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).



Monday 11 June 2012

TURTLE DOVES at Totternhoe

Up to 3 TURTLE DOVES at Totternhoe Knolls today, still singing and displaying

Wednesday 6 June 2012

GARGANEYS

There is a pair of GARGANEY present at Derek White's Pit today. Whether or not this is the same pair I saw at Marston Vale yesterday is unknown - both birds being visible on the reserve Jubilee Meadow.

Sunday 3 June 2012

BLACK-NECKED GREBE at Brogborough

Neil Wright discovered a BLACK-NECKED GREBE at Brogborough Lake today

GOLDEN ORIOLE on my county list at last

It was certainly panic stations this morning after a 'Red Alert' was issed following Conor's discovery of a first-summer male GOLDEN ORIOLE in trees close to Tempsford railay crossing in Station Road. After David Pennington was eventually contacted and found, SCB relocated the bird and over the next hour in light drizzle and low cloud, a handful of us finally connected with this dream Bedfordshire rarity. Joan Thompson, Allan Stewart, Martin Palmer, Peter Smith, Tim Robson, Pip, Jim Gurney, Stuart Warren, Dave Odell, Bob Duckhouse, Lol, SCB and I enjoyed some great 'scope views of the bird as it moved between the canopy of tall Oaks and Ash trees about 100 yards north of Station Road just west of the railway. At around 1110 hours, it flew off and was not seen again.