December 2020 Bird News

White-fronted Goose – within a large influx into the south-east of England,  10 at Meadow Lane GP continued from November on 1st, 19 at Broom East CWS and an increase to 29 at Meadow Lane GP both on 2nd, 14 there on 3rd, also one at Grovebury SP from 2nd for a few days, 17 near Southill on 8th – 9th, 32 near Begwary Brook on 14th, then at Wyboston on 15th and, then counted as at least 33 near Little Barford on 18th – 20th, three at Radwell on 19th, one at Meadow Lane GP on 23rd, nine at Radwell on 27th

Pintail – four at Broom East CWS on 1st, one male at Woburn on 17th, three at Meadow Lane GP on 31st

Red-crested Pochard – eight on Gypsy Lane West pit at Broom on 25th and 26th

Common Scoter -one at Brogborough Lake on 24th

Goldeneye – very ferw reports away from Brogborough Lake where there were 29 on 12th

Goosander – six at Felmersham on 11th, three at Blunham on 27th, three at Woburn on 31st

Smew – three at Meadow Lane GP on 31st, two at Brogborough Lake also on 31st, both groups only present on the one day

Great White Egret – five at Meadow GP on 30th, four over Blunham GP same day potentially the same birds, otherwise ones and twos regularly reported in the Ouse Valley and one at Stewartby Lake throughout the month

Cattle Egret – two south of Henlow from 17th, one still present there on 31st, the other bird relocated to Langford from 23rd

Glossy Ibis – one near Bedford on 11th

Snipe – a flock of 37 noted at Meadow Lane GP on 18th

Short-eared Owl – one at Broom East CWS on 2nd, one near Sandy on 27th

Ring-necked Parakeet – up to 12 recorded in Wardown Park Luton where the species is now resident

Dartford Warbler – at Astral Park from 17th near Leighton Buzzard until the end of the year

Siberian Chiffchaff – one near Bedford STW on 31st

Firecrest – one in Luton from november until 2nd

Crossbill – groups noted at Aspley Heath, Lidlington Woods and The Lodge