Bird photography master class!

Red-legged Partridge, Marshaw

Male Great Grey Shrike, Waddington Fell. Having been blown away by the photos in this months BBC Wildlife Magazine (honest) I was inspired to have a go myself - these are the result! I think I'm on to something here!

Ring-necked Duck, Foxcote Reservoir

Golden Plovers at dusk, Port Meadow, Oxon

Ferruginous Duck, Pugney's CP

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October 18th – 24th.
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Monday morning I took Bill to HGF as usual. Flying over the far side of the south field I could see something flying around and couldn’t quite pin it down. As I got closer I realised it was a bat and a large one at that. What it was doing out in broad daylight flying over the field I have no idea – I can only assume something had disturbed it in its roost. Wigeon numbers had increased to 12 birds this morning. I also heard a Redwing calling in the south hedge – it eventually flew out and did two large circuits of the area, constantly calling, before flying off east.
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Tuesday evening was overcast – a typical grey and mucky day. Not much to report from HGF – Wigeon had increased to 15, Coot numbers were slightly up and so were Tufties. I managed to get to the feeding station just before dark where 8 Grey Partridges were in residence and a Sparrowhawk flew over. After a bit of scouting around I found the Tree Sparrow roost site. I could hear the birds chattering away in the hedge and I could see birds flitting around through the back but couldn’t see how many were there. A conservative estimate would be 30.
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Wednesday evening the weather was better with cold, clear skies. Wigeon numbers had increased again to 18 and quite a few gulls were on the pool – mainly Black-headed Gulls and an odd lesser. Nowt much else though. At the feeding station around 55 Tree Sparrows were feeding with 8 Grey Partridges and a couple of Buzzards on the usual nearby fence line.
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Thursday (cold and sunny) I managed a quick trip to HGF at lunch. Wigeon numbers had gone down to 13 birds. In the south field 11 Skylarks and a few Mipits were flitting around, a Buzzard was perched in the middle of a ploughed field and a Grey Wagtail flew over. Probably the most interesting bird was a Redshank – I wonder if this is finally the first wintering bird to arrive back? At the feeding station were 60+ Tree Sparrows, 12 Grey Partridges and a flock of 55+ Linnets were flying around the field opposite the feeding station.
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Late afternoon I headed off south - working away again on Friday. On the way down the M1 I diverted off three quarters of a mile to Pugneys CP to see if the Ferruginous Duck was still there. I wandered over to the pool behind the pub and started scanning – plenty of aythya ducks but no fudge. No birders either, for that matter. I did eventually find the fudge diving in front of the far reed bed. Superb little ducks – I do like these birds. I watched the fudge for around 10 minutes before it drifted off behind some partially submerged willows and went to sleep – impossible now to pick it up unless you had seen it go there. I suspect this is a returning bird – saw one there last winter too. I didn’t have time to stay and bird the area – I continued my journey south.
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After work on Friday I nipped a few miles down the road to Foxcote Reservoir where another rare aythya was supposedly in residence – a drake Ring-necked Duck. This is a permit only site but the reservoir can be viewed through some metal gates at the top of the hill overlooking the water. A bit distant, however with good lighting and a good zoom on the scope I could scan most of the water. Like the fudge this appears to be a returning bird with a drake having wintered here for the last few years that I know about.
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The water was full of ducks with very large numbers of Wigeon and Teal and smaller numbers of aythya ducks. I scanned the lot four times and couldn’t spot the RND. Finally I stopped looking for a moment and started to just gaze around the area. Suddenly two ducks emerged from underneath the near bank – I didn’t need an optical aid to tell me one was the RND. Typically as soon as I got the scope on it, both birds flew off to the far side of the reservoir. I did get some prolonged distant views of the bird though.
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Just a few miles further down the road is a place called Port Meadow where a juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs had recently been in residence so I decided to give this a go. It is a slightly bizarre place. The area consists of a flooded field with an area of shallow water about the size of a football pitch. Surrounding this on all sides is grazing land which is also a public access common with paths criss-crossing the area. People where everywhere walking dogs or just sitting on the grass or jogging – you get the picture. The bizarre thing is that despite so much human activity the place is teeming with birds who don’t seem to be a bit fussed at the human presence. On the water I estimated 580+ Wigeon, 240+ Teal with various other ducks present and also a flock of 560 Golden Plovers!
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I found the Lesser Yellow-legs quite quickly – it was feeding alone along the edge of the water at the south end – a nice delicate looking bird. A Redshank appeared nearby and later two Ruff’s appeared from somewhere. The light was very poor by now so I watched the LYL for around 10 minutes as it worked its way around to the far side. Also present were at least 100 Pied Wagtails all around the pool plus 20+ Snipe and a Dunlin. On a nice sunny day it must be a great place to photograph birds. Thoroughly enjoyed this visit.
