Oriental pratincole frampton marsh 11 May

A morning visit to priory had produced a lone arctic Tern, but news of the Oriental Pratincole continuing to Linger at Frampton Marsh meant a diversion to Lincolnshire to complete the Pratincole Hat trick. having seen Collared and Black winged pratincoles in Norfolk, Oriental Pratincole - very much the rarest of the 3 in Britain - was the missing link. The day turned out to be cold and windy, with the bird spending most of the time sheltering on the ground. Late afternoon sunshine eventually produced superb flying displays .


Oriental Pratincole 11 May

Weatear 11 May. Part of the supporting cast that included Whimbrel, little Gulls, Yellow Wagtails and the surprise of the day in the form of a bobbing Jack Snipe

Broad Bordered Bee Hawk Moth

This scarce moth was the surprise of the day. Discovered inside the observatory building, it was photographed and released - after which it fed on the Budliea and wallflowers outside the building before departing

Ring Ouzel Holme 9 May

Female Ring Ouzel Holme Dunes 9 May. After reasonable views of 3 ouzels in the same area last week-end it was nice to have a bird that showed well. An earlier stop at Redwell Marsh had produced Wood and Common Sandpiper and a Summer plumaged Spotted Redshank. The sea offered a group of 3 Gannets and 6 common Terns

7 May An obliging Song Thrush - Bedford Riverside

A particularly obliging Song Thrush

A Green woodpecker feeding on the other side of the River

Grey Wagtail. Still there - but not quite as close

Bedford River 5 May

Wren Bedford river

Common Tern Bedford River 5 May.

After enjoying excellent views of arctic Terns at Priory the previous evening the Grey Wagtails failed to perform this morning. It was left to the Terns and a very loud Wren to pose for the camera instead.

Norfolk 30 April - 3 May

Red Legged partridge Snettisham - feeding within feet of the car

Red Crested Pochards Titchwell

Stonechat Snettisham

With Spring movement finally in full flow, a chance to fill in some of the missing links ? After finding 3 Black Terns in Bedford at Priory on friday morning, Snettisham produced several Cuckoos the next day - as well as at least 7 Weatears and 3 striking Winchats and good numbers of whimbrel. Not to be outdone a visit to Holme on Sunday produced 3 ring Ouzels, more Weatears, and a pale phased Arctic Skua on the Sea with Gannets and Little, Common, and Sandwich Terns. An afternoon visit to Titchwell gave up 2 Black Necked Grebes, a drake Gargeney and 3 Red Crested Pochards.

Grey Wagtails again ...

Blackcap Priory Couintry park 29 April.

A particularly obliging individual in full song. The Grey Wagtails continue to perform by the river. A party of 4 Little egrets at Priory on the 26th was the highest number I have seen there and a turtle Dove at Willington meant Beds beat Norfolk to provide the first of the year.

Grey Wagtails Bedford 27 April