View Parent Location

Blow's Downs Bedfordshire

Latest Rarities in Bedfordshire

18/04/2024
17:34 		Large Tortoiseshell
Bedfordshire
Details
14/04/2024
17:40 		Large Tortoiseshell
Bedfordshire
Details
30/03/2024
09:25 		Black Kite
Bedfordshire
Details
16/03/2024
12:16 		Ring-necked Duck
Bedfordshire
Details
16/03/2024
07:00 		Ring-necked Duck
Bedfordshire
Details
* Bird News Pro and Bird News Ultimate subscribers receive full sighting details.

View all sighting reports for Blow's Downs

Latest Photo

Interpretive boards are situated at the two main entry points to the site - the end of Half Moon Lane and the Skimpot Lane/Hatters Way roundabout.
©
Rob Dazley
Description
Interpretive boards are situated at the two main entry points to the site - the end of Half Moon Lane and the Skimpot Lane/Hatters Way roundabout.

Site Location Details

Site location details and google satellite image for Blow's Downs

Please click on the map icon below to load Blow's Downs in your preferred map

Site Details

The Downs, managed by the Wildlife Trust, are a classic example of open downland that is primarily a spring migration watch point. It is an excellent chalk grassland SSSI with a wealth of notable plants, insects and is a great place to see spring and autumn passage migrants.

Birding Sites in the Blow's Downs Area

Prominent Species at Blow's Downs

Subscriber Content

Bird News Pro and Bird News Ultimate subscribers get additional site details such as specialities and commonly seen species.

Additional Site Details

Directions

See the Wildlife Trust's website (link below) for access info.

Site Photographs

Interpretive boards are situated at the two main entry points to the site - the end of Half Moon Lane and the Skimpot Lane/Hatters Way roundabout.
The Tesco Slope is regularly used by Ring Ouzel and Wheatear to feed so please stay on the path along the crest of the slope and scan. Also, check out the edge of the scrub and the scattered Hawthorns - these are popular feeding locations for Common
The disused chalk pit used to be reliable for Ring Ouzel but invasive scrub has made it less attractive to these wary thrushes. Now your best hope is for a feeding redstart (either species) to appear. Stand by the bench on the lip of the pit and scan
The Kingsbury Slope (seen here in the background) is regularly used as a feeding area by Ring Ouzel and Common Redstart. As with all of this site the best chance or success comes by standing patiently on the brow of the hill and checking out any move
The Paddocks Slope is the first encountered if you enter the site from Half Moon Lane. Ring Ouzel like to use it as they can see any danger approaching from a long distance. It is well worth scanning carefully across the slope before venturing on to
The west-facing Downside Slope is much used by both the redstart species as the scattered bushes give them the perches which they so like to use to feed from. This is the stronghold of our Linnet population which love the scattered clumps of thorn an
The area of horse paddocks in the northwest tip of the site is an essential part of any visit. The majority of our Wheatear records come from these fields and the barbed wire fencing provides perfect perches for both chats and redstarts. In recent ye
When scanning around the fences on the paddocks it is worth looking carefully in the area of the ramshackle horse shelters. These structures and the shrubs around them seem to attract Black and Common Redstarts to them.

If you would like to suggest a photo for this site, please email a copy to contact@birdguides.com along with the website address for this page. A member of our team will review your photograph for suitability and will credit the image to you (unless you request otherwise).

Best regards,

The BirdGuides Team.

Most Recent Gallery Photos

View all recent gallery photos

Whinchat

13/04/2024

Whinchat

13/04/2024

Ring Ouzel

09/04/2023

Barred Warbler

02/10/2014

Barred Warbler

02/10/2014

Barred Warbler

28/09/2014

Barred Warbler

27/09/2014

Willow Warbler

20/04/2013

Yellowhammer

20/04/2013

Upload an image to our gallery

British & Irish Records Archive Blow's Downs

All Records (Accepted, Rejected, Pending). To filter/search please enter a phrase. E.g. To filter Rejected records, type Rejected into the Search box, all columns can be filtered.

British & Irish Records Archive is only available to our BirdGuides Ultimate or our BirdGuides Pro subscribers.
Please login or subscribe to view this information.
Start Your Free Trial Today!

Online Rare Birds Listing
Search the British & Irish Records Archive

Latest Rarities

View all sightings

24/04/2024
17:57 		White Stork
Oxfordshire
Details
24/04/2024
17:55 		White-tailed Eagle
Suffolk
Details
24/04/2024
17:54 		Richard's Pipit
Dumfries & Galloway
Details
24/04/2024
17:56 		Black-crowned Night Heron
Mayo
Details
24/04/2024
17:54 		Green-winged Teal
Norfolk
Details

* Bird News Pro and Bird News Ultimate subscribers receive full sighting details.

Submit your sighting

Have you seen something interesting? Click Submit to share your rare bird sightings via our simple form.

Submit Start Your Free Trial Today!

Latest Issue

On Sale: 25 April 2024
Subscribe
Buy Now
Purchase Digital Editions on iTunes
Purchase Digital Editions on the Play Store
Purchase Digital Editions on Pocket Mags