Marston Vale Millenium Country Park Wildlife Blog

20th November 2011

2011-11-20T13:33:00.000-08:00

A very foggy day, the fog over Stewartby Lake was only just beginning to lift as I was leaving at 4.10pm.

Hightlights:

c20 Siskins near the scrapyard corner of Stewartby Lake

Treecreeper found by Neil Wright between the visitors centre and the sewage works, only seen very badly by me.

Goldcrests in sewage works copse and near Stewartby Lake

Goldcrest - sewage works copse

Long-tailed Tit - on the edge of Stewartby Lake near to the visitors centre.

A photo of the sun taken through the thick fog. I've heavily processed the image to increase the contrast. The arrows mark the position of a few sunspots.

19th November 2011

2011-11-19T11:41:00.000-08:00

8.45am - 4.30pm
Highlights:
A Common Buzzard being mobbed by a Kestrel by the Pillinge.
Female Red-crested Pochard - Pillinge
2 Caspian Gulls seen in the roost, another one present by not seen by me.

This video shows a Kestrel mobbing a Common Buzzard by the Pillinge:

And here is a video still of the moment of impact:

One of the three Caspian Gulls at the Stewartby Lake roost this afternoon:

Redwing by the Marston corner of Stewartby Lake this afternoon:

12th September 2011

2011-09-12T14:59:00.000-07:00

A very windy day with south-westerly winds gusting to 40-50mph around midday. Disappointingly, no seabirds on Stewartby Lake...

Highlights:

2 Ruff & 2 Green Sandpipers on the Pillinge

Common Sandpiper and Kingfisher from the Gullwatch

3 Black Terns - Stewartby Lake

1 young Little Grebe with an adult on the Pillinge

11th September 2011

2011-09-11T13:15:00.000-07:00

Spoonbill!! Seen flying over the Pillinge form outside the cafe at about 4.15 -4.20pm

Highlights:
Spoonbill - Initially picked up flying over Stewartby Lake by Neil Wright and Steve Blain. I saw it flying behind the visitors centre and then over the Pillinge. Very pleased to get this bird over the country park after narrowing missing seeing it over the park yesterday evening.

Peregrine - good view of one flying over Stewartby Lake this afternoon
Ruff, 2+ Green Sandpipers on the Pillinge
4 Black Terns, now including an adult on Stewartby Lake
Turtle Dove - flew south low over Stewartby Lake about 7pm.

10th September 2011

2011-09-10T13:10:00.000-07:00

8am -6.45pm
Guided walk (8 -11am) highlights:
2 Whinchats on posts at the Wetland 9 corner of the Pillinge
3 Black Terns on Stewartby Lake
Good views of Hobby
Ruff, Green Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover on the Pillinge
A combined total of 64 species seen.
A party of about 10 Yellow Wagtails flew over the vistors centre bank of Stewartby Lake.

Red Kite seen later in the afternoon over Stewartby Lake.

9th September 2011

2011-09-09T13:05:00.001-07:00

Two digiscoped photos of a Ruff on the Pillinge, the 157th species I've photographed on the country park.

Two photographs of one of the three Black Terns on Stewartby Lake today.

A video of one of the Black Terns

Summary:

c90 Sand Martins and 2 Black Terns on Stewartby early morning.

Cetti's Warbler - Marston corner of Stewartby Lake

1 Ruff, 2 Green Sandpipers, 1+ Hobby and Kingfisher on the Pillinge in the afternoon

1 Swift over the visitors centre at 5pm.

12th June 2011

2011-06-12T22:38:00.000-07:00

A couple of photos of some of the 60 or so hirundines hawking for insects low over Stewartby Lake in the rain.

7th May 2011

2011-05-07T15:02:00.000-07:00

Dingy Skipper feeding on Birdsfoot trefoil - Stewartby Lake

A couple of hours spent around the visitors centre and the nearest part of Stewartby Lake was (eventually..) rewarded with a decent picture of a Dingy Skipper. They were being rather difficult to approach.

6th May 2011

2011-05-06T14:52:00.000-07:00

Little Ringed Plover - Stewartby Lake Sailing Club bank.

Hairy Dragonfly - Sensory Garden

Highlights:

A morning walk along the Sailing Club bank of Stewartby Lake produced the hoped for Little Ringed Plover. The bird was very obliging, I stopped about 15 yards away from it at the top of the main slipway and it walked straight passed me along the waters edge... :-) This was the 156th species of bird I have photographed in the MVCP / Stewartby Lake area.

5th May 2011

2011-05-05T14:45:00.000-07:00

Highlights:
Red Kite - Near Visitors Centre and later over Stewartby Tip
Good views of a Garden Warbler near the gullwatch
Cetti's Warbler seen in Marston Corner of Stewartby Lake
c30 Swifts and c6 Common Terns - Stewartby Lake (6.40am)

4th May 2011

2011-05-04T14:17:00.000-07:00

Black Tern -Stewartby Lake

Little Egret -Access Track

Green Hairstreak

Highlights:

Black Tern -Stewartby Lake - found by Dave Ball

Red Kite - Over Stewartby Tip

c8 Hobbies - Over Rookery

Cuckoo

Again plenty of Green Hairstreaks and Dingy Skippers

3rd May 2011

2011-05-03T13:38:00.000-07:00

White Stork!!!

Wetland 9

Green Hairstreak

Four-spotted Chaser

Red-and-Black Froghopper - a rather smart bug which Bob found near the railway line, the first one either of us had seen...

The White Stork flew over Bob Hook and myself when we were near the Marston Corner of Stewartby Lake. I was in the middle of photographing the Green Hairstreak butterfly shown above when the stork appeared, so I'm very glad that Bob was looking up! ... :-) The bird flew past us fairly low and then headed off East gaining height most of the time. We watched it for 5-6 minutes in total before it went out of sight, during which time we took turns to phone the news out. What was probably the same bird was seen twice near Oxford and then near Bicester the previous day. About 10 minutes after we lost it is was then seen over Priory Marina near Bedford and the following day it was seen twice in Cambridgeshire before ending up in Suffolk on the 5th May. A fabulous bird to see on the park, the first one seen here and only about the 10th county record.

