RSPB The Lodge

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is the UK's largest nature conservation charity. Their headquarters is near a town called Sandy in Bedfordshire, which happens to be under an hour's drive from where I live in neighbouring Hertfordshire. The headquarters and its surrounding grounds are known as The Lodge, which is what this photo essay is about.

I first visited The Lodge last February on a cold but sunny day with my mum. I was particularly impressed with one of the hides along the Woodpecker Trail, which I spent hours in, watching countless birds.

Great spotted woodpeckers (from top: female, male, male in foreground female in background)
Dendrocopos major (Linnaeus, 1758)
Picidae; Piciformes; Aves; Chordata
Wild at RSPB The Lodge, Bedfordshire, February 2014

Of course I expected to hear woodpeckers prominently at this time of year along the Woodpecker Trail but I didn't expect to see them at such close range. Males are told from females by the small patch of red on the nape of the neck, but are otherwise identical. The great spotted woodpecker is one of only three British woodpeckers (a fourth, the wryneck Jynx torquilla is a rare vagrant) and is easily heard in late winter and throughout spring drumming at trees.

Stock dove
Columba oenas Linnaeus, 1758
Columbidae; Columbiformes; Aves; Chordata
Wild at RSPB The Lodge, Bedfordshire, February 2014

Although quite similar, the stock dove is less of a suburban animal than the wood pigeon. Stock doves are distinguished by the dark iris (making it look 'kinder' than the wood pigeon), lack of white patch on the neck, and no white on the wings. The 'stock' in its name derives from an Old English word meaning a hollow piece of wood, which would be used as 'wood stock' for fires. Although called a dove (as are white feral pigeons), it is most certainly a pigeon.

Long-tailed tit
Aegithalos caudatus rosaceus Mathews, 1937
Aegithalidae; Passeriformes; Aves; Chordata
Wild at RSPB The Lodge, Bedfordshire, February 2014

A long-tailed tit, one of my favourite British birds, looking rather bull-necked.

Lesser redpoll
Acanthis cabaret Statius Müller, 1776
Fringillidae; Passeriformes; Aves; Chordata
Wild at RSPB The Lodge, Bedfordshire, February 2014

Most redpolls are winter finches, spending the summer months at higher latitudes in northern Europe and Greenland. The lesser redpoll, however, is mostly sedentary, with higher numbers being present in winter during particularly cold spells further north. The red 'poll' in its name is referring to the top of the head, which is rosy red.

Male mallard
Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758
Anatidae; Anseriformes; Aves; Chordata
Wild at RSPB The Lodge, Bedfordshire, April 2014

Eastern grey squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin, 1788
Sciuridae; Rodentia; Mammalia; Chordata
Wild at RSPB The Lodge, Bedfordshire, April 2014

European rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Leporidae; Lagomorpha; Mammalia; Chordata
Wild at RSPB The Lodge, Bedfordshire, April 2014

Female common blackbird
Turdus merula merula Linnaeus, 1758
Turdidae; Passeriformes; Aves; Chordata
Wild at RSPB The Lodge, Bedfordshire, April 2014

I visited again two months later in warmer weather, and the bunnies were abounding. The small pool in front of the hide helped attract thirsty birds and mammals and those in need of a bath.

Male chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs gengleri Kleinschmidt, 1909
Fringillidae; Passeriformes; Aves; Chordata
Wild at RSPB The Lodge, Bedfordshire, April 2014

Eurasian nuthatch
Sitta europaea caesia Wolf, 1810
Sittidae; Passeriformes; Aves; Chordata
Wild at RSPB The Lodge, Bedfordshire, April 2014

European goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis britannica (Hartert, 1903)
Fringillidae; Passeriformes; Aves; Chordata
Wild at RSPB The Lodge, Bedfordshire, April 2014

Eurasian magpie
Pica pica pica (Linnaeus, 1758)
Picidae; Passeriformes; Aves; Chordata
Wild at RSPB The Lodge, Bedfordshire, April 2014

Eurasian robin
Erithacus rubecula melophilus Hartert, 1901
Muscicapidae; Passeriformes; Aves; Chordata
Wild at RSPB The Lodge, Bedfordshire, April 2014

Passerines were in abundance, including this odd-looking robin with a few facial feathers missing.

Male common pheasant
Phasianus colchicus Linnaeus, 1758
Phasianidae; Galliformes; Aves; Chordata
Wild at RSPB The Lodge, Bedfordshire, April 2014

Male mallard with male pheasant
Wild at RSPB The Lodge, Bedfordshire, April 2014

I caught these two Galloanserae in an odd set of poses in front of the hide.

Next up is Amwell Nature Reserve, my local patch.