Saturday 08/04/2017

Garganey (M)

A drake Garganey turned up on the Finger lakes on Saturday, found by TP. DK called me to let me know it was there and I managed to catch up with it on my way back from 100 Acre. I also had my first Sedge Warbler of the year on the south side of the Sewage Works Bridge. There was a second in the sewage works compound.

On 100 Acre were 3 Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Snipe, 3 Redshank, a pair of Wigeon and a Cetti’s Warbler down by the mooring place on the river. There seem to be at least 5 Cetti's Warblers in and around the park with the usual 2 (Crescent and Sewage Works Bridge), this one on 100 Acre and another reported in the week at Cardington Lock along with a second near the Crescent.

The Garganey was still around on Sunday.

Recent News

Mar 13 - Sand Martin over the main lake this morning. Also 9 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's (DK)

Mar 14 - A female Blackcap at Priory this morning was a first for the year at the site. (TP)

Mar 27 - Minimum of two little gull with black headed gull on main lake. Male red crested pochard and 5 shoveler. (MB)

Mar 27 - 5 Little Gulls Priory Co, Bedford, showing well north west corner @5.30pm (SW)

Mar 29 - c110 Sand Martins, 15 Chiffchaffs and 11 singing Blackcaps this morning. (DK)

Mar 30 - 2 Willow Warblers, 15 m Blackcaps, 16 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's (DK)

Mar 31 - 2 Common Terns (DOM)

Apr 1 pair Red-c Pochards, 2 Jays, 120 Sand Martins, Swallow (TP), 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Common Terns, 13 Blackcaps, 16 Chiffchaffs, 2 Cetti's, 2 Oystercatchers, 3 Otters (ad + 2 cubs). 4 Egyptian Geese (one sitting) (DK)

Apr 2 - Sedge Warbler heard singing briefly south side by the river. (DOM)

The vols were in on Sunday 2/4 doing a quick trim along the edge of the reed bed by the main lake hide followed by a session clearing the upper Leat of obstructions and litter.

The tern raft has finally been launched and can be seen on the north side of the island on the main lake. Fingers crossed that the Terns like it!

Record shot of the Cetti's Warbler NE corner of the main lake

Doris did a bit of damage around the park

Spent the day volunteering in the park to deal with the fallen trees after storm Doris passed through yesterday. This Willow was the biggest challenge of the day (both pictures by Danny Fellman):

Before

After

It was due for pollarding on Monday but unfortunately Doris got there first!

This one took three of us about 3 hours to clear up. There was another one further along the path but that was a bit easier to deal with so the path along the river is fully accessible now.

Earlier we cleared a smaller Willow which had fallen across the lake side path. A good days work if i do say so myself!