Odds and sods

A few more photos from recent mooching around....

First winter / summer Yellow-legged Gull. Seen in the Wyre Estuary while I was at the ICI tank

Ring-necked Duck asleep on the ICI tank

Drake American Wigeon, Martin Mere

Pink-footed Geese, Martin Mere. Spot the WFG by its tail feathers!

Whooper having a bath!

Woodpigeon which distracted me as a Merlin flew past!

Handsome drake Wigeon

Shelduck

Oystercatcher

Half grown hedgehog sleeping off the peanuts!

Black-necked Grebe welcome back photo

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HGF got a bit more interesting this morning. While scanning the pool three Sand Martins dropped down and then disappeared. I know from walking to one of the regulars that Sand Martins have been present for several days now - first ones I have seen. It took me a while to refind them as they kept flying up high and they soon left. In the ploughed field by Midhops I found a pair of Wheatears - my first this year. Always good to see them return.

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Waterworks Lane produced 10 Stock Doves in the field behind our garden and a small flock of 10 or 12 Linnets in the field opposite the feeding station. Eight Yellowhammers and a Kestrel also there and five Pheasants in the next field. Usual stuff in the garden with a few Reed Bunts and Tree Sparrows plus a Coal Tit.

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Had a quick drive around Rixton Moss early afternoon. 12 Fieldfares were in the ploughed field at the top of Holly Bush Lane while just past the farms, in the field to the left 19 Corn Buntings were perched up with six Yellowhammers. Three Kestrels and a Buzzard also around, however had to wait until I reached Prospect Lane for my target birds. Eight Wheatears were in the field near the farm here with possibly more, however it started chucking down and had a mini gale! I found two more on the opposite side of the road just past the tip. noticed the other week that there is some serious digging going on past the fishing pools - I wonder if this is landfill again or an extension of the angling facilities? Sod all on the tip, ditto on Moat Lane pool.

Run to the hills

The River Lune at Halton looking towards Caton - stunning!

Med Gulls , Heysham. These two were different to the recent (resident) birds

Intruding male Peregrine, Warton Crag

Resident male Peregrine, Warton Crag

Bean Goose, Cockerham Moss

Barnacle Goose, Cockerham Moss

Curlews and Oystercatchers, Teal Bay, Morecambe

Wigeon, Teal Bay

Oystercatchers at high tide in Heysham

Various waders including Blackwits and Knot on Teal Bay Groyne

Greenshank, Conder Creek

Redshank, Sunderland Point. I know they are common as muck but I like Redshanks.

Had to display this photo. Picture the scene - a roosting Greenshank flanked by Spotted Redshanks and a Redshank mooching about in front. Guess what? My digiscoping camera completely loses the ability to focus for 20 minutes - it came back, miraculously, just after the shanks went for a stroll. Arrrghhhh!

Spotted Redshank, Conder Creek

Twite, Heysham

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Playing catch up again due to hectic work schedules, driving all over the place and trying to beat (unsuccessfully) a chest infection. However because I am currently sitting at home working in the conservatory I have been able to see a few things in the garden today, including:

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2 Bullfinches

7 Goldfinches

7 Chaffinches

4 Tree Sparrows

3 Reed Buntings

2 Grey Partridges

2 Long-tailed Tits

1 Sparrowhawk (male)

plus other stuff and an overflying Buzzard.

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We have managed to get back to the van in the last few weeks from time to time - heaven to get away and see beatiful countryside and the hills. Seems like ages since I last posted anything so I will try to be brief. Had a recent morning flitting between Conder Pool and Fluke Hall Lane. Two Spotshanks and 2 Greenshanks were at Conder Creek while the best bird of the morning was a Tundra Bean Goose in the fields nr Sand Villa (Cockerham Moss). Difficult to differentiate pink from orange in bright sunlight, plus of over 2200 pinks, half were sat down in long grass and a few hundred were beyond a ditch at the back of the field. Dead lucky then that the Bean Goose was stood by itself in short grass out in the open. A Barnacle Goose was also present - it spent most of its time cosying up to one of the Mute Swans. Lane Ends and Fluke Hall Lane were a bit dead to be honest except for the odd Little Egret and half a dozen Whooper Swans.