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Saturday morning trip to HGF produced a good record in 5 Gadwalls. This is the first record for me here in 18 months and over the last 5 years the total number of sightings of this species here has just broken into double figures. At the feeding station the usual flock of Tree Sparrows was in residence and a Linnet flock plus 12 Grey Partridges were in the nearby fields. On the fence line was a Buzzard and also an immature female Sparrowhawk which looked slightly odd perched out in the open like this. She eventually skimmed low across the field and created mayhem.
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We decided to spend the weekend at the van. Saturday in N Lancs was mostly showers although it did brighten up for a while in the afternoon. A Jay was a nice spot flitting around the park (not so common here) while a Great Spotted Woodpecker visited the feeders. I also found 2 Ravens at Crook O’Lune while walking Bill by the river. At around 8pm I went outside in clear skies to look at Jupiter – the planet and 5 of its moons were showing spectacularly well. The resident Tawny Owl came out and began calling and was answered by a second bird in trees just outside the park to the west. It then flew off over the field to the south and into the trees there where its calls were answered eventually by three juveniles. At one point all five owls were calling at the same time in different trees dotted around the perimeter of the field. I would expect these youngsters to get kicked out of their parent’s territory before much longer. A single Redwing was heard calling as it flew over.
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Sunday morning I woke up to widespread frost though the clear skies and sun were very welcome. I don’t mind these crisp autumn mornings and much prefer the cold to being too hot. The first bird of note was a Treecreeper climbing up the trunk of the tree where the feeders are. Xxxxx
I took Bill and decided to wander through the trough over to Waddington to see the male Great Grey Shrike. Not much of note on the way over though 140 Common Gulls were in a field at Quernmore, 6 Red-legged Partridges were in a field at Marshaw and the world’s supply of pheasants seemed insistent on running in front of the car today. A rabbit and 2 Grey Squirrels and various sheep also joined in this activity so I ended up driving very slowly through the trough!
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On arrival at Waddington I was mildly surprised to see no birders present and slightly dismayed by the clay pigeon shooting taking place around the shrike’s favourite loitering area. I didn’t expect to see it, however I pulled into the layby and began scanning the opposite hillside and almost immediately found it in the top of the tree furthest up the slope. The shrike made several forays onto the dry stone wall and the field beyond but then disappeared over the hillside. A couple of birders turned up so I told them where the shrike had gone – shortly afterwards it reappeared on the wall.
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Quite a few birds were flitting around the area – five Blackbirds plus various tits and finches all flew off the moor and into the small stand of conifers opposite the layby. A male Stonechat also made an appearance and two Roe Deer grazed the hillside. A flock of around 240 Fieldfares swirled around the far hillside before heading off. A Raven and three Buzzards and a Kestrel also passed through. More and more birders now appeared and it was quite obvious the shrike was not going to come closer with the shooting taking place. Incidentally I think the shooting skills left a lot to be desired judging by the number of whole clays scattered around the hillside! The first two birders to arrive and myself wandered up to the cattle grid and began birding there.
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Aside from four Red Grouse and another Buzzard there was not much initially. I decided to wander up the track with Bill for a while – a juvenile Peregrine then flew low over us. I then heard the other guys shouting – they had found a ringtail Hen Harrier. I didn’t get on to it before the bird disappeared over the hillside – I did manage to pick it up briefly later when just before it vanished over yet another horizon. Another flock of Fieldfares flew over in a different direction and then I decided to head off back through the trough.
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I stopped briefly at Tower Lodge where the third large flock of Fieldfares of the day passed through. There was the usual Buzzard, Kestrel, Nuthatch and a couple of Redpolls calling somewhere – I didn’t linger here. Next stop was the road to Abbeystead – my attention was caught by around 2,000 Starlings passing through and then another flock of Fieldfares!
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In the afternoon Karen and I took Bill for a walk by the river at Halton. Strictly non-birding though I did pick up a Raven calling. Back at the van late afternoon I decided to stand on the balcony and just watch the area until sunset. I was stood next to an ivy-covered tree and a Wren flew into the ivy and flushed out a second bird which brushed my sleeve as it tried to get away! Two Jays flew over the van, 20+ flocks of Goldfinch and Chaffinch came into roost and a fifth flock of Fieldfares for the day (155+) flew over the park heading NW. It was very relaxing just standing there in the golden autumn light watching the birding world go by.

Dawn at Leighton Moss

Mediterranean Gull, Caton

Spotted Redshank, Sunderland Point

Redshank, Sunderland Point

Juvenile White-winged Black Tern, Inner Marsh Farm

Water Rail, IMF

Snipe, IMF

Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, IMF

Great White Egret, Leighton Moss. Although not a good snap this image does portray the relative sizes and shapes of three heron species.

