The Bedfordshire Bird Report is published annually by the Bedfordshire Natural History Society and forms Part 2 of the The Bedfordshire Naturalist – the Society’s Journal. The Beds Bird Report was first published in 1946.
The Current Bird Report for 2020
The bird report for 2020 was published in February 2022 and distributed free to all Bird Club members, comprising 136 pages and in full colour throughout. Front cover shows the singing Marsh Warbler near Girtford by Steve Blain
For non-members, The 2020 Bedfordshire Bird Report can be obtained by sending a cheque for £15.00 payable to “Bedfordshire Natural History Society” to the address below:
Andy Grimsey
61 Wychwood Avenue
Tel: 07402429312
Please also contact Andy for copies of any historical reports which may be available or visit the BNHS website publications page
Articles include:
- The Birding Year 2020 by Peter Nash
- Systematic List for 2020
- The Breeding Bird Survey in Bedfordshire 2020 by Richard Bashford
- Ringing Report 2020 by Alan Garner
- Marsh Warblers breeding at Girtford 2020 by Steve Blain
- Red-flanked Bluetail – first for Bedfordshire by Dave Barnes
- Bedfordshire Rookeries 2020 by Roger Hicks
- Report of the Bird Club committees
- Proceedings of the Club 2020
- Gazetteer of Bedfordshire Sites
Previous Bird Reports
2019
The bird report for 2019 was published in January 2021 and distributed free to all Bird Club members, comprising 136 pages and in full colour throughout. Front cover shows the Black-throated Thrush at Whipsnade by Mark Rayment
The 2019 Bedfordshire Bird Report can be obtained by sending a cheque for £15.00 (inc postage) payable to “Bedfordshire Natural History Society” to the address below:
Andy Grimsey
61 Wychwood Avenue
Tel: 07402429312
Please also contact Andy for copies of any historical reports which may be available
Articles include:
- The Birding Year 2019 by Peter Nash
- Systematic List for 2019
- Nocmig – nocturnal migration recording by Steve Blain
- The Breeding Bird Survey in Bedfordshire 2019 by Richard Bashford
- Ringing Report 2019 by Alan Garner
- The Hawfinch Influx winter 2017/18 by Matt Burgess
- Black-throated Thrush at Whipsnade Zoo – first for Bedfordshire by Dave Allen & Steve Blain
- Corn Buntings at Henlow Grange by Roger Hicks
- Thirty-five years or recordng birds at Courtlands Drive, Biggleswade by Graham & Carla Goodall
- Report of the Bird Club committees
- Proceedings of the Club 2019
- Gazetteer of Bedfordshire Sites
2018
The bird report for 2018 was published in January 2020 and distributed free to all Bird Club members at the start of February 2020, comprising 144 pages and in full colour throughout. Front cover shows a Black Redstart by Roy McDonald.
The 2018 Bedfordshire Bird Report can be obtained by sending a cheque for £10.00 (inc postage) payable to “Bedfordshire Natural History Society” to the address below:
Mary Sheridan (BNHS Membership Secretary)
28 Chestnut Hill, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard LU7 2TR
Tel: 01525 378245
Email: membership@bnhs.org.uk
Please also contact Mary for copies of any historical reports
Articles include:
- The Birding Year 2018 by Barry Nightingale
- Systematic List for 2018
- The Breeding Bird Survey in Bedfordshire by Barry Nightingale
- Common Rosefinch in Dunstable – first for Bedfordshire by Paul Brown
- Richards Pipit – new for Bedfordshire by Steve Blain
- European Nightjars at The Lodge RSPB by Mark Brandon
- Ten Years of the Great Duck Hunt 2009-2018 by Steve Blain
- Bedfordshire Rookeries 2018 by Roger Hicks
- RSPB Farmland Bird Plots, Sandy Heath by Graham Goodall
- Occurrences of rare birds in Bedfordshire by Barry Nightingale
- Gazetteer of Bedfordshire Sites
2017
The bird report for 2017 was published in December 2018, comprising 140 pages and in full colour throughout. Front cover shows a Barn Owl by Steve Blain.
Articles include:
- The Birding Year 2017 by Barry Nightingale
- Systematic List for 2017
- The Breeding Bird Survey in Bedfordshire by Richard Bashford
- Ringing report for 2017 by Kevin Middleton
- Little Bunting at Great Barford – first for Bedfordshire by Ross Ahmed
- Cattle Egret – new for Bedfordshire 2017 by Andy Grimsey
- Ortolan Bunting sound recorded at night by Steve Blain
- Bearded Tit with brown eyes breeding in Bedfordshire by Steve Blain
- Bean Geese in Bedfordshire by Barry Nightingale
- Stratton Park Balancing Pond- a county wildlife site by Graham Goodall
- Waterways Breeding Bird Survey 2017 by Graham Goodall
- Occurrences of rare birds in Bedfordshire by Barry Nightingale
- Gazetteer of Bedfordshire Sites
2016
The bird report for 2016 was published in December 2017, comprising 156 pages and for the first time full colour throughout rather than with plates arranged together.
