Yellowhammer, feeding station
Tree Sparrows constantly flew onto this straw bale near the feeding station. Not sure if it was just warm or a good source of food.
Mixed sparrows at the feeding station
Stock Dove at the feeding station
The Scaup at HGF shortly before he departed.
Wigeon, HGF
Gadwall - rare visitors to HGF
Common Gulls at a frozen Newton Lake
Mallard, Newton Lake
Teal, Newton Lake
Moorhen,Newton LakeXxxxx
Saturday morning I took Bill and headed off to the Fylde. I was determined to get a butchers at the Firecrest. First I decided to have another look at the Iceland Gull nearby. The dock was largely frozen and the gull was out in the middle in one of the unfrozen pools. I made the decision that it wasn’t going anywhere and decided to have breakfast. By the time I finished the gull had scarpered!
xxxxx
On arrival at Freckleton I spent some time looking in the area that Jonathan had seen the Firecrest and unfortunately saw not a lot. Well I did see a Goldcrest and a Treecreeper. I headed off back down the path to the place I was looking last time and passed a birder who had seen the bird briefly by the little wooden bridge. A number of birders now materialised and we all spaced out along the path. I carried on wandering further down towards the houses at the end and, as luck would have it, the Firecrest materialised just a few yards away and gave good views. Everyone soon got onto the bird, however it was clearly a bird on a mission. It flitted along the path at a rate and was clearly not stopping to feed. We lost it around the back of the boat yard. A female Bullfinch was the only other bird of note. It was very good to bump into Mike Watson and Mark Varley, two superb birders who I haven’t seen in a long while.
Xxxxxx
Next stop was Marton Mere. Stupidly I had forgotten that the sun at this time of day shines directly into your eyes when looking for the owls. I did find two Long-eared Owls close to the path, I had no chance of finding any others so I decided to wander home.
xxxxx
Sunday 28th November
Xxxxx
A bit of sad news today. I visited Newton Lake to find the Cob Mute Swan floating dead in the pool. The Pen was hanging around him as though she couldn’t understand what he was doing. I have watched this pair of swans for over 6 years and I felt gutted to see him like this. The pool was largely frozen with few free areas. 90 Teal were visible though some were probably asleep under the tree roots at the back of the pool. Lots of gulls today too with 334 Black-headed Gulls and 18 Common Gulls.
Xxxx
At HGF eight Gadwalls were a welcome change. A large Lapwing flock was hanging around and the Scaup was still there. At the feeding station 5 Yellowhammers joined 70+ Tree Sparrows while the Linnet flock has arrived back from its sojourn to Highfield Lane! Around 25 Tree Sparrows were feeding in the garden early doors.
xxxx
Wednesday 1st December
Xxxxx
The morning visit to HGF started with a Sparrowhawk floating over the south field. At the pool I discovered around 30 Tufted Ducks had departed since my last visit and so had the Scaup. Three Pochard were still there and singles of Meadow Pipit and Skylark were also in the south field. Around 40 Tree Sparrows were in the garden first thing while 4 Mute Swans flying over Waterworks Lane while on my way to work was a Winwick tick, believe it or not.
xxxxxx
Thursday 2nd December
Xxxxx
No chance for any birding today though I did see a Woodcock fly over the M53 at dusk while I was driving home from work.
xxxxxxx
Friday 3rd December
Xxxxx
At HGF the pool was largely frozen today with the ice covered in a blanket of snow. 2 Dunlins were feeding by the edge of the remaining free water. Most of the aythya ducks had disappeared with just 5 Tufties left. The Coots by contrast have increased to around 100 birds and 5 Teal were present, stood on the ice.
Xxxxxx
At the feeding station today around 70 Tree Sparrows were feeding. In the stubble field opposite a flock of 13 Skylarks were chased by a Kestrel. It seemed a bit half-hearted – maybe the Kes was just testing them to see if any were knackered and worth a prolonged chase? Mid afternoon I arrived home, got out of the car and immediately heard a familiar trilling call. I looked up to see a single Waxwing fly from the back garden and head off over Myddleton Lane. Superb!
Saturday morning I took Bill and headed off to the Fylde. I was determined to get a butchers at the Firecrest. First I decided to have another look at the Iceland Gull nearby. The dock was largely frozen and the gull was out in the middle in one of the unfrozen pools. I made the decision that it wasn’t going anywhere and decided to have breakfast. By the time I finished the gull had scarpered!
xxxxx
On arrival at Freckleton I spent some time looking in the area that Jonathan had seen the Firecrest and unfortunately saw not a lot. Well I did see a Goldcrest and a Treecreeper. I headed off back down the path to the place I was looking last time and passed a birder who had seen the bird briefly by the little wooden bridge. A number of birders now materialised and we all spaced out along the path. I carried on wandering further down towards the houses at the end and, as luck would have it, the Firecrest materialised just a few yards away and gave good views. Everyone soon got onto the bird, however it was clearly a bird on a mission. It flitted along the path at a rate and was clearly not stopping to feed. We lost it around the back of the boat yard. A female Bullfinch was the only other bird of note. It was very good to bump into Mike Watson and Mark Varley, two superb birders who I haven’t seen in a long while.
Xxxxxx
Next stop was Marton Mere. Stupidly I had forgotten that the sun at this time of day shines directly into your eyes when looking for the owls. I did find two Long-eared Owls close to the path, I had no chance of finding any others so I decided to wander home.
xxxxx
Sunday 28th November
Xxxxx
A bit of sad news today. I visited Newton Lake to find the Cob Mute Swan floating dead in the pool. The Pen was hanging around him as though she couldn’t understand what he was doing. I have watched this pair of swans for over 6 years and I felt gutted to see him like this. The pool was largely frozen with few free areas. 90 Teal were visible though some were probably asleep under the tree roots at the back of the pool. Lots of gulls today too with 334 Black-headed Gulls and 18 Common Gulls.
Xxxx
At HGF eight Gadwalls were a welcome change. A large Lapwing flock was hanging around and the Scaup was still there. At the feeding station 5 Yellowhammers joined 70+ Tree Sparrows while the Linnet flock has arrived back from its sojourn to Highfield Lane! Around 25 Tree Sparrows were feeding in the garden early doors.
xxxx
Wednesday 1st December
Xxxxx
The morning visit to HGF started with a Sparrowhawk floating over the south field. At the pool I discovered around 30 Tufted Ducks had departed since my last visit and so had the Scaup. Three Pochard were still there and singles of Meadow Pipit and Skylark were also in the south field. Around 40 Tree Sparrows were in the garden first thing while 4 Mute Swans flying over Waterworks Lane while on my way to work was a Winwick tick, believe it or not.
xxxxxx
Thursday 2nd December
Xxxxx
No chance for any birding today though I did see a Woodcock fly over the M53 at dusk while I was driving home from work.
xxxxxxx
Friday 3rd December
Xxxxx
At HGF the pool was largely frozen today with the ice covered in a blanket of snow. 2 Dunlins were feeding by the edge of the remaining free water. Most of the aythya ducks had disappeared with just 5 Tufties left. The Coots by contrast have increased to around 100 birds and 5 Teal were present, stood on the ice.
Xxxxxx
At the feeding station today around 70 Tree Sparrows were feeding. In the stubble field opposite a flock of 13 Skylarks were chased by a Kestrel. It seemed a bit half-hearted – maybe the Kes was just testing them to see if any were knackered and worth a prolonged chase? Mid afternoon I arrived home, got out of the car and immediately heard a familiar trilling call. I looked up to see a single Waxwing fly from the back garden and head off over Myddleton Lane. Superb!
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