Bob and I did a day-list and we saw around 66 birds on the park between us... I'll add more details when I get the list from Bob.

2nd May 2011

2011-05-02T13:18:00.000-07:00

A Four-spotted Chaser -on the stream behind the Sensory Garden

A Common Buzzard being mobbed by a Carrion Crow

A Grizzled Skipper

A quiet day on the park...

Highlights:

Turtle Dove on wires above my parents garden - this bird was present virtually the whole week.

Green Hairstreak, Four-spotted Chasers and Hairy Dragonfly - Sensory Garden near the visitors centre.Hobby and c8 Common Terns on the Pillinge

A good selection of butterflies around Stewartby Lake - Small Heath, Common Blue, Dingy and Grizzled Skippers, Green Hairstreak and a few more Hairy Dragonflies.

1st May 2011

2011-05-01T13:07:00.000-07:00

A Pair of Gadwall on the rapidly drying out pool in front of the Jubilee Cottages overview.

A lazy day today with just an afternoon visit to the Jubilee Cottages overview and a brief check of Stewartby Lake.
Jubilee Cottages overview:
2 Yellow Wagtails (MVCP Year Tick)
2+ Gadwall
Stock Dove
60+ Starlings
3 Linnets
Male Kestrel
2 Cuckoos
Sparrowhawk
MVCP Year list now: 99 (Yellow Wagtail added today) Plus Water Rail, Grasshopper Warbler and Cetti's warbler heard only)

30th April 2011

2011-04-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

Turnstone - Pillinge

Lesser Whitethroat - Singing near access track

Little Egret - Pillinge

Dawn Chorus Walk (4.30am - 7.45am)

A good turn out with about 25 people on the walk and several of us leading it. Although nothing unusual was seen we saw a good selecton of birds and had unusually good views of a Reed Warbler in the Marston Corner reedbed that most people saw in the scopes.

MVCP year ticks on the walk Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat & Swift.

After the walk and breakfast Bob Hook & I went down the access track and I got some video of a singing Lesser Whitethroat:

In the afternoon I went back to the Pillinge and was very pleased to find a Turnstone (MVCP Year Tick, at least) on the brick island there. If I have ever seen a Turnstone on the park before it was at least 20 years ago...There was also a Little Egret on the Pillinge.

MVCP Year list now... 98 (Birds added today Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Swift & Turnstone - with Cuckoo and Lesser Whitethroat now seen as well as heard. Additional heard-only species: Cetti's Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler & Water Rail.

29th April 2011

2011-04-29T11:50:00.000-07:00

Purple Heron!! - Flying from Wetland 9 towards Rookery, awful photos, but a great bird... (MVCP and County Tick)
Holly Blue -surprisingly this seems to be the first one I have photographed on the park.

Highlight of the day was undoubtedly seeing the 1st summer Purple Heron drop into the reeds at the back of wetland 9 and then fly off again towards Rookery. The heron had been seen flying into the reeds at the Brogborough Lake gullwatch and then we got a call saying it was heading back this way. I was incredibly lucky to be at the right place to see it... :-)
My MVCP yearlist now stands at 92 (Purple Heron, Whitethroat and Stock Dove added today) plus Water Rail, Cuckoo, Grasshopper Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Cetti's heard only)

28th April 2011

2011-04-28T14:21:00.001-07:00

Goldcrest - Stewartby Lake Gullwatch

Gullwatch 5.30 -7.30pm

1 Hobby (MVCP Year Tick)

1 Oystercatcher - sailing club bank
3 Common Terns

Several House Martins (MVCP Year Tick) with small groups of Swallows

Several Buzzards over Rookery and 1-2 Grey Herons

MVCP Yearlist now 89 (With Cetti's Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler and Water Rail heard only)

10th April 2011

2011-04-10T15:28:00.000-07:00

Three Red Kites - a very poor shot showing all three birds, seen flying over Stewartby Lake from my parent's garden.

Starling - Access Track.

Thanks to a call from Neil Wright I saw two adult Little Gulls on Stewartby Lake about 10am. (MVCP year-tick)

In the afternoon 3 Red Kites drifted over Stewartby Lake as seen from my parent's garden. (Garden tick)

MVCP Year List now 87 (+ Water Rail, Cetti's Warbler and Grasshopper Warbler heard only)

9th April 2011

2011-04-09T15:22:00.000-07:00

Common Buzzard over Wetland 3

Speckled Wood - Pillinge

A very quiet day on the park. A few hours sky-watching from the visitors centre provided views of several Buzzards and a Peregrine distantly over Rookery.

8th April 2010

2011-04-08T15:07:00.000-07:00

White Wagtail - Sailing club lawn (8.30am)

Another White Wagtail - Jubilee Cottages overview in the afternoon

Dunnock - Jubilee Cottages allotments

Mute Swan - Stewartby Lake

Brimstone - Pillinge

Comma - Pillinge

A fairly quiet day on the park:

A white Wagtail on the Stewartby Lake sailing club lawn at 8.30am and another at the Jubilee Cottages overview about 5.55pm.

At least 20 Willow Warblers singing all around the MVCP as well as a few Blackcaps. (Both MVCP year-ticks)

2 Common Terns on Stewartby Lake in the afternoon. (Another MVCP year-tick)

A Red Kite seen distantly over Stewartby Tip at 5.30pm.

A grasshopper Warbler hear about 200 yards from the Jubilee Cottages overview at 6.30pm.