Articles include:
- The Birding Year 2016 by Barry Nightingale
- Systematic List for 2016
- How are our common birds doing ? The Breeding Bird Survey in Bedfordshire by Richard Bashford & Barry Nightingale
- Ringing report for 2016 by Kevin Middleton
- Little Bittern at Millenium CP by Steve Northwood
- Rose-coloured Starling at Caddington by Steve Blain
- Birds added to the Bedfordshire List since 1946 by Barry Nightingale
- Ivel Valley Barn Owl Project 2003-2015 by Amanda Proud
- Forest of Marston Vale – Millenium Country Park by Anna Charles
- Occurrences of rare birds in Bedfordshire by Barry Nightingale
- Gazetteer of Bedfordshire Sites
Illustrations:
- the excellent cover photo is of a Waxwing taken by Sean d’Arcy
- photographs of Rose-coloured Starling by Steve Blain and Yellowhammer by Sean D’Arcy are on the inside front cover
- a stunning photograph of Lesser Redpoll by Sean adorns the back cover
- produced in full colour, other photographs are spread throughout the report
2015
The bird report for 2015 was published in December 2016, comprising 128 pages and eight pages of colour plates.
Articles include:
- The Birding Year 2015 by Barry Nightingale
- Systematic List
- How are our common birds doing ? The Breeding Bird Survey in Bedfordshire by Richard Bashford
- Ringing report for 2015 by Katie Fuller
- Bird surveys at Church Dunton by Graham Goodall
- Population Status of Birds on the Bedfordshire list by Barry Nightingale
- Rooks and Rookeries in Bedfordshire in 2015 by Roger Hicks
- BTO House Martin Survey in 2015 by Roger Hicks
- Corn Bunting songposts by Roger Hicks
- Gazetteer of Bedfordshire Sites
- Occurrences of rare birds in Bedfordshire by Barry Nightingale
Illustrations:
- the excellent cover photo is of a Jay taken by Sean d’Arcy
- photographs of Goldcrest and Whinchat adorn the back cover
- colour photos on the inside front cover of Great Northern Diver and the last known Lady Amherst Pheasant
- there are eight colour plates containing photos of some of our best birds of the year and great studies of commoner species
- also three black and white photos and 13 superb line drawings kindly provided by Jan Wilczur
2014
The bird report for 2014 was published in December 2015, comprising a record 168 pages.
Articles include:
- The Birding Year 2014 by Barry Nightingale
- Systematic List
- Monitoring our common birds: The Breeding Bird Survey in Bedfordshire by Richard Bashford
- Ringing report for 2014 by Katie Fuller
- Little Egrets Breeding at Blunham Lakes by Steve Blain
- Barred Warbler at Blows Downs – first for Bedfordshire by John Lynch
- Lesser Grey Shrike at Biggleswade Common by Martin Palmer
- Corn Bunting Survey 2014 by Graham Goodall
- Breeding Birds new to Bedfordshire by Peter Smith and Barry Nightingale
- The Rise and Fall of Bedfordshire’s Gull Roosts by Barry Nightingale
- Occurrences of rare birds in Bedfordshire by Barry Nightingale
Illustrations:
- the excellent cover photo is of a Barred Warbler in Bedfordshire taken by Mike Lawrence
- photographs of Penduline Tit and Lesser Grey Shrike adorn the back cover
- there are two more colour photos on the inside front cover
- there are eight colour plates containing photos of some of our best birds of the year and great studies of commoner species
- there are four black and white photos
- the report is adorned by 21 superb line drawings kindly provided by Jan Wilczur and Nick Sinden
2013
The bird report for 2013 was published in December 2014, comprising a record 168 pages.
Articles include:
- The Birding Year 2013 by Barry Nightingale
- Systematic List
- Monitoring our common birds: The Breeding Bird Survey in Bedfordshire by Richard Bashford
- Southill revisited by Conor Jameson
- Ringing report for 2013 by Katie Fuller
- An unexpected visitor to Brogborough Lake becomes a potential lunch victim by John Lynch
- The effect of a very cold March and early April 2013 on the arrival of regular summer visitors at Priory Country Park by David Kramer
- The BTO Woodcock Survey 2013 by Judith Knight
- Breeding Birds lost to Bedfordshire by Peter Smith and Barry Nightingale
- Rooks and Rookeries in Bedfordshire by Roger Hicks
- New Year Day in Bedfordshire 2003 – 2013 by Roger Hicks
- Occurrences of rare birds in Bedfordshire by Barry Nightingale
Illustrations:
- the excellent cover photo is of a Spoonbill taken by Mike Lawrence
- superb photographs of Siskin and Whinchat adorn the back cover
- there are two more colour photos on the inside front cover
- there are four colour plates containing photos of some of our best birds of the year and great studies of commoner species
- there are four black and white photos
- the report is adorned by 30 superb line drawings kindly provided by Jan Wilczur, Nick Sinden and Mike Langman
2012
The previous report is for 2012 and was published in December 2012, comprising of 132 pages. Copies are still available for non-members on application to the Membership Secretary as detailed above at a price of £10.00
Articles include:
- Monitoring our common birds: The Breeding Bird Survey in Bedfordshire by Richard Bashford
- Ringing report for 2012 by Katie Fuller
- Bedfordshire’s first Glossy Ibis by Martin J. Stevens
- Swan-song for the Nightingale? Results of a BTO survey in 2012 by Nigel Willets
- Not bad for a puddle by Richard Bashford
- Death on the doorstep by Guy Shorrock
- Occurrences of rare birds in Bedfordshire by Barry Nightingale
Illustrations:
- the excellent cover photo is of a Common Tern taken by Mike Lawrence
- superb photographs of Arctic Tern and Black Tern adorn the back cover
- there are two more colour photos on the inside front cover
- there are four colour plates containing photos of some of our best birds of the year and great studies of commoner species
- there are six black and white photos
- the report is adorned by 23 superb line drawings kindly provided by Jan Wilczur, Nick Sinden and Mike Langman