Bedfordshire Birding

First stop the alleged site of "one of the easiest to see Merlins ever". Well yet again it wasn't there, but just down the road on Gypsy Lane West Pit we at last found our Smew - three redheads. Next stop Priory Country Park, Bedford for the reported Black-necked Grebe and Ferruginous Duck.

We got ourselves to the hide, the only birder there said there'd been no sign of the Ferruginous Duck, but the Black-necked Grebe was relatively close. Check out RCB for a picture. On scanning round Mrs L was convinced she'd found it on the far side of the lake, but every time she passed me the scope all I could see were Pochards. Eventually though we decided to go round to the far side and Mrs L was proven correct. A rather splendid Ferruginous Duck, posing rather splendidly.

Rather better than our last sighting where it took Photoshop's colour saturation for the final confirmation.