Buzzard on his usual fenceline on Waterworks Lane

HGF has been a big disappointment lately - virtually bugger all to talk about on the pool. A Sparrowhawk flew along the south hedge the other day, a pair of Grey Wagtails has been present for a few days and a small flock of 15 Linnets flew over the south field yesterday plus two Swallows this morning. One thing of note - a couple of dog walkers observed a Heron killing a Mallard a few days ago. The Heron pecked at the ducks head until it had removed it and left the ducks feet paddling in the air. The carcasse was then abandoned on the bank. I wonder why the Heron bothered.

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Rixton mosses on Tuesday yielded nothing other than 20 Pheasants in a field off Prospect Lane and a fly over Jay. A quick visit to IMF produced the two juvenile Long-billed Dowitchers asleep fior the duration! 9 Golden Plovers, 8 Blackwits, a Greenshank and a Curlew Sandpiper were the best waders. A ring-tail Hen Harrier again flew directly at the hide and 51 Little Egrets descended on the back pool.

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This morning the Buzzard was perched on the fenceline off Waterworks Lane where it seems to live permanently in Autumn and Winter - it was still present this evening with a couple of Kestrels hanging around. Three Snipe flew over calling and two coveys of Grey Partridges (17 and 6) were in the field opposite the pylon. On Monday night at dusk I had the unusual sight of 29 Mallards in the field behind our garden - wandering around in a packed circle! The Tawny Owl was calling in the garden tonight as soon as light fell - I think it may be roosting in the large Ash tree which is covered in ivy.

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On the way home from work this evening I stopped by a ploughed field just outside Glazebrook to scan the 116 Black-headed Gulls present. No hoped for Med Gull but I did count 63 Pied Wagtails and there were probably more! The Little Owl was present in the usual tree on Lady Lane with a covey of 11 Grey Partridges below the tree.