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At Heysham while watching around 50 odd Twite at the feeding station I noticed two adult Meds cruising up and down the north harbour wall. I was sure that they were different birds to the ones I had seen the other week. Pete Marsh appeared and then flashed off to his office for bread - he then spent half an hour trying to get them to land on the rail so he could see their legs! They were unringed. Also managed a Purple Sand on the wooden jetty.

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Karen and I had two afternoons walking Billy along the Lune at Halton. Spectacular scenery - can you beat the views in the first pic? Along the river were half a dozen Grey Wags, a Dipper, a Goldcrest and a drake Goldeneye which flew up river. As we approached a little wooden troll bridge a Kingfisher landed on the rail in front of us! The next afternoon we heard some birds singing here which had me stumped (I really am crap at bird calls) - when I got the bins on them I found they were Fieldfares. Lovely to listen to.

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I also had a mooch up the coast between Sunderland Point and Morecambe one morning. At SP I timed it badly as the tide was coming in. Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers in a tree at the start of the causeway were interesting and a Spotted Redshank was in the channel where Jonathan always finds it. The man himself turned up just then with Ste in tow so we had a bit of a natter. I then sloped off to Middleton Sands where a large flock of Knot was shifting around. Jonathan and Ste also turned up but soon left while I decided to walk Billy along the sands in a bitterly cold wind. The waders settled down again - around 10,000 Knot with some Dunlin and Grey Plovers etc. A Peregrine then turned up and made several passes at the flock - fantastic to watch the shapes in the sky as the Knot twisted and turend to escape the raptor!

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Next stop was a brief one at Heysham - a few Twite but more fishermen and dog walkers so I didn't linger. I then headed up Morecambe front and stopped at Teal Bay Groyne. Around 140 Eider were off shore with lots of waders on the groyne including Blackwits, Redshank, Knot, Curlews etc. It was sunny now and enjoyable. From here I wandered over to Warton Crag where it turned grey again. A chap was just leaving having scanned the quarry face without success. I looked for 20 minutes and found nothing too when a bird began calling - I soon found the tiercel on a high ledge perfectly camouflaged from where I was. I assumed the falcon must be away hunting so I settled in to watch. After a while a distant speck turned into a Peregrine - the female returning I thought. Wrong bong! This was another tiercel and as he flew over the falcon flew out of the left hand corner of the quarry where she had been hiding and pursued the invader. The resident tiercel made a half-hearted attempt to join in. Funny - I would have thought it would be the male defending the territory against invading males, but there you go.

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Did have a wander over to Martin Mere where there was bugger all from the Ron Barker hide except Avocets which seemed to multiply before our eyes. I eventually counted 93. To be fair I was in can't be arsed mode again and even when a Merlin passed by I only gave it a glance and resumed trying to digiscope a sleeping Woodpigeon. A flock of pinks landed over on Vinsons and the guy next to me found a European White-fronted Goose with them. I soon got onto it, however no one else could, including the resident "guru". When offered the use of someone elses scope the guru declined even though he couldn't see it himself and then commented he had scanned the tail feathers of all the pinks when the flew in and had not seen a WFG. I then thre in the comment that I had seen an orange-legged Pink - guru responded it wasn't possible to tell colour in the light. I could clearly see, however, that the bill of the WFG was short, stubby and pink. When guru finally got onto WFG an argument started about whether it was a European or Greenland bird. I offered European based on bill colour and shape etc - guess what. Guru said it was not possible to tell colour in this light. I left.

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I did catch up with the American Wigeon on the Mere where around 680 Whoopers were still about plus plenty of Ruff. I then decided to go exploring - i.e. I went to find the ICI Reservoir at Thornton. To be fair, having been past recently for work I had a good idea where to find it. Burglers Alley which leads to it is a cess pit and I was glas to find the reservoir. The drake Ring-necked Duck was present, however apart from two brief heads up, he slept all the time I was there. 10 Red-breasted Mergansers and 7 Goldeneye were also there and an annoying woman who was looking at RND through my scope. Is it the one with the brown head. I told her the RND is the black and white jobby. "Yes I can see it - the one with the brown head!" No that's a Pochard - the RND is black and white. Oh yes - the one with the brown head.....it went on and on! And I know I have no patience at the moment. Good views over the Wyre estuary from here - it looks a promising birding spot.

