Gulls again

Elton Hall Flash

Gulls taking off from Birchwood Pool, Moore Nature Reserve

Birchwood Pool as seen from Arpley tip

Fiddlers Ferry power station seen from Arpley tip

Gulls milling around on the tip face.

Tawny Owl, Moore Nature Reserve

Dodgy shot of an adult Mediterranean Gull - I am still getting the hang of digiscoping with the new Kowa.

Adult Yellow-legged Gull on Arpley tip - again a digiscope shot

2nd winter Iceland Gull on Arpley tip

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The usual bunch turned up at the tip this morning. When we arrived at last weeks viewing spot (having walked up due to Landrover problems), we found that most of the work was taking place on the other side of the tip. Consequently we could only view the edge of the flock while in flight.

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Paul Cassidy the ranger kindly took us around to the other side of the tip and we had superb views though possibly a bit too close. It was hard to pick birds out of the swirling flock. I also had one of those days when I seemed to miss quite a few birds though I did finally connect with a 2nd winter Iceland Gull, the briefest glimpse of a juvenile Glaucous Gull and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. Back down by the pool an adult Med Gull was showing nicely stood on the ice and the Tawny Owl was in its usual roost.

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I then had a wander down the road to Elton Hall Flash to look for the Caspian Gull being seen there. No sign of it and I also missed the adult Ring-billed Gull that turned up an hour or so after I left. The pool was busy with the following being seen:

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1000+ Black-headed Gulls

250+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls

30+ Greater Black-backed Gulls

400+ Herring Gulls

15+ Common Gulls

670+ Wigeon

580+ Teal

24 Shelduck

9 Goosander

16 Pintail

13 Shoveler

4 Ruff

2 Black-tailed Godwits

33 Snipe

1 Jack Snipe

2 Buzzards

16 Tree Sparrows

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Back home I took Bill for a quick bounce around HGF. It was very windy and cold by then, in sharp contrast to the time spent at Moore which was very warm.The Wigeon flock numbered 83, Coots 46 and 16 each of Tufty and Pochard. No sign of the Ruddy Ducks, Linnets or the Great Crested Grebe. A Cormorant and 4 Redshanks were present. In the field south of the pool 20 Skylarks flew around with 4 Meadow Pipits.

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Waterworks Lane was quiet with 2 Grey Partridges, 25 Chaffinches, 5 Tree Sparrows, 1 Reed Bunting and 2 Stock Doves present. In Croft the Little Owl was showing well on Lady Lane and 40+ Fieldfares flew over Smithy Lane.