Stone Curlew at Luton Airport

Mark Turvey found this fabulous bird on the evening of 31st March and managed a long distance photograph too.  The first in Bedfordshire since the Tempsford Aerodrome bird - maybe they like runways...

Spring wishlist

Whoah there. What’s going on? I’m sure it was December a minute ago. And now the sun’s out and birds are singing, and there’s migrants turning up all over the place. Hmm, must be spring – perhaps I’d better write something just in case people think I didn’t make it through the winter.

So, yes, spring. Every year around this time, I start thinking about my county list, and what might turn up this spring. The trouble with spring, of course, is that migrating birds are in a hurry and so often don’t hang around for long. In recent years I’ve missed a few birds that just didn’t stay long enough, including the Stone Curlew at North Luffenham last year and the Broad-billed Sandpiper at Rutland Water the year before. And then there are the inevitable single observer flyovers like last year’s Black Kite.

But of course there have been some that have stayed long enough for me to see, such as last year’s long-awaited Hoopoe and Glossy Ibis, and the Buff-breasted Sandpiper in 2010.

 THE Glossy Ibis. Eat my record shot.

But there are still loads of potential spring county ticks that could turn up. Here are a few of them, with an indication of their likelihood. Just one of these would be good, please:

Golden Oriole. Statistically the most likely, with around 20 accepted Leics records... and about a thousand stringy claims that were actually Green Woodpeckers. Or discarded banana skins.

Stone Curlew. More of these must pass through the county, especially out in the east of Rutland. Just need one to turn up on a day when I haven’t got a family gathering to attend, or to hang around for a bit longer than one evening.

That’s it for the at all likely ones; everything else is even less likely!

Squacco Heron – 1 county record in 1971.
Black Stork – 1 county record (2 birds) in 1991.
Black Kite – only 1 accepted record (2011) but several other claims that didn’t quite make it.
Black-winged Stilt – 2 county records (4 birds) in 1945 and 1987.
Collared Pratincole – 1 county record in 1977 (plus a dodgy one from 18-something)
Broad-billed Sandpiper – probably too much to hope for another one so soon?
Alpine Swift – 3 county records, last one in 2008.
Bee-eater – 3 county records, last one in 1992.
Savi’s Warbler – 4 records – just remembered this is another one from last year that didn’t hang around! Maybe it will come back this year...

Red Kite

I went to the Pegsdon hills to look for summer migrants (none found) but this kite flew straight at me.

Broom Little Gull

One of the four found by Matt Burgess this morning at Broom.

Black Red

Black Redstarts

One of two Black Redstarts at The Lodge, 23rd March 2012

Shock Bird!

This bird gave me a bit of a start today.  It flew up from the rape and past before I could ready my camera and 1st impressions might have suggested something other than Carrion Crow.  Interesting bird though!
Willington 23rd March.

Hybrid goose

Two shots of the hybrid goose at Willington GP, 23rd March 2012 by Martin Palmer.

Black Redstart

Another shot of the Lodge Black Redstart(s), 23rd March 2012, by Martin Palmer.

Willington Wheatear

One of three birds on the airstrip at Willington on Monday evening.

Kittiwake

Kittiwake, Gypsy Lane East, Broom GP, 19th March 2012

Thurleigh Short-eared Owl

One of two tonight.

Wheatear

Wheatear, Broom GP, 17th March 2012

Green-winged Teal

Green-winged Teal, Gypsy Lane East pits, Broom GP, 16th March 2012.

Stonechat

Stonechat, Kempston, 13th March 2012 by Martin Palmer

Herons

Part of the heronry at Radwell - three nests in this shot, each with a bird, and two birds in attendance.

Tree Sparrow

Tree Sparrow, Cople, 6th March 2012 - photo by Martin Palmer

Wintering Ring Ouzel

This Ring Ouzel has spent the winter around Dunstable.  It was first seen on 13th January on the edge of Kensworth Quarry, before being relocated in a Dunstable back garden by Sue Yannakopoulos on 8th and 9th February.  Sue commented:
"Snow was still on the ground those two days and he was obviously very hungry, he stayed most of the day and appeared next day from early morning until late afternoon.  We felt quite honoured to have had a visit."

This is only the second time a Ring Ouzel has wintered in Bedfordshire, after a bird spent almost two months around a Toddgton garden in 2011.

Many thanks to Sue for permission for us to use the photos above, and to the Ring Ouzel group for passing on Sue's original email.