Visiting an old friend

Mute Swan JP4 with his mate in Moat Lane pools


1st March

The usual early morning trip to HGF produced a patch tick in
the form of a Curlew which was flying around the south field and then headed
off towards the fields opposite Midhops. Perhaps the same bird I heard on
Sunday? A pair of Goldeneye were on the pool and also a single Redshank.
Astonishingly when I look back at my records, this is the first one I have seen
here for 11 months! Gone are the days when half a dozen would spend all winter
here. 12 Tree Sparrows and 6 Yellowhammers were at the feeding station when I
drove past.

At lunch I nipped out to Moat Lane pools. A Green Sandpiper was
present on the usual pool, as were Mute Swan JP4 and his mate. JP4 has now been
present on this pool for almost two years – 16th March 2010 was the
first time I recorded him. A few Tufties and Coot plus a Redshank were also
present. The mosses were dead.

After work I nipped over to Risley Moss. The place was alive
with the sound of birds. On the walk up to the viewpoint I spotted dozens of
tits including a couple of Coal Tits, 3 Redwings, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers,
a Treecreeper and a Nuthatch. Peter was already present at the tower but hadn’t
seen much. There were plenty of bits and bats around with at least 7 each of
Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting coming into roost, more Redwings going over, 2
more Great Spots and two Sparrowhawks seen flying across the mosses. As
darkness descended the first Woodcock and Snipe made appearances but no owls.

Eventually two Tawnies started calling and then Pete saw a Short-eared Owl
briefly at the back – I missed it. Pete left then but I stayed around for a
while. I still didn’t see any shorties, however I did pick up totals of 17
Snipe and 4 Woodcock.