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Bugger all at HGF recently. Had a pair of Goldeneye on recently and the first Black-necked Grebe appeared on the 18th and is still present. The Great Crested Grebe numbers vary from day-to-day with sometimes none there. A Little Grebe was present for one day and a few Canada's have been popping in, however Coot numbers remain morbidly low and around 20 of the Wigeon have departed. Three Buzzards there this afternoon with 10 Stock Doves in the south field.

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Since I stopped feeding Waterworks Lane I have barely visited. I did get 8 Yellowhammers there one day last week plus 20 Stock Doves and 5 Pheasants on different days. The garden has varied - the best day was last Saturday when over 30 Tree Sparrows (probably many more) were present all day and around 20 Goldfinches on the feeders. 4-5 Reed Buntings are present most days - they are now so familiar with the garden it is quite normal to walk into the conservatory and watch them walking around on the patio. Aside from that day the Tree Sparrow numbers tend to be low single figures though with being away a lot I haven't really got a good idea of what is visiting. The pair of Grey Partridges visit most days.

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Last weekend a large hedgehog appeared under the bird table and spent all day eating peanuts - possibly just out of hibernation. It disappeared overnight, however next day a half grown hog did the same. This one was either tame or dozy and would walk right up to us and not bother. It too disappeared overnight. Last autumn, at the back of the fence into the field I dumped a load of branches with garden waste on top hoping to create a bit of a sanctuary for these animals - maybe it worked.

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Last week in Culcheth the Corn Buntings resumed territory along Holcroft Hall Lane - 7 were present on the Tuesday. This was trumped by Rixton Moss where I found 22 birds with 11 Yellowhammers off Hollybush Lane.

Evening birding!

