Here and there

Missed the 1st summer Med Gull at Broom, but I'd gone by the time it turned up. Did see a Common Sand, and two Snipe.

The 2 local Peregrines were chasing feral pigeons, but failing dismally, despite a bit of tandem hunting. The male of this pair has bright custard yellow feet and cere. He's a very hansom beast. Hopefully they're now using the box provided.

Nightingale, Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Cuckoo all singing at Willington. Along with a fly over Greenshank, and a Little Egret. MST has apparently recorded a Greenshank on this day each year for the last five years. It has to be the same returning adult each time? An incredible coincidence if not.

The Southill Estate had a single Raven flying over, and c.10 Lesser Redpolls. The Redpolls are presumably late migrants filtering back north. It’s a shame they are now virtually extinct as a breeding bird in Beds. Check out the provisional Beds breeding Atlas map for them:
http://atlastest.bedsbirdclub.org.uk/2007/LR.shtml

Rookery South had a pair of Garganey, single Shoveler, 2 Teal, 9 Pochard, and 3 Common Terns. LBB's on territory, and perhaps four BH Gulls also looking to perhaps nest?

Quest had over 400 LBB's, 50 Herring Gulls, and at least two Yellow-legged Gulls, all loafing on the exposed mud. Two pairs of LBB's appeared to be on territory at the south end, with several Pochard and a pair of Teal. This is another sites that's going to have millions of tonnes of concrete poured all over it - this one is going to be called NIRAH.