28th March 2011 - My MVCP Year List so far

2011-03-28T00:51:00.000-07:00

A list of the 83 bird species I've seen on the park so far this year (uncommon - rare species in bold): Red-throated Diver Little Grebe Great Crested Grebe Cormorant Bittern Little Egret Grey Heron Mute Swan Greylag Goose Canada Goose Wigeon Gadwall Teal Mallard Pintail Shoveler Pochard Tufted Duck Scaup Goldeneye Smew Red Kite Sparrowhawk Buzzard Kestrel Peregrine Pheasant Water Rail Moorhen Coot Oystercatcher Lapwing Woodcock Redshank Mediterranean Gull Black-headed Gull Common Gull Lesser Back-backed Gull Herring Gull Yellow-legged Gull Great Black-backed Gull Feral Pigeon Woodpigeon Collared Dove Great-spotted Woodpecker Green Woodpecker Kingfisher Skylark Sand Martin Swallow Meadow Pipit Grey Wagtail Pied Wagtail Wren Dunnock Robin Ring Ouzel Blackbird Fieldfare Song Thrush Blackbird Mistle Thrush Chiffchaff Goldcrest Blue Tit Great Tit Long-tailed Tit Jay Jackdaw Carrion Crow Rook Starling House Sparrow Chaffinch Greenfinch Goldfinch Siskin Linnet Lesser Redpoll Bullfinch Reed Bunting & Yellowhammer.

(Water Rail -heard only)

26th March 2011

2011-03-26T00:19:00.000-07:00

Male Ring Ouzel - in front of visitors centre cafe.

Red Kite - over the sewage works.

Swallow - over the sewage works.

Linnet - near visitors centre.

7am - 5pm

A successful day, starting with a Swallow over the sewage works from 8.05 -8.15am and a Little Egret seen flying over the visitors centre towards the Pillinge at 8.30am. A Woodcock flew past me at the Long Meadow heading towards the Pillinge at 10.30am. This was a long awaited MVCP tick for me, taking my MVCP list to 186 species. About 6 Sand Martins flew passed the visitors centre between 11am - noon. Neil Wright and I then spent some time looking through a mixed flock of Yellowhamers, Reed Buntings, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits on the field behind the sewage works but nothing unusual was seen amongst them. Neil then picked up a Red Kite drifting over the sewage works towards Stewartby Lake about 12.30pm.

A male Ring Ouzel appeared in the field in front of the visitors centre at 1.40pm, but was only there for about a minute before being flushed by some kids. 4 Cetti's Warblers were heard singing during the day. (1 near the gullwatch, 1 at the Marston corner of Stewartby Lake and 2 on Wetland 3.) Finally a mixed group of Swallows and Sand Martins were seen flying over Wetland 3 late afternoon.

5th March 2011

2011-03-05T11:09:00.000-08:00

10.30am -4pm

Highlights

Cetti's Warbler heard at the Jubliee Cotages end of WL9
20+ Fieldfares in the Long Meadow around midday
c15 Wigeon near the access track
c1500 gulls in the Long Meadow until around 3.45pm
40+ Linnets near the sewage works late afternoon
A panorama made from photos showing the view from the Jubilee Cottages outlook.
Around 1500 gulls in the Long Meadow

A digiscoped video of some Wigeon near the access track.
Cormorants on the Pillinge.
Great Black-backed Gulls on the Pillinge

Some of the 40+ Linnets near the sewage works.

4th March 2011

2011-03-04T13:21:00.000-08:00

9am - 6pm

Highlights
c30 Siskins & c20 Lesser Redpolls in the sewage works copse
1 Oystercatcher & 1000+ gulls (mainly Black-headed & Common) in the Long Meadow
At least 2 adult Mediterranean gulls in the Stewartby Lake gull roost, of which I saw one. (No sign of the Glaucous Gull that had been around last week)

At least 1000 gulls resting in the Long Meadow around 3pm.

A female Siskin digiscoped in the sewage works copse.

Reeds in the sunshine...

6th February 2011

2011-02-06T08:56:00.000-08:00

Another windy day...

I spent most of my time around the wetlands, mainly in the Pillinge and WL3 hides taking some digiscoped videos. I also saw an adult Mediterranean Gull in the Stewartby Lake gull roost in the afternoon:

Adult Mediterranean Gull in the Stewartby Lake gullroost

Redshank - videoed from the Pillinge hide

Little Grebe - videoed from the Pillinge hide

A pair of Gadwall - videoed from the WL3 hide.

5th February 2011

2011-02-05T08:47:00.000-08:00

Guided Walk 8 - 11am
There was a pretty good turn-out of about 12 people for the walk this morning, especially considering the damp and windy conditions. The highlight was probably a Chiff-chaff found by Bob Hook near the sewage works, the first one any of us of us had seen on the park in 2011. We also had good scope views of a Redwing near the visitors centre.

There were three different Mediterranean Gulls in the Stewartby Lake gullroost in the afternoon. A 1st year, an adult and another one that was probably a 2nd year bird.

3rd January 2011

2011-01-03T15:02:00.000-08:00

A fairly short visit to the gullwatch provided views of 3 Scaup. The Red-throated Diver was not seen today. Other people also saw the 4th Scaup, at least 1 Bittern and the Smew.

2nd January 2011

2011-01-02T14:06:00.000-08:00

A digi-scoped image of the Red-throated Diver

Another digi-scoped image.

A photo taken with my DSLR, this shows how small the diver looked...

A few photos of the rather good sunrise this morning, taken from the Stewartby Lake gullwatch.

The Red-throated Diver was still present at least well into the afternoon. Unfortunately, as yesterday, it was well out from the edge of the lake again today...

I also saw all four of the Scaup together in the Marston corner this afternoon, the first time I have seen them all together. The Smew was comuting between the scrapyard and Marston corners of Stewartby Lake. I had a Peregrine on one of the chimneys late morning. I didn't see any Bitterns today, but at least two were seen by other people.

I caught up with a few common birds that I had missed yesterday:

Kestrel

Green Woodpecker (only heard yesterday)

Pied and Grey Wagtails (sewage works)

House Sparrow

Meadow Pipit (sewage works)

1st January 2011

2011-01-01T09:56:00.001-08:00

Red-throated Diver - Found by Paul Nye on Stewartby Lake.

My intended day-listing around the park was interupted when I got a call to say that Paul Nye had found the above Red-throated Diver on Stewartby Lake. I watched the bird for a couple of hours in the hope that it would swim near to one of the banks but unfortunately it stayed in the middle of the lake. If it still there tomorrow I hoping it will be a bit more co-operative...

Before the diver was found I had seen a Bittern and a couple Scaup near the Marston corner of Stewartby Lake. I also had distant views of the female Smew - and saw the male Pintail which was still in the Marston corner stream outlet to Stewartby Lake. I cut the day short about 1.30pm as the weather was pretty cold and drizzly but still ended up having seen and/or heard 52 species in the park and my parent's garden.

