Bedfordrshire - Abandoned Sand Pit and Landfill Site Wildlife

After a break from posting, I have decided to resume, certainly for the time being.

It is amazing what you can see in a short 50 minutes walk around an abandoned Bedfordshire sand pit and landfill site. A swan waiting for his or her chicks to hatch (the partner was sitting hidden on a nest in the nearby reeds), a rabbit disturbed a constantly calling Chiffchaff having arrived a month ago from the West coast of Africa and a Robin in the same tree. Singing Reed Warblers on the reeds (also from West Africa) and a distant mystery swimmer in the sand pit. Not at all sure what it was. At the time I thought it was a carp, but when I downloaded the photo and heavily enlarged the image, I don't think so. An abandoned pet turtle or even a catfish? Then a family of Long Tailed Tits passed through chattering away, with a lucky flight photo. Finally I popped over the road into the country park and took a few photos of a distant Great Crested Grebe. When I got home, I realised that it was a parent with black and white candy marked chicks, one taking a ride on its parents back. Although this is not a particularly rare sight, it was a first for me!

Bedfordshire - Early Spring Birds

A surprisingly warm afternoon out of the wind last Friday.  I found a quiet spot and slowly walked along a hedgerow.

 

Two photos of an obligingly restful Long Tailed Tit that appeared almost curious of what I was doing.

 

A goldfinch sitting in a bush that had been chattering with others in the area until I arrived.



 

One of at least 3 Chiffchaffs that had been flying around a small area, with their distinctive calls.  It took quite a little luck to get one to stay long enough to focus.



One of a pair of Dunnocks that had been moving from bush to bush.  I got this shot almost immediately, but never had a clear view afterwards as they were hiding in amongst the bushes



September Hedgerow Birds

Another sunny morning's walk in September, this time along the Grand Union Canal near Cheddington

 

A light mist just above the water's surface caught by the early sun.

It was generally quite quiet except for a 100 yard stretch of hedgerow, which contained a number of birds, hiding in the bushes.  After an hour of trying to capture their images I got....

 

A Goldfinch...

...a Longtailed Tit...

...another...

...and a Chiffchaff.