Greenshank, Leighton Moss

Shoveler, Leighton Moss

Kingfisher, Leighton Moss

Black-tailed Godwits, Leighton Moss

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October 16th – 17th.
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Saturday morning and more insomnia found me rolling up at Leighton Moss in the dark. I managed to get in the Public Hide by 06:45 and sat there in the darkness listening to the sounds around me. There were plenty of bird noises even at that time with Coots and Moorhens bickering and every now and then a flight of ducks erupting out of one of the side channels – I assume either getting out of the way of the rutting Red Deer stags or maybe from some predator. The stags roared all around the pool and there was the occasional loud splash which maybe indicated a tiff.
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It started to come light at around 07:10. A Kingfisher perched on a stump in the semi-darkness right outside the hide. A lone swan had been hanging around the far side of the pool and I had not taken any notice of it. The bird suddenly decided it was time to head off – as it flew past the hide I realised it was a Whooper! Around 140+ Pink-footed Geese flew high over to the south in the faint light while around the pools I could hear at least six screaming Water Rails. A Tawny Owl was very noisy off to the right for a while and Redwings which had roosted in the reeds started to leave – I heard them more than saw them. The Starlings then started to make lots of noise prior to leaving – I estimate eventually around 15,000 birds left the reedbed to the left of the island. The Little Egrets also began leaving the roost – I counted 79 and no sign of the Great White Egret. A Cetti’s Warbler began calling just to the right of the hide. A couple then came into the hide and one of them spotted a juvenile Marsh Harrier perched in a dead tree.
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I left the hide and walked slowly back down the causeway. The placed seemed to be full of Wrens and Robins and also Reed Buntings – at least 18 of these. A Snipe flew over and then 2 Reed Warblers came out of the reeds near the grit trays and showed very well for a few minutes. It was a clear, cold and eventually sunny morning and the world seemed to be a peaceful place just then.
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I wandered next over to the Morecambe / Allen Hides. A Nuthatch at the car park was the first interesting bird there – three Snipe also flew over and a Great Spotted Woodpecker flitted in bushes ahead of me all along the path. I arrived in the hide to find a few birders already present and the Great White Egret on show off to the left. It eventually flew about the pool a bit before landing in front of the hide where it spent the next half an hour or so. Superb! One very kind chap next to me had spotted I was using a Canon camera and offered me the loan of his 400mm prime lens. That made my day!!!
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A Kingfisher appeared several times on various perches while I watched the GWE. At one point it appeared in the same frame with a Grey Heron and a Little Egret which gave it good perspective. Eight Greenshanks were present on the Allen pool – a large flock of Black-tailed Godwits were also roosting there. A sudden rush of wind preceded another Blackwit flock and the number of roosting birds now appeared to double. I counted them and got to around 1350 birds! Back at the car park a Chiffchaff was calling in the trees.
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Back at the van the only notable sighting was a mixed thrush flock late in the afternoon in the field behind our van. A quick count produced 86 Fieldfares and 9 Redwings - there were probably more though.
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Sunday after a lie in I headed over to Sunderland Point with Bill, arriving just after high tide. On the way I clocked a couple of hundred Black-headed Gulls in the usual fields to the west of Caton – a quick scan produced an adult Med. I didn’t stay long because the weather was grotty and the place was being disturbed by walkers and horse riders. I found two Spotted Redshanks in channels off to the right – the first flushed and appeared to fly over towards Middleton. A few Wigeon were in the channel and the usual Dunlin and Redshank were touring the muddy fringe. A single Little Egret was out on the marsh.
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We headed off home just after lunch. I decided to have a wander over to Inner Marsh Farm and Burton Marsh. At IMF I could see the juvenile White-winged Black Tern from the hill – I wandered down to the hide anyway. The place was packed with a coach party being present. I eventually sat down and briefly scoped the tern on the island – it flew off just as I got out my camera!
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The lady at my right shoulder asked me if there was anything interesting out there. I told her about the WWBT and when it reappeared in flight I pointed it out to her. That one flying in front of the hide? Yes – that’s the one. She appeared to watch it for the next ten minutes. Then someone on the other side of her asked the same question – is there anything interesting out there? The lady replied that there was supposed to be a WWBT out there but she hadn’t seen it!!!
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It soon transpired that there were no experienced birders in this party. A Curlew Sandpiper had appeared to the right of the little mud patch in front of the hide. Someone asked what it was so I told them. Shortly after a Dunlin flew down nearby. I continued scanning the pools and then someone asked what the second wader was with the Curlew Sandpiper. Without looking I responded it was a Dunlin. Well what’s the difference between the two? I proceeded to explain after which there was silence before someone said “they look the same to me”. I looked at the two waders with my scope – there was no sign of the Dunlin and now 2 Curlew Sandpipers were feeding there! That will teach me to check before I open my gob!
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Aside from these birds the pool seemed to be filled with Teal. There was no sign of the Little Stints though three Spotted Redshanks flew in to roost. Five Golden Plovers, 14 Snipe and a Water Rail completed the line up. The hide was getting packed so I left, chatting with Rob Adderley on the way back up the hill.
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I then went for a mid afternoon wander up to the Decca Pools. It was much more quiet and peaceful (I know I am an anti-social bu**er) and I settled down on the banking above the pools. I found a Buzzard far out on the marsh (slightly unusual there) and a female Merlin perched on a distant fencepost followed by a Peregrine even further out. There was nothing on the pools other than Lapwings and shortly after the coach party from IMF arrived so I headed off back down the track. I found a juvenile Marsh Harrier which dropped into some vegetation shortly after I found it and didn’t reappear. I then found a Jonathan Platt and we had a natter for an hour or so before I left.
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At dusk I nipped into Newton Lake to see what was about. 2 Mute Swans, 2 Canada Geese, 2 Little Grebes, 12 Tufties and 68 Teal. Usual stuff really and nothing of any great interest. For some reason (perhaps boredom) I decided to count the Moorhens – 15 of them!

