Cas!

30th November

Working in the midlands again I managed to engineer a longer lunch break today and headed over to Stubbers Green. This is only 8 miles from where I work but takes 25 minutes to get there. When I arrived I bumped into Phil Owen who was there to look for the same bird as I was – a Caspian Gull. We both moved around until we got a good viewing point and then started scanning. Simultaneously we found the Cas. This was a large bird and was difficult to see clearly, being continually obscured by other gulls. With patience and time though we gradually trawled through the ID characteristics we could remember and both came to the conclusion that this was a nailed on Caspian. I did check with Mr McKerchar though before getting too carried away – I know my limitations on gulls! What a big, stunning bird this is.

Aldcliffe Marsh

Photos:

European White-fronted Geese and Tree Sparrow at Aldcliffe Marsh

27th November

This morning I started off walking Bill around Aldcliffe Marshes. Initially it was a little on the quiet side though there were plenty of Redwings in the hedges and around 20 Tree Sparrows and 3 Bullfinches were seen. Around 40 Goldfinches were feeding in the Alders in Freeman’s Wood so I stopped to watch them for a while. Four Goldeneyes were on the nearby pools.

I had hoped to see some of the recently spotted White-fronted Geese but none were visible and few other geese were around. I headed back down to the parking spot at the far end of the lane and suddenly three White-fronts flew low over, calling and disappeared somewhere onto the marsh. Back nr the car park I stood at the corner looking out over the marsh. It was extremely windy so keeping the scope still was a job in itself, however the tide was starting to flood the marsh and almost by magic geese were appearing!

I estimated around 500 Greylags and 150 Canadas were present and mixed in with them were 23 euro White-fronts. Scanning around I also found a further 12 birds emerging from a creek over towards Heaton Marsh. A large Lapwing flock was present and around 250 Golden Plovers mingled with their larger cousins. A presumed raptor seemed to be creating havoc with the birds continually flushing in panic – I never did see it. At high tide with most of the marsh flooded, a pipit flew in front of me. The strong supercilium at first glance had me thinking briefly of Water Pipit, however when it turned round giving better views, I could see it was a Rock Pipit.

I briefly called in at Morecambe on the way back to the van, stopping off at Broadway. 23 Eiders, 2 Goldeneyes, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 9 Red-breasted Mergansers were on the sea.

Later we arrived home and I popped round to HGF. 19 Pochards were now there, the Goldeneye still present but has moved from his usual place on the pool and 14 Redwings flew over. Nothing at the feeding station again.

28th November

Goldeneye still on HGF today, only 1 Little Grebe left.

29th November

No birding today

Chew Wader Fest

Poor record shots at Chew Valley Lake of:

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper with two Long-billed Dowitchers

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper with Dunlin

Spotted Sandpiper

22nd November

Not much at HGF this morning. The Goldeneye is still present and 16 Pochard were on the water today. 10 Redwings flew over. I briefly checked the feeding station – nothing!

23rd November

Four new Mute Swans were present on HGF this morning. Six Mistle Thrushes were perched on the wires and the Goldeneye is still there. There were zero Great Crested Grebes today although four Little Grebes remain. Again nothing at the feeding station.

24th November

Working away today and an early finish allowed me to head over to nearby Chew Valley Lake. The recently arrived Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was not on show when I got there and the Dunlin flock with which it was associating had buggered off. I wandered over to Herriot’s Pool and sound found the long-staying adult Spotted Sandpiper so I watched this bird for a bit. I then walked back across the road to scan the edge of the main lake and soon the Dunlin flock reappeared with the Sharp-tail in tow. It was somewhat distant but the plumage characteristics which separate it from Pectoral Sandpiper could still be seen. Good bird!

Shortly afterwards the two juvenile Long-billed Dowitchers also appeared – what a wader line up this place has had this summer and autumn! Seven Bewick’s Swans were present – a lone adult on the lake and a pair with four juveniles on the spit in front of Stratford Hide. The female of this pair is somewhat famous for being a divorcee (she is called Saruni) – her ex-husband apparently arrived at Slimbridge this year with no young. See this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/8477351.stm

Also present were 2 Ravens and quite a few Snipe. I didn’t have time to have a good look through the wildfowl though.

