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).



Thursday 11 February 2016

GREAT GREY SHRIKE still wintering at Henlow

Lovely morning for a walk round Henlow Grange, frosty underfoot with, sunny and calm. GREAT GREY SHRIKE was again in the area just north of the sewage treatment works, perching on fence posts of the two newish fields. It made one sally out over the stubble, flushing a flock of 20 Skylarks before returning to its perch. It the dropped into the longer grass at the base of the fence. I was expecting it to again return to the fence but it never did. I did not see it fly away despite watching where it had landed and could not re-locate it. How can it be so elusive?

Spring would seem to be just around the corner: at least 4 Song Thrushes were singing; Mistle Thrush, Skylark, Corn Bunting, Chaffinch and Dunnock were also singing; at least three Great Spotted Woodpeckers were drumming;  and Great Crested Grebes were dancing. Although there is no activity in the rookery yet.

Also seen were a male and female Stonechat near the market gardens where there were also three Yellowhammers and a flock of c.40 Linnets.

When I got home and totted up, I had recorded 55 species in a couple of hours.

It may be of interest to note that I have recorded Great Grey Shrike and Stonechat more often than Coot from my patch this year!

cheers

Roger Hicks

p.s. A Robin is nest-building in our garden in Henlow as I type this.