Lone Star Wader

Solitary Sandpiper, Black Hole Marsh, Seaton, Devon

A very ropey flight shot showing the diagnostic tail

Wigeon, Greylake RSPB

Wheatear, Greylake RSPB

The pool at Greylake holding the Spotted Crake

Argentatus Herring Gull, Rixton

Juvenile female Gyr about to go for an exercise flight

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October 11th – 15th.
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Monday morning started with my morning mooch around HGF. A Common Sandpiper was again present on the pool with the Wigeon increasing to six birds. Otherwise it was pretty quiet. The next stop for birding that day was in Devon (Black Hole Marsh) where a brief diversion from my journey into Somserset allowed me to go and see a Solitary Sandpiper. This American vagrant is very much like a Green Sandpiper though there are some subtle distinctions. It has a slightly longer bill which is also slightly decurved (very difficult in the field to pick up), is more heavily spotted than Green Sandpiper (particularly on the upper wings) and has a more pointed rear end. In flight the tail shows heavy barring rather than the largely white rear of a Green Sandpiper. Perhaps one of the more noticeable differences is the confiding nature of this bird – unlike a Green Sandpiper which spooks at any opportunity this bird paraded up and down in front of a large group of birders and paid us no heed whatsoever. Superb stuff! It was also nice to see a few Swallows hanging around here – not much else to report though as I didn’t have time to stay.
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Tuesday after work (started very early so I could finish early) I managed a trip to Greylake RSPB in Somerset. I had no idea it was so close to my regular work trip down here. It’s a cracking little reserve of phragmites reed beds and grazing land with a couple of small pools. A very nice hide overlooks one of the pools and recently a Spotted Crake has taken up residence there. Consequently the hide was full of birders scanning the pool. Unfortunately the said bird decided to be elusive and as time passed the hide gradually emptied. Other birders came in and when the hoped for bird wasn’t parading in front of them waving a flag they left. When I found a ring-tail Hen Harrier (the first this autumn going off the log book?) no one seemed interested suggesting most people were there just for the tick. Each to their own but that’s not birding for me!
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Perhaps out of character for me I didn’t get bored sitting in a hide and wander off elsewhere. Instead I decided I was going to just chill and relax in the hide. I sat for quite some time constantly scanning the pool (which contained a few sleepy Teal) looking for a glimpse of the crake and watching the general area. Entertainment was provided by a Wheatear in front of the hide plus 2 hunting Kestrels and a fly through Sparrowhawk. The Hen Harrier returned and flew directly over the pool sending everything in to a minor panic! After 2 hours I was left alone in the hide and a sudden movement through the reeds at the back of the pool looked promising – bugger it was just a Water Rail. I say just a Water Rail – they are enjoyable to see simply because of their usual skulky ways.
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A flock of around 120 Wigeon flew round the hide for a few minutes before landing on an unseen pool and then more Teal started dropping onto the pool in front of the hide. More movement on the near side – damn another Water Rail (the first was screaming at the opposite end at the same time). The sun started going down rapidly after nearly three hours watching this pool and light started to fade. It was made worse by the fact that only around 30% of the edge of the pool was visible from the hide. I was distracted by some more Teal arriving then scanned back to see the arse end of a Spotted Crake disappearing into the reeds. I was slightly tempted to throw the scope out of the window. I quickly calmed down and thought – don’t give up now - it might come back. Thirty seconds later same thing happened further along the reedbed – little swine. Then I had a sudden thought (unusual for me I know!) perhaps it’s coming out of the reeds and backing off from the teal swimming there. I predicted a free area of reeds further round and scanned there – the little beauty walked right out and showed superbly! After around 10 seconds though it flew across the pool and out of sight and that was that. Interesting spot of birding but well worth it in the end and made all the more sweet by the work put in to find the bird.
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Wednesday night I arrived home from my brief work tour of southern England. The usual trip up the M40 had been disappointing – I saw only 17 Red Kites on the way home, less than half the usual tally. I was trying to get away from Slough as quickly as possible though. At home late evening three coveys of Grey Partridges were in the fields off Waterworks Lane with another distant couple of birds far out. Unfortunately the farmer has ploughed and replanted my feeding station with a winter crop – no stubble patch to feed this year. I have temporarily moved to another area though I think I will end up seeding the strip I did in year 1.