31st December 2010

2010-12-31T17:02:00.000-08:00

Three Scaup (with a Tufted Duck behind them)

A flock of 60 Wigeon on Stewartby Lake

A slightly closer view of the Wigeon flock.

A bank of fog across the middle of Stewartby Lake, seen from the gullwatch.

Highlights:

3 sightings of Bitterns today, at least two different birds present.

4 Scaup - time first time I've seen all 4 of these birds in one day.

The redhead Smew was also seen again today, but not by me. a flock of about 60 Wigeon were in the centre of Stewartby Lake around 11.30am and the male Pintail was in the stream outlet at the Marston corner again around 8.45am. Cetti's Warbler heard singing, and Water Rail also heard - both in the Marston corner of Stewartby Lake.

At least 4 Bullfinch in Bramble Meadow, Sparrowhawk seen twice from the visitors centre and a Buzzard was perched by the Pillinge around 1.20pm.

30th December 2010

2010-12-30T12:08:00.000-08:00

Video-grab of a group of Coot on a small piece of ice floating in the scrapyard corner of Stewartby Lake. And here is a short video:

Video-grab of a typical view of a Scaup on Stewartby Lake (asleep...)

Video-grab of a female-type Goldeneye - near the scrapyard corner of Stewartby Lake.

2 Scaup - One near the scrapyard corner, a different one near the gullwatch later. (At least three were seen by Roy Nye, who also saw the female Smew)

A good selection of duck were still present but the numbers were well down on previous days as the snow/ice had pretty much gone.

29th December 2010

2010-12-29T12:05:00.000-08:00

1 Bittern - Marston corner of Stewartby Lake (11am)
Bearded Tit - Heard only in wetland 3, early afternoon.

A walk round the Pillinge Lake revealed that all the berries had been stripped from the bushes, hence no thrushes (or Waxwings...) were present.

28th December 2010

2010-12-28T11:58:00.000-08:00

Guided Walk: (Started 8am)

About 15 people turned up for the guided walk. We saw 3 Bitterns at the Marston Corner of Stewartby Lake. Some people (but not me) also saw 2 Waxwings near the sewage works and the female Smew on Stewartby Lake.

27th December 2010

2010-12-27T09:36:00.001-08:00

This female Smew was found by John Lynch near the Stewartby Lake gullwatch. Here is a short video of the Smew:

Also seen today:

1 Dunlin, 1 Lapwing and 2 Redshank on the sailing club bank of Stewartby Lake
Bittern - 1 near the lagoon corner of Stewartby Lake
Water Rail - lagoon corner of Stewartby Lake
2 Foxes

I missed 4 Waxwings seen briefly by Steve Blain near the Sailing club bank of Stewartby Lake,and two more seen by Phil Candlish by Jubilee Cottages...

26th December 2010

2010-12-26T11:28:00.001-08:00

More Bitterns... :-)

The above is a video-grab from the following video taken at the marston corner of Stewartby Lake.

Also seen today:

Cetti's Warbler, Little Egret, Water Rails, male Pintail all in the marston corner of Stewartby Lake and a total of at least four Bitterns. I missed two Bewick's Swans which were seen on the lake, probably whilst I was trying to video the Bitterns...

25th December 2010 - White Xmas...

2010-12-25T09:02:00.000-08:00

This Little Egret was standing in the marston corner of Stewartby Lake. Here is a video of the egret:

http://vimeo.com/18170953

This Water Rail walked passed me in the marston corner of Stewartby Lake.

Also seen:

1 Bittern - more distantly this time...

Peregrine - on one of the chimneys

Kingfisher - in the marston corner of Stewartby Lake.

24th December 2010

2010-12-24T13:11:00.001-08:00

Another video grab of a Bittern on Stewartby Lake - There are currently 5 or 6 around the edge of the lake.

Two Scaup in the Marston Corner of Stewartby Lake.

Water Rail - Marston Corner of Stewartby Lake.

Here is some video of the Bittern:

http://vimeo.com/18158768

Also seen:

The male Pintail was still in the stream outlet at the marston corner of Stewartby Lake.

23rd December 2010

2010-12-23T13:57:00.001-08:00

Another Bittern video-grab, getting better now, this time with a fish... :-)

Male Pintail - in the Marston Corner stream outlet into Stewartby Lake.

Assorted birds on the ice near the scrapyard corner of Stewartby Lake.

Also seen today:

1 Scaup

1+Buzzard

Sparrowhawk

22nd December 2010

2010-12-22T12:53:00.000-08:00

Video grab of a Bittern on Stewartby Lake.

A snowy visitors centre...

A panorama taken from the Pillinge hide.

I arrived at the gullwatch about 8am. It started to snow about 8.05am and continued to snow until about 9.40am. I got the above video grab of the Bittern when it was walking on the ice not far from the Marston Corner of Stewartby Lake. During the rest of the day I also saw 2 female-type Scaup and a male Goosander.

13th December 2010

2010-12-13T15:23:00.000-08:00

Coal Tit - Stewartby Lake gullwatch

Fieldfare - near wetland 3

Jay - Feeding station near the Pillinge hide

Fox - Marston corner of Stewartby Lake.

I postponed my plans for an early start this morning as it was extremely foggy. Even by 9am when I got to Stewartby Lake the entire lake was still hidden in the fog. Just as I was leaving the gullwatch the Coal Tit appeared right in front of me for just long enough to get a few poor records shots of it in the very dull and foggy light. I also saw a Fox near the stream outlet in the Marston corner of Stewartby Lake.

I then walked round to the visitors centre to get a coffee and wait for the fog to lift. A Red Kite flew passed the centre about 11am but it disappeared too quickly for me to get any photos. I watched a Peregrine was sitting on one of the chimneys on the far side of Stewartby Lake for a few minutes before it took over and flew away towards the tip.

I then did a circuit of the Pillinge where I saw large numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares. There were 100s of both of these birds on the park all weekend. Again, no sight or sound of Bearded Tits or Cetti's Warblers...

