Lesser redpoll

A stunning male posing in the early spring sunshine.

Great crested grebe

Priory country park, Bedford provided the setting for this pair of courting grebes, the top picture was of a threat pose when an interloper showed up

Grasshopper warbler

This was the only worthwhile image that I got whilst patiently watching this bird reeling for an hour. At one stage it even flew into the bush I was standing behind, giving me a fantastic close up but I dare not move in case I spooked it

Cuckoo

A distant view of this charismatic summer visitor but the best picture I have.........yet.

Pheasant

The cock pheasant is one of the most vibrantly coloured birds on earth with the sun on it in spring, strutting about in its pomp.

Yellowhammer

A spring fresh male yellowhammer, taken at the 'raptor triangle' near Old Warden.

Two barred crossbill

A new bird for me in the U.K. the last one I went to see was eaten by a sparrowhawk just as we arrived! This was in a flock of 30 crossbills at the Lodge. This is the first bird to be seen in Bedfordshire since 1890.

Little egret

Taken at East Hyde on 19/03/2010

Brambling female

A nice view of the back markings on this thirsty traveller.

Crossbills

This wonderfully colourful pair were a real pleasure to photograph on a grey day in Bedfordshire.

Sparrowhawk

This fine male was very obliging at The Lodge today, it spent two minutes flying around and hovering over the brambles and chasing the small birds within but eventually left ' empty handed'

Crossbill male

A cracking male crossbill taking a drink at The Lodge hide pool, it is a shame the sun did not come out to enhance him more.

Reed buntings

female & male in winter plumage, taken in Stotfold.

Corn buntings & fox

The fox put all the corn buntings up as he crossed the field in front of me, one of the many predators that regularly harass the flocks, I have also seen male and female merlins and the sparrowhawk.

Crossbills

Some images taken at a new location for me in Beds, there were also a number of siskins and a single redpoll

Goshawk

Sadly not a wild bird, this was on a falconers arm.

Bittern

One of two seen by me at Brogborough, the other one was skating disconsolately around the ice on a bitterly cold January day

Hobby

Taken at Chimney corner North, one of twenty hawking across the sky together with over 100 swifts, I saw an occasional hobby chase a swift but they soon gave up the chase

Great tit

Image caught as it came down for a drink, shame about the reflection, taken at The Lodge.

Blackbird reflected...

Blackbirds always pose beautifully for the cameraman and this chap was no exception at The Lodge.