25th November

No birding today.

26th November

I stayed fairly local all day today – just flitting from place to place. Nothing new at HGF though 21 Pied Wagtails were feeding in the south field and 2 Great Crested Grebes were back. While on an errand I drove down Parkside Lane and noticed quite a few birds at the back of the turnip field opposite Parkside Farm. Stopping I found 8 Mistle Thrushes, 45 Linnets, 30 Fieldfares and some Chaffinches.

At home a couple of Tree Sparrows were in the garden today and a gang of 10 Long-tailed Tits passed through. Overhead a skein of 50+ Pink-footed Geese flew over, heading NE – a curious direction as virtually all birds over here are flying either SE or NW. A Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard were seen in Waterworks Lane – nothing at the feeding station though. Later I had a quick wander round Rixton which was largely fruitless although 5000+ Starlings on the tip provided some entertainment. We then headed north late in the day to the van.

Fog stops play

Photos:

Great Black-backed Gulls, HGF

Mediterranean Gull, Halton

20th November

I awoke this morning to thick mist everywhere in N Lancs which made viewing anything very difficult. I generally didn’t bother – just nipping over to Melling to check out the Whoopers (nine) and the geese there which constituted a couple of hundred Canadas and Greylags. In the afternoon it cleared up, however we were heading back home then. A quick check of Halton weir on my way past produced another adult Med.

I checked the feeding station again on arriving home – nothing again. Not a single bird. What on earth is going on? On 5th November, 15 days ao, there were 82 Tree Sparrows and the feeding station had been busy every day with House Sparrows, Grey Partridges, Collared Doves, Chaffinches etc. Since then I have not seen a single bird near the place.

Further up the lane was a gull flock which comprised 87 Black-headed Gulls and 55 Herring Gulls, Two Meadow Pipits also flew over. On HGF late afternoon were 7 Great Black-backed Gulls, all bunched together in a small flock. In the south field were 17 Pied Wags.

21st November

No birding today.

Greater Yellowlegs

Greater Yellowlegs at East Chevington CP

19th November

Started this morning early at HGF. Goldeneye still present – nothing else of note. Next we headed north to the van. I checked the weir at Halton on my way past and found an adult Med Gull on it. I can’t make my mind up whether this is a new bird or one of the three I have seen recently but in a more advanced state of moult. Nothing again at the feeding station.

Today was sunny and having got a free pass for the day I headed over into the north east to see if I could see the Greater Yellowlegs. Normally I wouldn’t go this far out of my way to see a rarity, however this is one of those birds I have always always wanted to see.

After a good drive I rolled up at Druridge Bay CP knowing the bird had been reported there no more than 20 minutes earlier. Guess what? It had done one. I met a birder there who told me I would be gripped by what he had to say (he was right) and then told me a tale of the bird walking just a few feet past him etc. The dilemma I (and lots of other birders) found myself in was: which way do I try next?

While I was pondering my next move the bird was reported again at East Chevington NR. Great stuff. Only I know it’s nearby but where exactly and how do I get there? Coincidentally I wasn’t the only birder wondering this. None of us knew. I ended up asking a shop assistant at the CP and she gave me general directions so I set off with a load of birders in tow. East Chevington isn’t signposted and you wouldn’t for the life of you think to go down the roads we did. Anyway I arrived, saw lots of cars and assumed they were from birders so I parked up and began walking. Wrong again!

The cars were simply lots of dog walkers – I ended up walking back to the car and driving another mile before parking again and heading down a track. I knew I was on the right path this time because of the number of birders heading in the opposite direction with self-satisfied grins on their faces.

Apparently the bird had tucked itself under a reedbed and the only way of seeing it was to walk right round the pool and over onto the hillside opposite which overlooked the pool. Knowing the bird had been very flighty for days and was liable to shift at any moment, the next 25 minutes were horrendous. All the time I walked the path I could see a line of birders on a distant hillside watching the wader and I dreaded the possible view of them all packing up their scopes and walking away. That 25 minutes seemed a bloody long time.