12th December 2010

2010-12-12T15:04:00.000-08:00

Panorama taken from the wetland 3 bank of the Pillinge

Panorama taken from the Pillinge Hide

These panoramas are both made up of 8 or 9 photos taken on my Canon S95 compact digital camera and stitched together using Photoshop Elements 8. (These are both very compressed versions of these images, the originals have far more detail in them...)

The Coal Tit was still in my parent's garden this morning, and still refused to go on to the country park...

The Great Northern Diver was still on Stewartby Lake in the morning and later Neil Wright and I saw it fly over the Pillinge heading in the direction of Rookery.

A walk round the Pillinge failed to show any sight or sound of either Bearded Tits or Cetti's Warblers... Neil and I did see a Common Buzzard perched up in a bush on the far side of wetland 3 and I got some digiscoped video of it. As the bird was about 300 yards away I had to use the digital zoom on my compact camera:

http://www.vimeo.com/17900547

11th December 2010

2010-12-11T14:34:00.000-08:00

Dunlin - Pillinge Lake

Goosander - Stewartby Lake

Great Northern Diver - Stewartby Lake

I was pleased to see that the two female-type Goosanders were still present when I got to Stewartby Lake. I initially saw one of them from the gullwatch and then got a lift round to the sailing club bank where I took a couple of distant record shots of the Great Northern Diver.

Later I got a few, again rather poor, record shots of one of the Goosanders on Stewartby Lake not far from the visitors centre. These were the first Goosanders photos I have taken on the country park so I was pleased to get them even though they weren't great, and I was pretty sure I'd get the chance to get better ones over the long weekend. As it turned out these were the only photos I got of them...

Whilst I was watching the Goosander I had a phone cal from Bob Hook saying he had just found a Dunlin on the Pillinge, another bird I hadn't photographed on the park so I walked round to meet him. Fortunately, the bird was feeding on one of the small island when I got there and I got some digiscoped photos and video from about 100 yards range.

A Coal Tit appeared on the bird feeders at my parents in the afternoon. I had photographed one in their garden before, but not on the country park. Unfortunately, it spent the whole time in either my parent's or their next door neighbours garden this afternoon rather than venturing on to the park...

21st November 2010

2010-11-21T14:19:00.000-08:00

A still photo taken using my new Canon S95 compact digital camera attached to my Nikon ED50 scope. The photo was taken from the pillinge hide.

And a video of the same group of Lapwings and Teal taken with the S95/ED50 combination.

http://www.vimeo.com/17062629

The light was pretty dull and I'm pleased with both the still photo and particularly the video results... :-)

I also saw 5 Lesser Repolls near the Pillinge lake with Neil Wright and Bob Hook.

20th November 2010

2010-11-20T15:16:00.000-08:00

A group of 5 Lesser Redpolls were seen by Neil Wright, Bob Hook and myself between the Pillinge and the railway line. I also saw a Goldcrest in the same area, the first one I've seen on the park all year...

7th November 2010 More Bearded Tits!

2010-11-07T15:17:00.000-08:00

Today there were at least 12 Bearded Tits in Wetland 3. This time some of them posed very well for me in great light... :-)

6th November 2010 Bearded Tits!

2010-11-06T15:11:00.000-07:00

Roy Nye had seen two Bearded Tits at wetland 9 on the 4th November so I spent the morning trying to see if there were any still about. I'm very pleased to say that there were at least 8 Bearded Tits commuting between wetlands 9 and 3!... :-)

17th September 2010

2010-09-17T15:52:00.000-07:00

One of 3 Whinchats between wetlands 9 and 3

Snipe seen from the Jubilee Cottages overview

Migrant Hawker

16th September 2010

2010-09-16T16:11:00.000-07:00

Common Buzzard.

15th September 2010

2010-09-15T16:07:00.000-07:00

A Spotted Redshank on Rookery. This bird was found by Darren Oakley-Martin who kindly gave me a lift to see it... Photographed at very long range with my DLSR.

Four Little Egrets seen from the Jubilee Cottages overview.

14th September 2010

2010-09-14T14:49:00.000-07:00

A Shaggy Inkcap near Stewartby Lake

A record shot of a rather late Common Swift.

13th September 2010

2010-09-13T14:42:00.000-07:00

A Green Sandpiper seen from the Jubilee Cottages overview.

11th September 2010

2010-09-11T14:36:00.000-07:00

A Black Tern on Stewartby Lake.

30th August 2010

2010-08-30T14:23:00.000-07:00

This Common Lizard was at the Stewartby Lake gullwatch. It looked very small so I guess it was an immature lizard. It's the first lizard I've seen on the park for many years although I know other people have seen them occasionally.

29th August 2010

2010-08-29T14:28:00.000-07:00

A Whinchat on the wetlands

A Snipe on the access track pond.

A presumed Scaup x Tufted Duck hybrid on the access track pond.

28th August 2010

2010-08-28T15:34:00.000-07:00

A rather gorgeous (unenhanced) sunrise over Stewartby Lake.

A Common Darter on the brick sculpture near the pillinge.

A Meadow Brown - these butterflies are generally seen perching with their wings closed so I was please to get this shot...

27th June 2010

2010-06-26T15:28:00.000-07:00

A huge Privet Hawkmoth and a couple of photos of a Buff-Tip moth. Both were caught in Martin Palmer's moth trap that we ran overnight in my parents garden near Stewartby Lake.

8th May 2010

2010-05-08T13:29:00.000-07:00

A Rook calling from a telegraph wire.

Male Kestrel over wetland 3.

Common Buzzard over wetland 3.

Hobby over wetland 3.

The Hobby, Buzzard and Kestrel were all photographed over a 14 minute period (10.27am -10.41am) flying over wetland 3.

2nd May 2010

2010-05-02T13:25:00.000-07:00

A couple of poorish photos of the same extremely pale Common Tern that was present for several days. This bird, whilst fairly easily identifable at close range, did an annoyingly good Arctic Tern impression when it was halfway or more across Stewartby Lake....

A normal-looking adult Common Tern. These terns are almost constantly patrolling for small fry along the edge of Stewartby Lake over the Summer months.