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Thursday and HGF quiet again this morning. Three Skylarks sneaking across the south field were probably the highlight. At lunch I made a quick trip to Rixton. A gull flock was loafing around – over 240 Black-heads with 1 Common Gull, 19 Lessers (mostly immatures) and a single argentatus Herring Gull.
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On Moat Lane pool 1 the Mute Swan flock has increased to 10 – a drake Teal was on the banking and six Gadwalls kept flying around before decided to land elsewhere. I watched a tit flock pass through – it was noticeable that the birds moved through one or two at a time in species order – 9 Long-tailed Tits first followed by 14 Blue Tits and lastly 5 Great Tits. A Green Woodpecker was in the bushes at the back of the pool – it suddenly began calling like a strangled cat and flew off. A flock of 35 Redwings appeared next and flew over west before turning round and flying back the way they came! A couple of screaming Jays also made an appearance.
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I then headed off over the mosses. The tip pool is very drained and nothing was on it. The field opposite the farm off Prospect Lane has recently been ploughed and levelled – quite a few birds were feeding here including 15 Skylarks, 10+ Meadow Pipits, a Yellowhammer and a Wheatear. A Linnet flock of around 70 birds was buzzing around Woodend Lane – when they landed on the wires I found 6 Corn Buntings present with them – the first I have seen here for 3 months.
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After work I revisited Rixton. A Green Sandpiper was now present on Moat Lane pool 1 – predictably it flew off in the direction of the tip pool. I later scanned that pool and found 2 Green Sandpipers there. A flock of 18 Magpies was also flitting around on the muddy islands on the Moat Lane pool. On the mosses I spent some time chatting with the local falconer and watching while he put the juvenile female Gyr through its exercise flight. He also told me that the week before on successive days he had seen a male and then a ring-tail Hen Harrier quartering the mosses half way up Holly Bush Lane!
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Friday morning at HGF and it was clear that some migrant thrushes had arrived with quite a few Blackbirds and Song Thrushes in and around the south hedge – I also found a Goldcrest with a tit flock. A flock of 18 Skylarks was also buzzing around the south field with half a dozen Meadow Pipits too. Unfortunately all of the fields around HGF have been ploughed and planted with winter crops – for the first time since I can remember there is no stubble field this year. I think that will put paid to any hopes of the usual winter flock of Linnets this year – typically I would expect to see 140+ birds throughout the winter.
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At the feeding station this morning were around 40 Tree Sparrows and a covey of 8 Grey Partridges which retreated to the field behind our garden. I didn’t have time to stay and watch the area though – too busy with errands.
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Friday afternoon (holiday) I headed up to Rossall in the hope of seeing the Red-backed Shrike that was lingering there. I knew it had been seen that morning so I was quite hopeful. When I arrived there was just one local birder present who confirmed he had seen the bird during the morning but not so far in the afternoon. An hour passed on cold, windy and mucky grey day with no sign. A Stonechat did give some brief respite from nothingness. I moved further up the track to try and get a different viewing angle – I was eventually joined by three other birders. Another hour passed and still nothing. I wandered back to the first birder who immediately told me had been watching the bird perched in the top of a bush five minutes previously. I looked where he had seen the bird – nothing – none of us had seen anything. I told the other guys and two immediately set off through the fields in an attempt to flush the bird. I don’t agree with that and I stayed put – in any event my view was that the shrike had done one and they thrashed the area and found nothing. Not sure what had been seen by the first birder, however after my diatribe about my treatment in the Sab’s Gull saga I am certainly not going to dismiss his opinion, particularly as I don’t know him.
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On the way home Fleetwood was rammed with traffic so I diverted up the coast and called in at Pilling Lane Ends. There were lots of Pink-footed Geese around and I counted at least 13 Barnacles with them. There were probably many more, however it was raining by now plus very, very cold and windy and I decided my car was a better option than freezing my nuts off!

