

Short-eared Owl, Wixams, 21st January 2010

Short-eared Owl

Three wonderful shots of the Wixams Short-eared Owls, 21st January 2011 by Graham Stevens.

Bittern Priory Country Park

Showed well from the Kramer Hide over a period of several hours.Seen swimming from 1 reedy island to another ,and in flight 3 times as it moved between islands. A water rail and 3 siskins close to the hide were a bonus. Ray roche

Bittern Priory Country Park 19th January

Pinkfeet

The Southill Pink-footed Geese amongst the Greylags a couple of weeks ago.

Another Putnoe Street Blackcap

Male Blackcap 16th January.
The Female shown in the previous post was still present the day before.

Blue Tit 16th January

Goldcrest 15th January.

Unfortunately the female Blackcap never stayed quite long enough for the camera

Identification of Slaty-backed Gull

Despite what some so-called experts might tell you, this is actually very straightforward. Does the gull in question look like this?

If so, then you’re in luck – that’s a Slaty-backed Gull alright. You can add it to your list and everyone will look up to you.

If, however, it looks like this:

Then someone's fucked up big time. This is the closely related, but sadly much commoner Salty-backed Gull, often found hanging around outside seaside fish and chip shops (OK, it doesn't look much like salt, but what do you expect for 5 minutes pissing around in Photoshop?). And if you still need that, then you’re a fucking tart.

Putnoe Street Blackcap

14th January.
Blackcap, taken through the study window.

10th January.

A Robin on the same feeder, but taken standing only a few feet from the bird - it had emerged from cover before the feeder was even hung up and was quite unconcerned by my presence. Ray Roche

Rung Shefford Waxwing

Poor quality heavily cropped but i think the number on silver ring reads 197 or 107

Shefford Waxwings

A few images of the Shefford Waxwing flock today

Wixams SEO

No images of either of the two birds currently along Dane Lane west of Wixams so here is my offering of a digiscoped effort from this sunny Sunday afternoon, 9th Jan

Any Ideas ?

In amongst the Barnie flock at Willington this morning. I can't say I've seen this one there before ? Is it a hybrid, a Ross's or Snow Goose (I don't think it's the latter) or just an albinistic Barnacle Goose ?

Coues' Arctic Redpoll

Coues' Arctic Redpoll, The Lodge, 5th January 2011. More photos and two video clips can be found on my blog.

Radwell Bittern

About time we had one! Worthwhile waiting for dusk at the small reed-fringed pool at Radwell tonight. This shot was taken by holding my iphone up to the telescope and hoping for the best!

Bewick's Swans

Bewick's Swans, Radwell, 3rd January 2011. Some of the 15 present.

Red-throated Diver - Stewartby Lake

A digi-scoped image of the Red-throated Diver.

Another digi-scoped image...

A final photo taken with my DSLR. I included this photo because it gives a good impression of how small the diver is. At long distances it could quite easily be mistaken for a Great Crested Grebe... Photos by Martin Green.

Scaup

One of four at Stewartby.

Wintering Ring Ouzel

This Ring Ouzel wintered in a Toddington garden during January and February 2011.  These fabulous photos were taken by the garden owner Brian Mander.

Pink-footed Goose

This bird flew in to Grovebury this morning, it settled in with a flock of c310 Canada Geese in a field to the west of the sand pit.(1/01/2011)

Red-throated Diver - Stewartby Lake

Another digi-scoped image of the Red-throated diver found by Paul Nye. Hopefully, it will still be present tomorrow and venture a bit nearer to one of the banks... Photo by Martin Green.

Red-throated Diver

Red-throated Diver, Stewartby Lake, 1st January 2011. A great start to the year - well done Roy Nye for finding it.

More on the Langford Wood Duck

A few photos from New Years Eve;





I had several sightings of kingfisher there too;

Also here are a few recent photos from the river in Arlesey;
Dan Trim