1st May 2010

2010-05-01T15:12:00.000-07:00

A Cuckoo that did a close flypast of the gullwatch in the afternoon.

Three Oystercatchers flying over Stewartby Lake

A Turtle Dove.

Bob Hook leading a guided walk...

29th April 2010

2010-04-29T13:20:00.000-07:00

A montage of two very bad photos of a male Pintail on the sailing club bank of Stewartby Lake. The bird was initially seen from the gullwatch and (just) stayed put long enough to get a couple of photos as it flew back into Rookery. It is the only male Pintail I've photographed on the country park (so far...)

27th April 2010

2010-04-27T13:17:00.000-07:00

A male Smooth Newt in the Sensory Garden pond. The pond usually also contains a few of the rarer Great Crested Newt.

26th April 2010 - Wader-fest!

2010-04-26T15:06:00.000-07:00

Whimbrel - seen flying over the visitors centre mid afternoon. The only one I have ever photographed on the park...

Ringed Plover - on the sailing club bank of Stewartby Lake, again the only one I have photographed on the park.

The same Ringed Plover with a Common Sandpiper.

23rd April 2010

2010-04-23T14:59:00.000-07:00

The Cetti's Warbler appeared briefly in bushes near the Marston Corner of Stewartby Lake. It was there just long enough for me to take three photos, in one of which it was perfectly side-on posed, but unfortunately that was the one photo that was blurred... :-(

Green Hairstreaks are my favourite MVCP butterfly, this one was half way between the boardwalk near the visitors centre and the edge of Stewartby Lake.

22nd April 2010

2010-04-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

A Grasshopper Warbler singing near Jubilee Cottages.

A Barn Owl hunting near Jubilee Cottages - My first (semi) decent photo of one on the park.

A Robin investigating my scope in my parent's garden near Stewartby Lake.

21st April 2010

2010-04-21T14:43:00.000-07:00

This male Bullfinch was at the entrance to bramble meadow near the pillinge lake. The bird was feeding just the other side of a bush from me so I managed to get the photos without spooking it. I was very pleased to finally get some decent photo of these normally very unapproachable birds.

20th April 2010

2010-04-20T14:38:00.000-07:00

Common Gull

Meadow Pipit.

Yellow Wagtail.

The above birds were all on the sailing club bank of Stewartby Lake.

18th April 2010

2010-04-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

This Jackdaw was by the country park access track.

16th April 2010

2010-04-16T14:29:00.000-07:00

The Moon and Venus over Stewartby Lake. Taken using my Canon 500D DSLR and 100-400mm lens. Just a bit of a change of subject...

17th March 2010

2010-03-17T11:42:00.000-07:00

A Carrion Crow mobbing a Common Buzzard.

A Redshank on the sailing club bank of Stewartby Lake.

A male Pheasant at the feed station near the pillinge hide.

A Canada Goose near the cafe.

6th March 2010

2010-03-06T10:50:00.000-08:00

Redshank - Digiscoped from the pillinge hide using my Nikon ED50 scope and Nikon Coolpix 4500 compact camera.

Blue Tit.

Canada Geese on the pond in front of the cafe.

A pre-roost gathering of gulls sometimes appears on the Long Meadow, this one involved perhaps more birds that normal.

17th January 2010 - Bittern!

2010-01-17T10:39:00.000-08:00

The Bittern was in the reedbed in the Marston corner of Stewartby Lake. It was extremely hard to see even though it was only about 10 metres from the path so Neil Wright did incredibly well to pick it out. This is only the second Bittern I have seen on the country park, the other one being in almost the same place in the mid 1980s, so I was very pleased to get this photo even though it is not great...The other photos show the partially frozen pillinge lake.

16th January 2010

2010-01-16T13:49:00.000-08:00

A very good day at the country park... The male Smew had been found the day before and I was very glad that it hung around long enough for me to see it. The Great Northern Diver finally came close enough for some reasonable photos and the Redshank was photographed from inside the cafe!

2nd January 2010

2010-01-02T11:11:00.000-08:00

White-fronted Goose on the pillinge. I took a "view-shot" of the pillinge which included this mega-rare bird. Unfortunately, I didn't realise the bird was in the photo until that evening and it wasn't there the next day... :-(

13th December 2009

2009-12-13T10:20:00.000-08:00

This is a Slavonian Grebe (honest!) found by Martin Palmer at dusk on Stewartby Lake. Unfortunately, it was not there the next day...

Two of a small group of Lesser Redpolls in the sewage works plantation.

Male Bullfinch.

12th December 2009

2009-12-12T10:12:00.000-08:00

Treecreeper - A very scarce visitor to the park, this one was initially picked up on call by Neil Wright.

An "arty" sepia-toned photo of some sedges by the gullwatch...

The visitors centre.

The view from in foront of the visitors centre.

12th November 2009

2009-11-12T10:50:00.000-08:00

A male Great Spotted Woodpecker.

A Redshank near the pillinge hide.

11th November 2009

2009-11-11T10:48:00.000-08:00

A (very) slighty better shot of a Caspian Gull in the Stewartby Lake gull roost.

10th November 2009

2009-11-10T10:42:00.000-08:00

Immature Kittiwake in the Stewartby Lake gull roost.

Redwing.

A distant record shot of a male Stonechat.

8th November 2009

2009-11-08T10:38:00.000-08:00

This Caspian Gull was in the gull roost on Stewartby Lake.

7th November 2009

2009-11-07T10:35:00.000-08:00

This Oyster fungus was near the sewage works.

A Meadow Pipit near Stewartby Lake in very good light.

27th September 2009

2009-09-27T07:02:00.000-07:00

This Peregrine spent at least 2 hours perched on a pylon near the access track. Enough time for Phil Candlish to come over and see it too. Thanks to Phil for letting me use his 600mm lens to take this photo.

26th September 2009 - Leach's Petrel!

