Photos from Moore:
A very tame Robin at Eastern Reedbeds, gulls flying off from Birchwood Pool, a distant Bittern in the reeds and an adult Yellow-legged Gull on Pumphouse Pool
16th January
An early morning visit to HGF in drizzle produced the following sightings:#
Coot 25
Great Crested Grebe 6
Pochard 5
Tufted Duck 25
Wigeon 67
17th January
I had a wander over to Moore this afternoon. On arrival at Birchwood Pool I could see hundreds of gulls settled on the pool (mostly ice covered) and proceeded to trawl my way through them. Suddenly every bird on the pool spooked and flew off. I then noticed two dicks heads in camouflage gear toting large cameras and were walking around the edge of the pool around fifty yards left of the hide. What fu**wits! Why did they have to go out onto the pool and spook everything when there is a hide just yards away?
I decided that staying here would prove fruitless so I headed up to Pumphouse Pool where again several hundred gulls were present. Scanning from the lower hide I soon found an adult Yellow-legged Gull. I watched this bird for a few minutes when again the pool emptied. The culprit this time was a JCB type which had come off the tip and was driving round the edge of the pool. It’s going to be one of those days thinks I and headed off to the Eastern Reed beds.
Several birders were already present but no sign of any Bitterns yet. I sat down and watched a very friendly Robin feeding on bread crumbs just a foot from my face – it even walked over my hand to get some more! A Bittern was then spotted over the far side by one of the birders – this bird clambered around in the reeds and then just seemed to freeze while perched in the top of the reeds. Another birder and myself then simultaneously spotted a second bird which flew across the pool and landed in the reeds to the right of the viewing screen whereupon it proceeded to emulate the first bird.
With darkness descending, the other birders left. I decided to stick around for a bit longer. A couple of Sparrowhawks soon appeared (male and a female) and they began flying around the reed beds. Shortly after a small flock of Starlings appeared – they buzzed nervously over the reeds and flew off, only to return a few minutes later in slightly larger numbers and repeat the performance. Eventually around 500 Starlings were circling a few hundred feet above the reed while the Sparrowhawks circled at a much lower level beneath them. The hawks made no attempt whatsoever to have a pop at the Starling flock.
The Sparrowhawks then momentarily disappeared and the Starling flock (around 600 birds by now) dropped straight on top of the location of the second Bittern. There was no visible reaction, however I don’t think the Bittern would have had to work hard to get supper. A few stragglers then appeared at low level and one unfortunate Starling was ambushed by the female Sparrowhawk. The hawk ate its supper directly opposite the hide – I stopped watching when I realised the Starling was still alive for much of this process.
18th January
No real opportunity for birding today, however I was in Culcheth near dusk and so I diverted down Lady Lane for a look see. To my delight a Little Owl was perched in the front of the tree – first one I have seen here in ages. I watched the bird for a bit – it then flew across the road and perched on the fenceline behind the cottage (having seen one perched here several times before I conclude it seems to like this spot) before disappearing. Just the one bird seen tonight.
19th January
I finished work on the Wirral today and turned up at Denhall Lane shortly before dusk. A single Short-eared Owl was hunting opposite the parking area and lots of distant swans could be seen at the rear of the marsh beyond. Unfortunately a very heavy rain / hail shower suddenly descended and put paid to any birding. I sat in the car until the shower passed and then got out to watch a ring-tail Hen Harrier drift past the car. More rain / hail then set in and this lot seemed to be permanent so I headed home.
An early morning visit to HGF in drizzle produced the following sightings:#
Coot 25
Great Crested Grebe 6
Pochard 5
Tufted Duck 25
Wigeon 67
17th January
I had a wander over to Moore this afternoon. On arrival at Birchwood Pool I could see hundreds of gulls settled on the pool (mostly ice covered) and proceeded to trawl my way through them. Suddenly every bird on the pool spooked and flew off. I then noticed two dicks heads in camouflage gear toting large cameras and were walking around the edge of the pool around fifty yards left of the hide. What fu**wits! Why did they have to go out onto the pool and spook everything when there is a hide just yards away?
I decided that staying here would prove fruitless so I headed up to Pumphouse Pool where again several hundred gulls were present. Scanning from the lower hide I soon found an adult Yellow-legged Gull. I watched this bird for a few minutes when again the pool emptied. The culprit this time was a JCB type which had come off the tip and was driving round the edge of the pool. It’s going to be one of those days thinks I and headed off to the Eastern Reed beds.
Several birders were already present but no sign of any Bitterns yet. I sat down and watched a very friendly Robin feeding on bread crumbs just a foot from my face – it even walked over my hand to get some more! A Bittern was then spotted over the far side by one of the birders – this bird clambered around in the reeds and then just seemed to freeze while perched in the top of the reeds. Another birder and myself then simultaneously spotted a second bird which flew across the pool and landed in the reeds to the right of the viewing screen whereupon it proceeded to emulate the first bird.
With darkness descending, the other birders left. I decided to stick around for a bit longer. A couple of Sparrowhawks soon appeared (male and a female) and they began flying around the reed beds. Shortly after a small flock of Starlings appeared – they buzzed nervously over the reeds and flew off, only to return a few minutes later in slightly larger numbers and repeat the performance. Eventually around 500 Starlings were circling a few hundred feet above the reed while the Sparrowhawks circled at a much lower level beneath them. The hawks made no attempt whatsoever to have a pop at the Starling flock.
The Sparrowhawks then momentarily disappeared and the Starling flock (around 600 birds by now) dropped straight on top of the location of the second Bittern. There was no visible reaction, however I don’t think the Bittern would have had to work hard to get supper. A few stragglers then appeared at low level and one unfortunate Starling was ambushed by the female Sparrowhawk. The hawk ate its supper directly opposite the hide – I stopped watching when I realised the Starling was still alive for much of this process.
18th January
No real opportunity for birding today, however I was in Culcheth near dusk and so I diverted down Lady Lane for a look see. To my delight a Little Owl was perched in the front of the tree – first one I have seen here in ages. I watched the bird for a bit – it then flew across the road and perched on the fenceline behind the cottage (having seen one perched here several times before I conclude it seems to like this spot) before disappearing. Just the one bird seen tonight.
19th January
I finished work on the Wirral today and turned up at Denhall Lane shortly before dusk. A single Short-eared Owl was hunting opposite the parking area and lots of distant swans could be seen at the rear of the marsh beyond. Unfortunately a very heavy rain / hail shower suddenly descended and put paid to any birding. I sat in the car until the shower passed and then got out to watch a ring-tail Hen Harrier drift past the car. More rain / hail then set in and this lot seemed to be permanent so I headed home.
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