Out and About in Bedfordshire 30-09-2017

I popped into Stockgrove CP this morning to find quite a gang of Mandarins on the Lake easily 12+ all posturing and arguing over the ladies, Sept/Oct seems to be the time they pair up, I then popped into the Sewage Works (Open Morning Tomorrow 08.00-12.00) for a couple of hours and got quite a good list of birds just sitting in the Hide for a couple of hours;

Buzzard, Red Kite, Kestrel, Mute Swan, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Canada Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Teal, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Great-Crested & Little Grebe, Cormorant, Green Sandpiper, Snipe, Moorhen, Water Rail, Grey and Pied Wagtail, Kingfisher, BH Gull, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Blue, Long-Tailed and Great Tit, Wren, Jay, Crow, Magpie, Jackdaw.

The male Kinfisher put in a few visits which was a real treat.

Stockgrove CP 27-09-2016

A brief walk around Stockgrove CP this afternoon turned up the usual suspects and about a dozen Mandarins on the lake 50:50 male/female with quite a lot of calling and posturing going on.

Stocgrove CP today 13-12-2014

Had a lovely hour or so this morning at Stockgrove CP including a bacon roll, I was in search of the illusive Marsh Tit but no show I am afraid. However I have never seen so many Nuthatch on site, plenty of Blue, Coal & Great Tits, a few aggressive Robins and a very obliging Jay were amongst the highlights at the bridge. Only one Mandarin on site today the lake was frozen over early on. Other highlights on site today, Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers, loads of Goldcrest, Wren, Magpies everywhere you looked, plenty of Blackbirds, Redwing and Fieldfare.

Mandarin

Mandarin, Tiddenfoot, 16th February 2014 by Rory Morrisey

Mandarin - River Ouse, Kempston

This Mandarin was on the River Ouse at Kempston on Sunday 15th December. Photograph by Martin Palmer.

Mandarin Ducks Stockgrove Park

Unfortunately we lost Mum this morning after a very prolonged illness and thought I would clear my head and pop up to Stockgrove CP in Leighton Buzzard with the dog and the camera, which was one of Mums favourite places when she was mobile.

Came across a large number of the usual suspects on site, but also 30 + Mandarin Ducks which coincidentally were also one of her favourite birds and enclose some photo's taken late afternoon, she would have loved to have been with me.

RIP Mum

Mandarins Castle Mill Lock 26th December

2 of the 4 Present on the river by the lock, before they disappeared into the channel by the Gravel bank

Redwing Elms farm Industrial Estate. large numbers of Redwings present but sadly no Waxwings.

Mandarin Bedford river 13 September

Initially with a group of Mallard on the riverbank and then joining the assembled Ducks Swans and Geese in coming for bread and fighting for its share like a veteran !!

Nuthatches and Mandarins at Stockgrove CP

It's exotic at Harrold-Odell CP...

Roxton.

Myself and Sarah took a walk around the lakes and weir at midday. Amongst the black headed gulls i picked out a Little gull which gave good views before heading off S/W. There were 100+ barnacle geese around the lake and waders included a pair of oystercatcher and redshank and a few great crested grebes. On the way to the weir we viewed a single little egret and a drake mandarin. Two kingfishers were the only birds seen near the weir.