2009-09-26T06:50:00.000-07:00

I was at home in Abingdon when I got a text saying Pete Smith had found a petrel on Stewartby Lake. As I hadn't seen either of Storm Petrel or Leach's Petrel on the lake, and I love seeing seabirds there I was very soon in a taxi heading for Milton Keynes where I was picked up by my parents and taken to the visitors centre. I was very relieved that the petrel, which by then had been confirmed as a Leach's, was still present and hadn't been chased off or killed by the gulls. The bird was being harassed by gulls most of the time it stayed on the lake and it eventually left shortly before sunset. What was presumed to be the same bird was seen the next day at Wilstone reservoir near Tring, Hertfordshire.

19th September 2009

2009-09-19T06:29:00.000-07:00

A Snipe diving in towards the reeds by the pond in front of the cafe.

A Kingfisher between wetlands 3 and 9.

A Green Sandpiper on the pond in front of the cafe.

8th August 2009

2009-08-08T06:40:00.000-07:00

Painted Lady - Sensory Garden near visitors centre

Common Blue

Peacock

Long-tailed Tit

26th June 2009

2009-06-26T06:14:00.000-07:00

A Little Egret that appeared on the pond in front of the cafe briefly.

Marbled White

Marsh(?) Mallow

Meadow Brown

Female Mallard

25th June 2009

2009-06-25T06:08:00.000-07:00

Bee Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid and Ringlet butterfly.

31st May 2009

2009-05-31T15:03:00.000-07:00

2.30pm -5pm

An afternoon visit prompted by a phone call from Dave Ball to say he had found a Broad-bodied Chaser near the visitors centre. - The last of the 19 species of dragonflies / damselflies that I know to have occurred on the country park that I hadn't photographed....

Fortunately, the dragonfly was still there when I arrived and I managed to get a few reasonable photos... :-)male Broad-bodied Chaser - near visitors centre

30th May 2009

2009-05-30T14:21:00.000-07:00

7am - 6pm, then moth trapping from 8.45pm - 1.20am

7am - 6pm

Highlights:

A pretty quiet day on the bird-front, good views of a Whitethroat and a Robin near the Marston Corner, and 2 Osytercatchers seen on the clubhouse Lawn

Red-veined Darters - 2 found by Dave Ball on the pond outside the cafe - possibly only the second UK sighting this year!

Also seen Large Red, Azure and Common Blue Damselflies, Hairy Hawkers, Four-spotted Chasers and a Black-tailed Skimmer

Moth Trapping

Absolutely brilliant!!

c15 Elephant Hawkmoths

3 Lime Hawkmoths

2 Eyed Hawkmoths

2 Privet Hawkmoths

1 Poplar Hawkmoth

(also a Barn Owl seen at beginning of moth trapping)

A few photos of a co-operative male Whitethroat - Marston corner of Stewartby Lake
Robin - Marston corner of Stewartby Lake Red-veined Darter - near cafeCommon Blue Butterflies

Large Red Damselfly
male Black-tailed Skimmer

Common Spotted Orchid - Stewartby LakeA few shots of Elephant Hawkmoths Poplar Hawkmoth
Eyed HawkmothLime Hawkmoths

Privet Hawkmoth

18th May 2009

2009-05-18T14:20:00.000-07:00

My MVCP yearlist to date (118):

Black-necked Grebe
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Cormorant
Grey Heron
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Shelduck
Wigeon
Gadwall
Teal
Mallard
Garganey
Shoveler
Red-crested Pochard
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Scaup
Common Scoter
Red-breasted Merganser
Osprey
Red Kite
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Marsh Harrier
Kestrel
Hobby
Peregrine
Pheasant
Grey Partridge
Water Rail
Moorhen
Coot
Oystercatcher
Lapwing
Snipe
Redshank
Common Sandpiper
Curlew
Whimbrel
Bar-tailed Godwit
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Caspian Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
Iceland Gull
Kittiwake
Common Tern
Arctic Tern
Sandwich Tern
Little Tern
Black Tern
Arctic Skua
Feral Pigeon
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Stock Dove
Turtle Dove
Cuckoo
Barn Owl
Swift
Kingfisher
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Skylark
House Martin
Sand Martin
Swallow
Meadow Pipit
Grey Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Whinchat
Stonechat
Wheatear
Mistle Thrush
Blackbird
Fieldfare
Song Thrush
Redwing
Cetti's Warbler
Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Blackcap
Garden Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Grasshopper Warbler
Reed Warbler
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Goldcrest
Long-tailed Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Jay
Magpie
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin
Lesser Redpoll
Bullfinch
Linnet
Yellowhammer
Reed Bunting

15th May 2009

2009-05-15T13:55:00.000-07:00

Highlights:
Black Tern - 1 briefly on Stewartby Lake mid afternoon
3+ Green Hairstreak - Stewartby Lake near sewage works stream outlet
Newly emerged Four-Spotted Chaser - Sensory Garden
Cinnabar Moth - near boardwalk

Newly emerged Four-spotted Chaser climbing away from casing - Sensory Garden

List of the 88 species of bird seen in last two weeks (additions to my MVCP yearlist in bold):

Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Cormorant
Grey Heron
Mute Swan
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Gadwall
Mallard
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Shelduck
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Marsh Harrier
Red Kite
Kestrel
Hobby
Peregrine
Pheasant
Grey Partridge
Moorhen
Coot
Oystercatcher
Lapwing
Redshank

Common Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Bar-tailed Godwit
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Common Tern
Arctic Tern
Little Tern
Black Tern
Feral Pigeon
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Stock Dove
Turtle Dove

Cuckoo
Barn Owl

Swift
Kingfisher
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Skylark
Pied Wagtail
Yellow Wagtail
Wren
House Martin
Sand Martin
Swallow
Dunnock
Robin
Whinchat
Mistle Thrush
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Cetti's Warbler (heard only)
Blackcap
Garden Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Reed Warbler

Grasshopper Warbler
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Skylark
Long-tailed Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Magpie
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Bullfinch
Linnet
Yellowhammer
Reed Bunting

14th May 2009

2009-05-14T13:47:00.000-07:00

Highlights:
6.30 - 8.30am Gullwatch
1 Whimbrel flew over, headed off over the scrapyard corner

3 - 6.15pm
1st summer Common Gull and a close-in Great-crested Grebe - Stewartby Lake sluice
Buzzard - Marston corner of Stewartby Lake (3.30pm)
Turtle Dove flew past gullwatch towards Marston corner (6.05pm)

Great Crested Grebe - Stewartbly Lake sluice

1st summer Common Gull - Stewartby Lake sluice

13th May 2009

2009-05-13T11:40:00.000-07:00

Highlights:

A very enjoyable & productive day... :-)

4 Ruff-sized waders - seen about 6.30am from the gullwatch -they flew along the far clubhouse bank and disappeared into Rookery

53+ Arctic Terns - Groups of 11, 14, 20 & 8 (= 53) with another group of 20 about 10 minutes after the first group of 20 - although these birds flew in from the West (over the MVCP Visitors Centre) and departed to the East (over sluice) as all the other groups did I have not included them in my total in case the first group of 20 doubled back on itself...

