In the "See 100 sp each month in Beds", I started well with 107 albeit missed Treecreeper, Water Rail, GBB Gull & Mandarin Duck so could have been better! Highlights were Short-eared Owl, Brambling, GN Diver, Hen Harrier, Ring-necked Duck & Velvet Scoter. Back to zero for Feb !

Not a bird we see every day in Beds and often not as close as this one. A 2nd winter Caspian Gull at Broom East CWS which has been terrifying all and sundry for the past 3 weeks!

In Round 2 of "the see 100 sp in Bedfordshire every month" Feb produced 106 sp for me, with no major highlights, although the first Ringed Plover of the "spring" arrived. Hopefully our weather improves for an influx in March ! #fantastic February

Round 3 of the 100 sp challenge saw 117 sp seen in March, helped by a few early migrants. Some good birds being American Wigeon, Firecrest, RB Merganser, SEO and Woodcock, but the one I am hoping will get accepted is a Black Kite which flew over me on Saturday ! Fingers crossed

A magical day today ! First Matt Kirkland found a Lesser Grey Shrike in Herts (1st County record if accepted by BBRC) just outside Beds and then an amazing aurora display seen from my Sandy garden - a first for me !

This is brilliant news and a real milestone for the project. Let’s hope she and 374 pair up later in the summer

In the 100 species challenge, a quiet May in Beds managed 114 species (1 down on 2023) the highlight finding a dark morph Montagu's Harrier over Broom East. 153 sp in Beds for the year, but some notable gaps ! Nothing beat seeing the aurora though. Now for June. 🤞

So Twitter (it will never be 'X' for me) have reached a new low ! They have made "likes" private so recipients cannot tell who has liked their post. How utterly ridiculous! If someone likes a post, it is implied that they have consented to identify themselves by liking. GROW UP !

In June's 100sp Challenge, I managed 111sp in Bedfordshire - nothing too unusual albeit early departing migrants included Redstart, Wheatear, Short-eared Owl with a Black-tailed Godwit (possibly the 1st one in 2024 in the County) being a surprise. 2 Cattle Egrets late on too.

There is a funky looking Marsh Harrier fledgling on RSPB Otmoor. Well worth a look at despite it staying fairly distant over the reedbed. BirdGuides Oxford Ornithological Society RSPB BBO Wildlife Trust Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre BBC Springwatch

St Agnes holiday into its' last few days but has been enjoyable even if the weather hasn't been classic. Best birds have been 2 Olive-backed Pipits together with the usual collection of Yellow-browed Warblers, Firecrest, Pied, Spotted and Red-breasted Flycatchers, Wryneck.

As our holiday in St Agnes, Scilly draws to a close, we can reflect on a few good birds, seeing the Aurora & this evening the Comet! Friday we try to get home but the weather is not promising. 2 OBPs, Rb, Spotted & Pied Flys, Wryneck, Osprey, Yellow-brows the best this year.

So the 100sp a month in Beds Challenge draws to a close, with November producing 106sp for me incl Avocet, Grn-Winged Teal, Cattle Egret, GN Diver, Jack Snipe & Knot all being good for the time of year. Beds list stands at 169 & probably little else to add apart from a Parakeet !

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So I am moving to Bluesky following the antics of Twitter and Musk. Sad to move on but it is time so if you want to follow me, my handle in Bluesky is peternashbeds.bsky.social

A very sad day today as we lost a giant character, Spyder our loyal Belgian Shepherd who, at the grand age of 14 and 4 months was still mentally strong but legs failing. The house already seems empty, the rest of the pack are very quiet. Thanks, big fella for enriching our lives.

I am delighted to announce the new avifauna “The Birds of Bedfordshire” covering the period up to the end of 2022 with 2023 & 2024 highlights included is available to order at a special price of £45 for collection at the launch event or £52.95 posted to a UK address. (cont)

(cont2) After 31st December 2025 the price will rise to £50 & £57.95 respectively. To order and see more details please go to the Bird Club website bedsbirdclub.org.uk/event/the-bird…

Yesterday the delivery of The Birds of Bedfordshire happened ahead of the formal launch on 4th October at Clophill Lakes. Four years of hard work by Tony Ploszajski & a small support team. Details of how to purchase attached. Very excited! bnhs.co.uk/2019/publicati…