Quite a lot of pinks!

Pink-footed Geese, Fluke Hall Lane

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October 9th – 10th.
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One sighting from last week I forgot – last Friday morning a flock of 48 Greenfinches was present in Waterworks Lane in the dead trees by the entrance to the farm. I see a largish flock of these birds in the area each autumn, however in the past it has tended to disperse quite quickly.
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Last Saturday started with a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the garden. I have barely watched the garden in recent weeks and consequently I have little idea of what is visiting at the moment so it was great to see something interesting there. We left early morning to go to the van – on my way past I called briefly at the feeding station and was delighted with the flock of 60+ Tree Sparrows feeding there.
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Saturday lunch I headed off to Bolton-Le-Sands for high tide. When I arrived (sunny but very windy) the tide had already flooded most of the salt marsh. There were birds everywhere – I didn’t know which way to look. I can’t help wondering why no one else seems to be birding this area – not another birder in sight today and have never seen one here. One of the first interesting birds detected was a Green Sandpiper which was calling as it was flushed out of a channel by the tide. At least 9 Little Egrets had joined the herons in feeding around the marsh. Most of the waders had roosted on a relatively dry bit around the bend of Mill Lane – the water across the lane here was around 3 feet deep! I made two profound discoveries – the best place to view at the next high tide is from a bank in front of a caravan park (which will probably get cut off for a while) and I also had a hole in my right welly!
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There were plenty of Curlews and Redshanks and Oystercatchers with a few Bar-tailed Godwits and a flock of Dunlin. A Little Stint was observed running between the legs of the barwits before flying off while a Wheatear perched briefly on the back of a roosting Curlew! The sea seemed to be awash with Shelducks while Linnets and Skylarks buzzed all around. Fantastic couple of hours birding – didn’t know where to look half the time. I later nipped round to Teal Bay where gulls seemed to have taken over the groyne – a few Eiders and Wigeon and a lone Black-tailed Godwit were the best of the other species present.
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At the van late in the afternoon 6 Buzzards appeared in the air around the site – just drifting around like Buzzards do. In the evening I took Bill for a walk by the river just past Halton Mills weir. I decided just to plonk myself down by the edge of a small wood for the last hour of daylight and see what turned up instead of mooching through the wood. Small parties of Jackdaws soon started moving over NW to their roost site – the parties got bigger and bigger with eventually at least 670 over by the time I left. A couple of Goosanders were fishing in the river (with lots of jumping trout) – a Dipper and at least 8 Grey Wagtails also flew past. Two flocks of Long-tailed Tits passed noisily through the bushes at the edge of the river (18+9) and two screaming Jays and a Great Spotted Woodpecker also put in appearances. Nothing of great interest but nice and peaceful and very enjoyable!
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Sunday morning I wandered over to Fluke Hall Lane a couple of hours before high tide. Quite a few birders were present hoping for a glimpse of Lapland Buntings from the day before. A few well known birders flogged the fields behind the car park but to no avail. I plonked myself in a gateway to that field for a bit - all I saw was a Wheatear and a few Tree Sparrows flitting in the hedge. I then had to move when a lady turned up and claimed the gateway was her own personal viewing spot! Two Peregrines were perched next to each other on driftwood way out on the beach and a male Sparrowhawk flashed close past, low over the boulders. When the Lappies didn’t appear most of the birders drifted off leaving me and one other guy watching the waders fly past. As the tide came in we could see nothing was staying around that area so we decided to decamp to Pilling Lane Ends.
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As high tide arrived the waders passed through thick and fast. Interestingly I saw very few Bar-tailed Godwits; there was a sprinkling of Grey Plovers and at least 100 Sanderlings with the Dunlins. Probably the most impressive bit was the ducks and geese. I estimate there were at least 22,000 Pink-footed Geese with most on the water and a few thousand in a nearby field. Around 8,000 Teal were joined by numerous Wigeon and over 400 Pintails. The water surface was literally covered in birds – an absolutely amazing sight no matter how many times I’ve seen it before. A Chiffhcaff was also in full song in the autumn sun in the bushes by the car park.
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I could see a group of birders on the banking from Lane Ends leading off towards Fluke Hall and guessed they were watching the Lapland Buntings (that was where Maurice Jones had found them the day before). After a bit of indecision I decided to wander over just as they started to disperse. The comments as I passed were along the lines of “three Lapland Buntings flew that way”. I walked down anyway and quickly picked one up on call as it flew around with the Mipits. The time I have recently spent learning that call certainly paid off and I was much more chuffed with that brief sighting than I was with the confiding individual on Winter Hill recently. I didn’t really have time to try and pin it down though and left shortly afterwards.
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Later that night around the van I could hear two Tawny Owls calling in the darkness and then the high pitched whistles of numerous migrating Redwings as they passed over. I always think this is a wondrous experience knowing that hundreds if not thousands of birds are flying overhead in the darkness, unseen. I arrived back home in Winwick late that night to hear the same calls there too!