2 Bar-tailed Godwits - flew in at the same time and headed off in the same direction as the group of 8 Arctic Terns

3 Little Terns - I found 2 of the birds and Dave Odell independently found the other bird. It wasn't until about 5 minutes after the two of us met up at the sluice that we realised that there were actually 3 birds present.

Peregrine - 1 on the Chimneys found by Dave Odell.

Turtle Dove -Stewartby Lake sluice

A few photos of the Little Terns, excellent birds...

Two of the groups of Arctic Terns A very poor record shot of one of the two very smart summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwits

Turtle Dove - Stewartby Lake sluice

12th May 2009

2009-05-12T22:26:00.000-07:00

Highlights:

Six raptor species - Marsh Harrier, Hobby, Kestrel, Peregrine, Sparowhawk & Buzzard
7 Probably Arctic Terns seen flying across far end of Stewartby Lake from the gullwatch
4+ Green Hairstreaks - Stewartby Lake near sewage works stream lake outlet
Cuckoo & 2 Stock Doves - Wetland 9
2 Kingfishers - gullwatch

Marsh Harrier - Wetland 2
Buzzard - Wetland 3Kestrel - Stewartby LakeMagpieGreen Hairstreak - Stewartby LakePeacock - near entrance to gullwatch

11th May 2009

2009-05-11T12:26:00.000-07:00

Highlights:
2 Grey Partridge - between Wetlands 3 & 9
c. 8 Common Terns - Stewartby Lake
Redshank (heard only) near Visitors Centre
2 Oystercatchers - Clubhouse lawn
Many small parties of Swifts flying around

Butterflies:
Small Heath, Common Blue, Orange Tip, Dingy & Grizzled Skipper - Stewartby Lake

Odonata:
Four Spotted Chasers, Hairy Dragonflies and Azure Damselfly

Common Tern - Stewartby Lake

Grey Partridge - between Wetlands 3 & 9
Four-spotted Chaser - near Sewage worksLarge Red Damselfly - Sensory GardenCanada Geese -near Visitors Centre

10th May 2009

2009-05-10T12:19:00.000-07:00

Highlights:
Arrived at lake at 10am missing the 2 Black Terns that had been seen at 9-9.50am
c.6 Common Terns present
2 Oystercatchers first seen on Clubhouse lawn, then in flight over the edge of Stewartby lake near the Visitors Centre
Peregrine - Flying near the brickwork chimneys Green Hairstreak, Dingy & Grizzled Skippers 1+ Hobby - over railway line
Oystercatcher - Stewartby Lake
Green Hairstreak - Stewartby Lake
Large Red Damselfly - Boardwalk

9th May 2009

2009-05-09T12:11:00.000-07:00

Guided Walk 8 - 11am
Highlights:
Whinchat near edge of Stewartby Lake just past boardwalk
Red Kite over Pillinge

I then went on a successful trip to see the Temminck's Stint at Castle Mills before going back to the Country Park in the afternoon

Whinchat - Stewartby Lake

Willow Warbler -Between Visitors Centre & Sewage works
Four-spotted Chaser - Stewartby Lake

Common Blue - Stewartby Lake

8th May 2009

2009-05-08T12:49:00.000-07:00

Gullwatch - Centre - Pillinge
Highlights
Chinese Water Deer near Visitors Centre - 6.30am
Red Kite - over Pillinge (7.20am)
Green Hairstreak - on edge of Stewartby Lake near Visitors Centre
Hobby - Wetland 9

Red Kite - Pillinge

Green Hairstreak - Stewartby Lake

SwiftJackdaw - near Long Meadow

Yellowhammer - Visitors Centre
Chaffinch - BoardwalkChinese Water Deer - Visitors Centre

7th May 2009

2009-05-07T12:42:00.000-07:00

Lunchtime visit to Boardwalk
2 Hairy Dragonflies & 1 Reed Bunting seen

Gullwatch (6.30 - 7.15pm)
2 Probable Whimbrel
c. 5 Common Terns

Access Track (7.15 -8.15pm)
Grey Heron

6th May 2009

2009-05-06T12:26:00.000-07:00

5.40am - 6.40pm
Gullwatch - Centre -Pillinge - Millbrook Station
Highlights:
Gullwatch 5.40am
c. 6 Common terns
2 singing Garden Warblers - one halfway from gullwatch to Marston Corner, the other in Marston Corner
1 Shelduck - flew out of Wetland 9 (8.10am)
Cetti's Warbler (heard only) & Sparrowhawk (Pillinge)
3+ Hobbys & 1 Buzzard - over Rookery
3 Dingy & 5-6 Grizzled Skippers near lagoon corner mounds

Garben Warbler - Marston Corner
Whitethroat - Marston Corner
Stickleback - Sensory Garden Pond

Blue-tailed Damselfly - Boardwalk near Visitors Centre
Grizzled Skipper

5th May 2009

2009-05-05T12:04:00.000-07:00

10.30am - 4.20pm

Visitor's Centre - Pillinge - Visitor's Centre - Gullwatch

Highlights:

Hobby - 1 Pillinge, 3+ over Rookery

Buzzard & Common Sandpiper - Pillinge

Azure & Large Red Damselfly, Orange Tip & Speckled Wood butterflies - Pillinge

Common Sandpiper - Pillinge

Canada Goose - Visitor's Centre
Common Tern - Stewartby Lake
Female Azure Damselfly - Pillinge