Anyway, thankfully the bird stayed put and I enjoyed good if distant views of a cracking bird. All that fretting for nothing eh! The yellow legs glowed like they were fluorescent and the bird seemed like a mix between Spotted Redshank and Greenshank but then again not quite either. If you couldn’t see the legs on this bird I guess it could be easily confused with something much commoner. I came away dead chuffed and not even slightly bothered that I had missed a Green-winged Teal on the way past. I headed back to the van where, late afternoon 50 Fieldfares flew over and in the evening, the usual Tawny Owl began calling next to the van.

Snow Beauty

Photos:

White-fronted Geese (Russian) at Burton Mere Wetlands

Snow Bunting at Hoylake

16th November

HGF produced a nice surprise this morning with a pair of Bullfinches in the south hedge – a very rare visitor here. 18 Pied Wagtails were feeding in the south field and a flock of 77 Jackdaws flew over. One Goldeneye remains – the immature drake.

In Culcheth a single Corn Bunting was on the usual wires. In Rixton 4 Gadwall were new onto Moat Lane pools, along with 10 Tufted Ducks. Around the mosses, the 7500 Starlings were still around but split into three groups. One (500+) flew over towards Moss Side Lane. A flock of around 4000 was on the tip and around 3000 birds were lined up on telegraph wires at the top of Holly Bush Lane.

I checked the feeding station today and there was nothing around – not even a Collared Dove.

Late morning I headed back over to Burton Mere. I’ve been twice and didn’t much like either visit – why am I here? I know – it’s cold, grey and misty and windy and the centre is warm and has heating! Maybe my opinion will change.

There was sod all from the hide today, however the centre provided better fare. From here were 6 Whooper Swans, 13 Russian White-fronted Geese, 46 Snipe, 25 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Ruff, 15 Dunlin and 7 Pintail plus a Nuthatch on the feeders. It was a pleasant way to hide from the cold.

I then headed up to Hoylake. Lots of waders on the shore, however they were distant and the wind was blowing my scope all over the place again. The Snow Bunting at Red Rocks provided welcome cheer though.

I then headed back homewards and popped in to Frodsham Marsh on the way. Walking up the path around No. 6 tank I glanced over to No. 5 tank as soon as it came into view and immediately spotted two Short-eared Owls. They tangled briefly before going their separate ways – in both cases off easterly over in the direction of the R Weaver. Two Buzzards were perched on the fence line at the northern end of this tank.

When I got to the northern end of No.6 tank and started scanning over towards No.3 tank I found another three Shorties – all doing circuits around this tank. A Peregrine also came over and I could see a large flock of Lapwings with some Golden Plover missed in though most of the flock was out of view.

There were lots of ducks and waders on No. 6 tank including a flock of 2000+ Dunlin, around 800 Teal, 4 Goldeneye, 4 Ruddy Ducks and a pair of Scaup. Three more Buzzards also appeared here. It was grey and bitterly cold and windy but very entertaining nonetheless!

17th November

The usual morning visit to HGF yielded little other than a covey of 30+ Grey Partridges and also the immature drake Goldeneye which looks like it is going to stay for a while.

Late afternoon I headed over to Risley Moss. Singles of Bullfinch, Yellowhammer, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were seen. The Tawny Owl nr the viewpoint started calling early and eventually 11 Woodcock and 6 Snipe came past. No owls tonight though.

18th November

At dusk I managed to get over to Waterworks Lane to see if anything was around the feeding station. Nothing there so next I checked the usual roost site. Seven Tree Sparrows were there – I wonder where the rest of the flock has gone? As I stood pondering this question a Great Crested Grebe flew low over my head – heading towards HGF. I suspect this would be a patch tick if I kept a list for Winwick (can’t be bothered).

Owls

Photos:

Pink-footed Geese and Snipe at Burton Mere Wetlands

Short-eared Owl at Burton Marsh

15th November

Back home today after a week in North Lancs. I checked the feeding station – it was quiet with nothing around and curiously, quite a bit of uneaten food from before I went away. Further up the lane I did see 11 Yellowhammers and 2 Tree Sparrows.

At HGF 23 Redwings and 2 Fieldfares emerged from a roost in the south hedge. Two Goldeneyes are still present (imm drake and a duck) and two coveys of Grey Partridges were seen (30+6).

