Ring necked Duck at Priory CP Bedfordshire

A brief visit to Jim yesterday morning in the pouring rain where I mentioned there was a Ring-necked Duck at Priory CP in Bedfordshire which was only an hour from home met a surprisingly positive response from Jim so with me having time we jumped in the car and set off around the 25 and up the A1.

As luck would have it the rain had stopped as we pulled up at the park and it remained dry for the rest of the afternoon.

A very short walk from the car park to Fingers lake next to the main lake and we were watching the drake Ring-necked Duck straight away as it swam around with a small group of Tufted ducks. After enjoying the duck for about an hour we decided to try for the Black-throated Diver at Staines as it was only about twenty miles further around the 25. Although it was bright and sunny at Staines it was also windy and very cold. We located the Black-throated Diver with a Great Northern Diver right at the back of the north basin and didn't hang around too long after that as the cold windy conditions didn't make for an enjoyable experience.

The two year ticks move me within four of that worst year list total I've been quietly targeting but with three weeks today those last four may prove difficult to find although I have eyes on a few local options.

Year list now 234