Feeding station

Tree Sparrows at my feeding station

Grey Partridges at the feeding station

Greylags, Rixton

Yellowhammer at the feeding station

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5th – 8th October.
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Tuesday was a nice sunny day. HGF was much the same with the usual line up of water birds. A Common Sandpiper was again patrolling the shoreline – as I have not recorded one here past early Sept I decided it warranted a very close look. Sadly it wasn’t a juvenile Spotted Sandpiper. A couple of Buzzards soared over the pool and a Chiffchaff called in the south hedge.
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I had a wander over to Moat Lane pools in Rixton and was pleasantly surprised to see four Green Sandpipers on pool 1. Five Gadwalls were also present – it’s great to see some ducks coming back onto the pool as the water level increases. An additional adult pair of Mute Swans had joined the three from the weekend – the cob (left, green, BPZ) was busy chasing the other swans around. 11 Skylarks flew over, a Buzzard appeared and then a Green Woodpecker flew over the pool. A single Swallow flew over Holly Bush Lane. Very enjoyable visit!
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Early evening I visited the feeding station. I immediately noticed a largish flock of small brown jobs flying into the field opposite and then back to the hawthorn hedge further up. This turned out to be a flock of around 70 Tree Sparrows with a few House Sparrows thrown in. Just like last year it seems they appear from nowhere and have turned up in these numbers far quicker this year. The flock eventually split with 15-20 birds remaining around the feeding station while the rest disappeared. A flock of 50+ Linnets were also feeding in the fields to the west and a covey of 8 Grey Partridges also appeared at the feeding station as did 2 Yellowhammers and 9 Greenfinches.
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Wednesday morning at HGF and no sign of yesterday’s Common Sandpiper. A third Wigeon was back for the winter today and 99 Lapwings flew over south in four small waves. This evening I managed a trip to Winter Hill and caught up with at least 2 Black Redstarts – they were amazingly elusive though, unlike the four Wheatears flitting around the place. A very brief look at the feeding station produced 8 Tree Sparrows – they have hammered the seed I put out and there was none left!
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Thursday was largely a non-birding day due to work pressures. On the way home at dusk I did observe a cock Pheasant in a field off Waterworks Lane which was chasing a covey of 7 Grey Partridges. None of the birds flew – they all scuttled around like a sketch from Benny Hill!
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Friday lunch I made a quick visit to Rixton. At Moat Lane pool 1, four Green Sandpipers were again present. 10 Teal flew over the pool (four Tufties were on it) and there was an increase in the Mute Swan numbers. A new and un-ringed adult pair were present in addition to JP4 and the other 2 presumed 2cy birds. Another bird of similar age dropped in while I was there and three juvenile swans were also on the pool. No sign of the pair with the ringed cob from earlier in the week.

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At dusk I made a repeat visit. A Kingfisher was perched up on an overhanging branch and a pair of Canada Geese had arrived. 13 Magpies were on one of the mud islands. 4 Grey Partridges were on Hooly Bush Lane - a few Teal and Gadwall were on the tip pool. Later I drove past the feeding station just as darkness fell - 6 Tree Sparrows were present.