Snow Buntings, Kinmel Bay

Very distant lekking Black Grouse, World's End

Great Grey Shrike, Waddington Fell

Redshank, HGF

Oystercatchers, HGF

Short-eared Owl, Risley Moss

Hawfinch, Sizergh

Lesser Black-backed Gull, Heysham

3rd winter Herring Gull, Heysham

2nd winter Herring Gull, Heysham

Adult Herring Gull

Morecambe Bay seen from Quernmore with the south lakes peaks in the background

Mediterranean Gulls, Heysham

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Another long spell where I seemed to have run all over the country, worked 72 hours per day, driven thousands of miles each week and never seem to have time to stop and think. Slight exaggerations and I did manage to get in a bit of birding here and there – it was necessary in order to stay sane!
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The weekend of Feb 27th and 28th I spent at my brother-in-laws in the SW. I did manage a few walks with Billy but saw nothing other than Buzzards, Redwings and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, all of which appeared to be everywhere. I did clock 18 Corn Buntings on Waterworks Lane on sat morning as we left.
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Mon 1st March started with my usual walk around HGF with Billy. There was a Spring feeling about the morning – partially as a result of a male Skylark in the south field who was singing his heart out. A female Sparrowhawk drifted over, however nothing else of great interest. A lunchtime stroll around Moat Lane pool in Rixton didn’t produce anything exciting either though it was good to be out in the sun. 46 Tufted Duck and 16 Gadwall were on the pool along with a single Great Crested Grebe. Quite a few gulls too – mainly Black-headed but a few lesser Black-backs.
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In the evening I met up with Jonathan for a bit of after work birding at Risley Moss. I hadn’t known it was possible to get in after closing time until Jonny had dropped me a line. We stood underneath the tower in glorious sunshine which lifted the spirits after a grey and largely miserable winter. A Nuthatch had been spotted on the path earlier and a GSW was heard moving through the trees. At the feeding station Willow Tits, Reed Buntings and Bullfinches came in to feed while nearby some Yellowhammers started to drop into a Rhododendron bush to roost.
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Soon a Short-eared owl appeared at the back of the moss and proceeded to hunt around the back. There was possibly a second bird but it was difficult to confirm. It was enjoyable to watch the owl in golden sunlight – probably the best views I have had of one funnily enough. Usually I see them when they are bloody miles away at Parkgate or Marshside. At least 2 Tawny owls began to call behind us and Blackbirds started to arrive to a communal roost – we eventually estimated 35-40 birds came in. Some Snipe flushed and flew off – we eventually saw 9 and a Sparrowhawk also glided over. As darkness descended Woodcock began flying past, sometimes quite close. I managed to get onto 8 out of the 9 birds seen and the Barn Owl finally emerged and flew off high. Great evening, great birding! Thanks Jonny.
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Tuesday and at HGF this morning large numbers of gulls – mainly Black-heads and Common. A couple of Reed Buntings were in the garden early doors. At Rixton, Moat Lane pool at lunch a juvenile Mute Swan had joined the resident pair. It was colour ringed (blue, right, JP4) and was ringed as a male cygnet in Dunham Massey, October 2009. I had a quick look at the second pool – looks like lots of spoil has been dumped in changing it somewhat. Still various waterfowl in this pool though. On the way home the Little Owl in Croft was showing well in its usual tree.
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Wednesday – got a quick look at the feeding station this morning. Around 45 Tree Sparrows, 22 Chaffinches and 10 Yellowhammers present. On my way home from work (Burnley) I called in at Fishmoor Reservoir, Blackburn. I was almost shocked at how few gulls were present – hardly any big gulls at all. Six Goosanders made the visit a little interesting.
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Thursday and the only thing of note this morning were 12 Corn Buntings on Waterworks Lane. Consequently another trip to RM was called for. Rang Jonathan – typically he had lost his phone again! He turned up anyway – must be psychic. When I arrived late afternoon a Short-eared Owl was already up high over the tip and was being mobbed by corvids. It eventually came back onto the moss and showed briefly when Jonathan arrived – and that was that for the SEO this evening. Same birds on the feeders with Willow Tits, Bullfinches and Reed Buntings showing well. Yellowhammers and Blackbirds came into roost in roughly the same numbers and between us we saw 10 Woodcock flying past as dark descended. The Tawny Owl made a little noise and the Barn Owl showed briefly again just as it became too dark to see – it then flew high out of the reserve. Another cracking evening!
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On Friday I was due to work in Droitwich, however having arrived late Thursday night I was ill overnight and had to set off back home on Friday morning. I managed a quick glimpse of three Avocets at Upton Warren as I went past. In the garden today were 3 Grey Partridges and three Reed Buntings. A quick walk to the feeding station produced 35+ Tree Sparrows and 13 Yellowhammers plus a flock of 20 Stock Doves in the field opposite. By late afternoon I had picked up a bit so for some bizarre reason I got it into my head that a walk around Burton Marsh was in order. It was grey, cold and windy. Lots of ducks on the flashes – mainly Teal, Wigeon and Shovelers with a single drake Red-breasted Merganser. Two ring-tail Hen Harriers showed spectacularly well and around 30 Bewick’s Swans and a few Whoopers were present on the marsh. Lots of other swans were visible but too distant to ID. At dusk the Barn Owl came out of its box and gave a hunting spectacular!
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Saturday morning I was hoping for some much needed sleep. I was very tired and sleep would have been bliss. Guess what – 6am and I was wide awake yet again. After failing in my battle for sleep I decided to head off to the van by a roundabout route – via Waddington fell – my usual spur of the moment decision. On the way I noted displaying Lapwings back on territory on Waterworks Lane. At Waddington I rolled up at the laybye past the Moorcock and spotted the Great Grey Shrike before I had even left the car – it was perched in the top of a bush. It was a grim, grey and cold morning - another birder was present and I assumed he was watching the shrike. I strolled over, set my scope up and watched the bird for a few minutes. I was somewhat surprised then when the birder turned to me and said he hadn’t seen it all morning! We eventually worked out that a telegraph pole was directly between him and the bird.
