Steve Blain

@steveblain.bsky.social

Birder, Bedfordshire, nocmig, vismig, digiscoper. Views my own. #BedsBirding

Well that livened up a dull bank holiday Monday! Nothing quite like finding a local mega on your patch. Amazing to see so many familiar faces come and go. Another splendid evening at Broom GP. Kentish Plover, 4th May 2026 #BedsBiding

A Kentish Plover facing right sat on a gravel islandA Kentish Plover facing right sat on a gravel island with a Little Ringed Plover flying above

Nearly half of the United Kingdom’s most commercially valuable fish populations are either overexploited, critically low or both, according to a new report warning that the government continues to set catch limits above scientific advice.

UK fish stocks in trouble as catch limits exceed scientific advice: Report

Nearly half of the United Kingdom’s most commercially valuable fish populations are either overexploited, critically low or both, according to a new report warning that the government continues to…

news.mongabay.com

This gave me a shock last night at Broom GP. Superficially an Azorean Gull (hate the name Azores Gull!). However despite the hooded appearance, dark blue-grey mantle, stocky appearance, and mucky bill it didn’t quite stand up to scrutiny.

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A quick visit to Blunham Lake this lunchtime. Quite a few duck present but the most interesting bird was this third-winter Caspian Gull. This bird first turned up in the Ivel Valley last winter and looked a bit odd and hybridy. However it looks better the older it gets. #BedsBirding #ukbirding

A local review of 2024 (this may be long!): I managed 168 according to BirdTrack the same as 2023. I also tried to achieve 100 species a month in Beds in 2024 and I did it! My best month was April with 116 species, down from 128 in 2023, and my lowest was 101 species in December, up from 92 in 2023.

A very ordinary last visit to Derek Whites Eggs pit for the year this evening. Hoping for a roosting Bittern. None of those but did see a delightful drake Pintail, among the few ducks on the water. About 800 Starlings roosted in the reeds whcih was nice against the pink sky #BedsBirding #ukbirding

Drake Pintail duck with three Wigeon on a lakeA silhouette of some trees against a pink and orange sky with dark cloud above

An afternoon visit to Stewartby lake for the gull roost today. Eight species of gull was a great return with a first-winter Med the highlight. Also 3 Caspian’s (1w,2w,3w), 4 Yellow-legs, 2 GBB’s, 400 Herring, 120 LBB’s and a few thousand each of Bh and Common Gull. #BedsBirding #ukbirding

A first-winter Mediterranean Gull facing right sat on water

An early morning jaunt to Meadow Lane today. Bloomin’ good too! 4 Bearded Tits, Drake Pintail, Jack Snipe, Great White Egret, Redshank, Water Rail, and 72 Shovelers. 15 Chiffchaffs was also a very good count locally. And best of all made 101 for the month in Beds. #BedsBirding #ukbirding

Male Bearded Tit on a reed stem facing-onA drake Pintail duck on a lake facing rightA view across the lakes at Meadow Lane

A family walk round Woburn Park today. Pretty quiet due to the misty conditions. A single Goosander was on the pool in front of the Abbey but no Mandarins today. Star bird was a single Hawfinch which I found calling from the top of a tree in the grounds of the Abbey. PIX! #ukbirding #BedsBirding

Woburn Abbey gardens, a view along the drive on the east side.A Hawfinch sat at the top of a tree

Some exciting news for our first post - Strawberry Hill has been saved! This unique rewilding site is home to half of Bedfordshire's nightingales. Today we can announce you've helped us raise an amazing £1.5million and the site's future is safe. Thank you everyone who gave, we're so grateful.

Strawberry Hill saved! £1.5m raised to purchase and protect unique rewilding site for nature | Wildlife Trust for Beds Cambs & Northants

A former farm left to rewild for decades has been saved for generations to come following one of the Wildlife Trusts’ largest ever public fundraising appeals.

wildlifebcn.org