A familar duck

Lesser Scaup, Draycote Water

Draycote Water in the late evening sun

Pectoral Sandpiper, Upton Warren

Tree Sparrow at the feeding station

Mute Swans at Moat Lane pool, Rixton. Blue JP4 is the left hand bird

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2nd – 4th October
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Saturday morning (2nd October) was bright and breezy with plenty of sun – a welcome change to the mucky grey skies and copious rain of the last week or so. Early on I nipped out to have a quick butchers at my feeding station. Three Yellowhammers and a couple of Tree Sparrows were already in residence – they were soon joined by 8 Greenfinches. Rather worryingly one of the Tree Sparrows was all fluffed up and lethargic with tiny sunken eyes – much like the Greenfinches with trichomonosis. Four Skylarks flew over – otherwise it was quiet.
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Mid morning I took Karen to the hairdressers and then spent 40 minutes or so wandering around Newton Lake. The Teal numbers have increased to 74 with the usual pairs of Mute Swans, Little Grebes and Canada Geese present. 11 Tufted Ducks were also dozing on the water. Two Grey Wagtails flew over and then disappeared on the muddy spit. I walked up towards the church and was immediately struck by the number of Robins – at least 20 were flitting around. A Nuthatch was flitting around in the usual place by the church, a Jay perched in the top of a nearby tree and pairs of Coal Tit and Goldcrest were also seen.
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Late morning I took Bill over to Rixton for a walk. Driving down Holly Bush Lane I could see a Kestrel and 2 Sparrowhawks in the air to the west – a flock of around 80 Goldfinches were also there. A second Kestrel was present on Woodend Lane and Skylarks seemed to be buzzing around everywhere. The first thing I saw on Moat Lane pool 1 was the now usual Green Sandpiper – typically it flew to the back of the pool and then headed off towards the tip pool. Three Mute Swans were present together on the pool – it took me a while to confirm one of them was Blue JP4. I haven’t seen him since the 17th Sept – no idea where he has been for the last fortnight but good to see him back.
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A pair of Wigeon, a Teal, a Little Grebe and a few Tufties and Coots were also on the pool. A small flock of wagtails at the back included two Greys. Four Buzzards suddenly appeared and flew low over the pool in turn giving stonking views and leaving me cursing that I had left my camera in the car. The birds on the pool seemed a little nervous but quietened down after the Buzzards left. Someone then started shooting in the wood to the west and flock after flock of ducks flew over the pool – at least 220 Mallards and around 35 Teal with some of the latter briefly descending onto the pool. Eventually the shooting spooked everything and emptied the pool bar the swans. Pool 2 was dead – nearby were a Nuthatch and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
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Mid afternoon I headed off to HGF via Waterworks Lane. There was nothing present at the feeding station, however as with everywhere I went today birds were constantly on the move and flying all over the place. I love these autumn days when the bird life seems so busy. A flock of Woodpigeons and various brown jobs had settled in the field by the treatment works. He spooked when a Buzzard flew over but quickly settled again, however almost immediately a Merlin appeared from somewhere and flew right into the middle of the flock. Birds scattered everywhere, however the Merlin was unsuccessful and flew up to perch on a pylon before heading off towards Burtonwood.
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HGF was probably the quietest place I visited today. On the water were 77 Coot, 40 Mallard, 14 Tufted Duck, 2 Wigeon, 3 Little Grebe and 10 Great Crested Grebes. 60 or so Black-headed Gulls were bathing in the pool and 24 Pied Wagtails were feeding in the field opposite the kennels – more than a few of them looking good candidates for White Wagtail. Again today at HGF I heard the unusual Robin call – I can’t even begin to describe it but it almost seems to be a croak! 7 Skylarks were present in the south field.
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Sunday morning was very wet with heavy rain for hours. Partly for the sake of something to do I took Bill out to Pennington Flash. It was quiet at PF with a dearth of both birds and birders. A female Sparrowhawk cruised down the spit and flushed nothing! At the feeding station the usual Willow Tits and Bullfinches were joined by a Nuthatch – a bit of a rarity here and only the second one I have seen here.
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A mooch around HGF in the rain produced little other than two coveys of Grey Partridges (7 and 5) and a couple of fly over Skylarks. In the afternoon I had the please of driving down the M6 in this muck (work in Droitwich the next day) and spent nearly four hours on the motorway. I had called in briefly at the feeding station on my way past – 3 Tree Sparrows and a flock of around 70 Linnets in the field opposite were all I found.
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On arrival at my accommodation for the night I took advantage of the fact that it is literally next door to Upton Warren nature reserve and duly headed off to the flashes for the last hour of daylight. A few Chiffchaffs were calling in the hedge (a sort of suueee call) but not much else on the way to the hides. When I settled in to the main hide the juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper could be seen on the far side of the pool feeding at the edge of the reed bed. Also here were 18 Snipe (checked for Jacks and found none) plus a Dunlin, a Green Sandpiper and a juvenile Water Rail. I also trawled through the large flock of Black-headed Gulls hoping for a Med but came up with nothing. Pleasant hour or so though, especially after the motorway madness.
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Monday after work I diverted over to Draycote Water on the way home. The attraction was a drake Lesser Scaup which is thought to be a returning bird first seen as a juvenile in 2007. I saw this bird as a juvenile that winter and again in adult plumage the following year. It was a pleasantly sunny and calm evening and I wandered slowly along Hensborough Bank scanning through the Tufties for the Lesser Scaup. The only other birder there was a guy who had only just started birding and had not much idea what he was looking for, he plonked himself down on the shoreline to watch for it. I eventually found the bird a few hundred yards further along – the bird was active briefly and then went to sleep. I told the guy where to find it on my way back.
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Draycote Water is a big reservoir – 650 acres holding 23,000,000m3 of water. It is over four times the size of Pennington Flash. There is a large gull flock here and this evening thousands of gulls were scattered all over the surface of the water including a few hundred Great Black-backs. I did a brief scan through, however I was running out of daylight to see anything (it went dark at 6-20 – when did that creep up?). At one point every gull on the water spooked and the birds all went up – what a magnificent sight!