Box End Park WeBS: 16/01/2011

With the river in flood the lake level had risen so that the spit at the south end was underwater leaving no roosting area for the usual Lapwings or any other waders or wildfowl. This led to a lower than usual count with many of the usual Mallards also absent, most likely on the flood pool on Biddenham Loop where we had in excess of 50 yesterday. Having said that 3 new species for the site was a nice surprise and made the early start worthwhile.

Buzzard Present (calling from the woods at the north end of the site)
Coot 1
Gadwall 2 (new species for site)
Goosander 1 (new species for site)
Grey Heron 1
Mallard 36
Moorhen 5
Mute Swan 2
Water Rail 1 (new species for site)

Total number of species: 9 Individuals: 49

Garden Sparrowhawk

The starlings in the garden are taking a beating by the local Sparrowhawk which has taken at least 3 in the last week. Managed to get a few shots of it yesterday, this being the best of the bunch.

Christmas Day at the Mill

With the prolonged cold weather many ducks are dispersing to the river so are getting a few different species showing up on the Kempston Mill Stretch with Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Pochard and Goosander all present in the last few days, along with the usual Mallards and Mandarins. Little Grebe are also pretty easy to spot along the river although their number were reduced by one today when a Grey Heron took one just downstream from the Mill bridge.

Grey Heron eating Little Grebe

Not much Christmas cheer for that Little Grebe, but a nice Christmas lunch for the Heron. In fact it seemed to be a day for the hunters. Another Little Grebe had eyes bigger than it's stomach a little further downstream but the "eyes bigger than stomach" prize goes to a Cormorant which had caught a Chub that was as big as itself. After several attempts to get a better grip on the fish the prize was eventually lost, and I think the Chub survived!

Cormorant battling with Chub

Earlier in the week I spotted a Black-headed Gull which had died on the ice on the river at Biddenham Loop. This morning a pair of wings was all that remained.

Later in the afternoon I spotted a Sparrowhawk in the Garden plucking a Starling. After it flew off I nipped out to find a pile of feathers and a beak.

Nature is truly "red in tooth and claw" this Christmas.