Little Paxton - 29 May

On a Tuesday morning walk around the RSPB centre at Sandy I was told that Little Paxton was a top place to hear and maybe se some nightingales. I decided it was high time I visited the place. It's a nature reserve jsut north of St Neots and just off the A1. A 30 minute drive from home.

The Ouse and some lakes formed, I assume, from flooded gravel pits provides the backdrop. And there are marked walks including hides to view the lakes. I visited in the afternoon so didn't expect to see any nightingales, I wasn't wrong in that respect. The lakes contained many tufted ducks and mute swans, robins, and chaffinches were abundant in the trees and bushes. Swifts and swallows swooped overhead. I really liked the place. The river is an added bonus.

The first picture is I think a hybrid goose. Possibly greylag and canada.

Many grey herons enjoy the lake.

All these pictures are at a distance of over 100 meters. The cormerant is probably 150m from my camera.

Cormerants can also enjoy a tree.

28 May

The week includes my first Hobby swooping and swirling around near one of the lakes in Arlesey. I've spotted a Woodpecker nest whle at the same lake and can hear chicks inside. I've also seen Whitethroats, Blackcaps and the Arlesey Little Egret (a common site these days).

Today I popped over to Broom to see what was going on. In a very strong wind the highlights for me were watching the Swifts and Common Turns feeding on the wing.

Coditions weren't great for digiscoping but I managed at least one decent shot of a Blackheaded Gull.

This shot was taken from about 80 yards. The power of putting a simple digital camera through a spotting scope!

Less good shots of a Redshank and a Lapwing follow.

21 May 2011

Ride up to St Neots. One of my favourite jaunts.

The Great Ouse.

Family of ducks.

Uninteresting picture of my bike in the car park at St Neots.
Back via B660 to Bedford. probably my favourite route.

Home for tea.

Middlesex V Worcestershire - Lords 17 may 2011

CB40 day / nighter at Lords on Tuesday so popped down. Second trip to Lords this season (Middlesex got spanked by Kent the last time I went).

Different story this time. In gloomy conditions, Worcester got 217 batting first. No problem for Malan and Rogers. Easy win for the Panthers.

Purists may disagree but I think Lords is a picture under floodlights.

40 over cricket isn't quite a hit with the public. I don't know why, I prefer it to the 50 over game.

Sunday 15 May 2011

Bike day today. Checked tyre pressure (fine), oil and chain tension. Chain too slack, oh dear. maintenance man I am not. Will sort out next week.

Rain in the air ment I just had a steady ride past Pegsdon to Barton and over to Sharpenhoe Clappers which is, I understand, the highest point in Beds.. The Pegsdon road (B655) has some great bends but all are blind so not ideal. Great views though.

Back through Shillington and Lower Stondon.

Unrelated picture of my bike. And why not!

Saturday 14 May 2011

Cup final day and the day United land their historic 19th title The tension of a 1-1 draw with Blackburn was too much for me so I spent the afternoon at Broom in Beds. Broom is an absolute top spot for birds and with its flooded pits and islands, it gives me a chance to get out my spotting scope and try and improve my digiscoping skills.

The sky was full of swallows and swifts with the main lake there containing many black headed guls, tufted ducks and mute swans. I was trying to get some decent photos of redshanks and lapwings though. With a strong wind blowing the scope, conditions were difficult. I took 145 pictures and was really happy with none of them. However I got 15 or so that I'll keep. I'll post the best two.

In the beginning...

This is the beginning of my blog dedicated to biking and birding and generally what I do outside of work. I have a number of interests including cricket, music and my dogs but I try and spend my spare time riding my Trumph Street Triple and /or bird watching. I'm expert at neither but love both. This is my journey.

Quick round up of this evenings dog walk. I was fortunate enough to catch two cuckoos flirting and flying around near the river Hiz in Arlesey. I've seen cuckoos before although they are obviously much more commonly heard. To witness two together was a real treat and they put on a great show for about five minutes. An excellent start the the weekend.