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The shrike then dived into the scrub below the bush and disappeared for a few minutes. Jonathan arrived at this point – fortunately the shrike soon reappeared on the wires. The bird began to work its way up the wires so Jonathan and I drove up to the car park near the cattle grid to head it off only to find the shrike had disappeared. We walked back down and eventually came across a woman who was watching the bird slowly make its way up the opposite hillside. A few Red Grouse were around with cock birds displaying – Jonny also spotted a couple of Ravens nr the quarry. We then went our separate ways.
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I then found I had a morning pass to go birding as Karen had gone shopping with her mum so I drove over Bowland (lots more grouse on the way) and dropped down into Heysham. There I found the usual two Med Gulls including the Czech ringed bird – I would later find out that I was the last person to see them before they departed for their breeding grounds. A Purple Sandpiper was on the wooden jetty with the Turnstones and at the feeding station over 50 Twite were present, including a number of unringed birds which had just started to pass through. I also had a quick scan of Leighton Moss from the viewpoint on New Road. I managed to get one of the Snow Geese in flight (the small flock had split up today) and a Greenshank on the pools. Later that afternoon while walking through COL caravan park a Peregrine flew low and directly overhead, heading onto Caton moor.
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The following morning I had only a brief spell of birding before heading home for my nephew’s christening. I decided to spend it at Sizergh. I arrived early and soon found three Hawfinches by the car park. They were elusive though and although I relocated them a couple of times, they didn’t stay still. A couple of Ravens and a few Fieldfares added to the interest. While driving there I had spotted around 12 swans flying alongside the M6 – they put down onto a flash near J36. I was almost positive they were Whoopers. At home today two Grey Partridges and five Reed Buntings in the garden.
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Monday morning at HGF. A second Redshank appeared today with 32 Linnets on the wires near Midhops and a Snipe flushing out of the south field. At Rixton pools a couple of Oystercatchers were present flitting back and forth between the two pools. At least 500 Woodpigeons were in a field off the A57 nearby. Few birds at the feeding station – 8 Tree Sparrows and the same number of Yellowhammers.
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Tuesday and working in N Wales. After work I drove over to Old Colwyn to look for the Surf Scoters. A couple of birders were just leaving – they confirmed they had been watching a drake and helped me look for it where they had last seen it but to no avail. They left and I carried on scanning – around 20 minutes later I finally found it! The white on the sides of the neck and face made it as conspicuous as a neon sign from certain angles, however once it had turned round it simply melted into the flock. I carried on scanning for the other birds but didn’t find any. I was amazed though at the numbers of Common Scoters all stretched out in a long line that must have been a mile long – at least 10,000 birds! The sea was like a mill pond and it was a sunny evening which added to the occasion. I then tried to re-find the drake – it took me another half an hour. By this time it had drifted closer and I could pick out more ID features. A single Velvet Scoter was also seen with a Red-throated Diver and a few Guillemots and Razorbills.
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As the sun began to set I nipped over to Pensarn where the sea was full of gulls – at least the same number as there were scoters up the road. I couldn’t be bother sifting through them for a Med so I began looking at grebes and scoters and was soon rewarded with a Slavonian Grebe. A flock of 15 Bar-tailed Godwits flew right past me while I was watching it. Around 90 Great Crested Grebes were on the water while on the beach at least 40 Pied Wagtails were flitting about.
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The next morning I had insomnia yet again and was working in Wales so I had a punt over to World’s End. Never been there before and wouldn’t have had a clue but for Jonathan placing good directions on the Manchester Birding Website. I arrived on a grey and cold morning at 7am – the trees around the car park were echoing to the sound of large numbers of Siskins and Chaffinches singing and calling. I didn’t linger here as time was short and parked further up the road to view the hillside. For around 20 minutes there was nothing, then a Blackcock flew across the road and up to the lek on the top of the hill to the left. This bird started to display and was eventually joined by another five Blackcock while two further birds called from nearby. After work I popped into Kinmel Bay and walked down the beach looking for the Snow Buntings. By the time I reached the stream there was no sign – three other birders had also searched the beach unsuccessfully. Walking back towards the car park I eventually stumbled on three Snow Buntings which were crouched in some dried seaweed and were extremely difficult to see. I got the other birders onto them and watched them for around 10 minutes – suddenly just like Kaiser Soze they were gone!
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The next day a pair of Teal were new at HGF. On the way home from work I called in at Frodsham Marsh. Large numbers of Golden Plovers were on No.5 tank – a single Snipe was the only other species present. I was disappointed to see that the little channels along the water line of No 6 tank have all been filled in – not sure where the Little Stints are going to feed now. On the plus side some new pools have been created at the back of this tank – they look good for waders but can’t be seen except at distant from the NW corner. Usual ducks on the water – Teal, Wigeon and Shelduck but nothing spectacular.
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Friday – nothing new at HGF this morning. Moat Lane pool was a bit more interesting with a Little Grebe joining the pair of Great Crested Grebes. On the way home from work around 120 Fieldfares were in trees nr Hole Mill Farm, Culcheth. At the feeding station today were 8 Tree Sparrows and 6 Yellowhammers. For the last week or so the birds have slowly drifted away from the feeding station. To compound this the farmer has increased activity in the field – muck spreading and finally ploughing it. Consequently today I have decided to stop feeding here for this winter. I have been feeding the place for just over five months – I hope the birds that visited come back next winter!

Twite, Heysham