This afternoon I headed over to Burton Mere Wetlands. When I arrived I found the Whoopers, Bewicks and White-fronted Geese had all done one ten minutes earlier. I went and parked myself in the hide where the Jack Snipe had been seen – no luck although a few Common Snipe provided entertainment. It was interesting to see the wide variations in plumage tones and sizes of this species when viewed at close quarters. A few Pintails were on the pool and plenty of Pink-footed Geese flew over – at least 360 birds in various groups. Two ring-tail Hen Harriers were also seen.

Pete Welch turned up so we had a natter and then walking back to the centre a flock of Greylags contained the feral Ross’ Goose and a Barnacle Goose and two Whooper Swans.

Later I left (still not sure about this place) and headed for Denhall Lane where I experienced one of the birding spectaculars of the year. At least 14 Short-eared Owls were up and several came repeatedly very close. Another ring-tail Hen Harrier also appeared plus a Merlin. The afternoon went from cold, grey/grim and overcast to clear and sunny for the last hour and the spirits brightened immensely watching those owls in the pale golden light. Fantastic! I counted the egrets again as they flew to roost with 91 birds and then the Great White Egret bringing up the rear. A Woodcock also flew off the marsh and past me. What an afternoon!!!!

A last mooch around N Lancs

Photos:

Mediterranean Gull, Knot, Grey Plover and Black Redstart at Heysham

Scaup again off Morecambe

Bar-tailed Godwit at Sunderland Point

November 13th

Got out of bed a decent time this morning so I headed off to Heysham. Two adult Meds were perched on the railings at the north harbour wall – they soon disappeared. The ringers had set up near the Twite feeding station and approx 35 birds were hanging around so I stayed in the car until they fired the net to avoid disturbing the birds. I then walked off down the mound to see if yesterdays Black Redstart was around – the glum face of a departing birder who passed me suggested not. It wasn’t where it was supposed to be so I just started scanning around. I watched a Grey Plover and 3 Knot on the rocks below the wall for a bit and then headed off to the end following a dozen or so Meadow Pipits. At the end I had a quick look at the back side of the mound and immediately spotted the Black Redstart. It followed the Mipits back along the mound, giving tantalising glimpses but never staying still.

I eventually left and headed off to Sunderland Point to see if the Snow Buntings were still around. Another glum-faced birder at the car park told me a third birder had flushed three Snow Buntings early on and they flew off. He hadn’t seen them. I headed down there anyway, stopping along the way to watch some Grey Plovers and Bar-tailed Godwits. A Sparrowhawk also flew over and a flock of 130+ Pink-footed Geese. At the point there was not much doing so I plonked myself on a rock for a bit. Around twenty minutes later I spotted three small birds flying over the Lune from the direction of Plover Scar. They reached the east side of the point and flew along this side and were then unfortunately lost in the sun’s glare. Probably the three Snow Buntings but only silhouette’s seen. I then headed off before rising tide could trap me – I saw the Sparrowhawk again on the way back to the car park.

Next I headed for Morecambe and went to the end of the stone jetty (something I rarely do) to see if the tide was bring anything in. Half an hour of staring at empty sea was rewarded when nine Barnacle Geese flew past heading south. I then had a quick scan from Broadway groyne – yesterdays three Scaup were still present along with 7 Great Crested Grebes, a drake Pochard which was way out in the bay and 8 Red-breasted Mergansers. Usual load of waders on the groyne – unfortunate I ran out of time as we then had to leave north Lancs and go back home.

Late afternoon I took Bill to HGF. It was a bit busier than of recent with four Goldeneye very welcome visitors. In 2006-09 I would typically record this species present on 40 or so days in the year – in 2010 and 2011 I can count the number of sightings on the fingers of one hand!

The Wigeon flock had increased to 37 birds since my last visit 9 days ago and there was a good sprinkling of aythya ducks with 19 Pochards and 27 Tufties. A Kestrel and 3 Buzzards were also seen.

At dusk I headed into Culcheth on errands but diverted through Rixton. At the top end of Holly Bush Lane I spotted some Starlings on a nearby pylon – around 1500 or so. Suddenly a much larger flock erupted from some trees behind the pylons – I estimate around 7500 birds were present. They swarmed and swirled around making fantastic shapes in the sky for around ten minutes before departing – I suspect heading to Rostherne.

14th November

No birding today.