New Years Day (part 1)

 Happy New Year to you all!!

A new year and a new year list. I like to start the new year with a good effort on the first day, and see how many I can get on my list. It was an early start and still dark as I headed towards Merseyside. The forecast was good, with some actual sunshine and no rain for once. Lisa and I arrived at Lunt Meadows hoping to see the Green-winged Teal that had been resident for some weeks. That would be a really good one to get on the 2024 list. Before that though, we were so lucky to watch a Barn Owl float across the fields in the early sunshine. What a great start!

Just one loan Goldeneye dropped in, but it landed nice and close for good views.

The Green-winge Teal (on the left) spent most of it's time roosting on the bank, but gave good views of the tell tale white vertical stripe beneath it's shoulder.

On the water this time (top centre) with other Teal.

We moved on to Crosby Marine lake where there quite a number of bonus birds which were not on my radar for the day. This lone Oystercatcher gave a nice fly-by giving it's usual call.

There were a few Turnstones on the shore line of the marine lake. A bird that I'd not expected to see.

Goldeneye

In recent weeks some of our winter ducks have returned, and one of my favourites is the Goldeneye. Upwards of 20 are now on the local Redesmere lake. Always quite a timid duck, and so they tend to stay at some distance. These are no difference and they've been spending most of their time a good 200 metres from my viewing point. The odd few have taken a flight a little closer, but none of the males so far.

These are a couple of females that strayed close enough for me to get some pictures.

Female Goldeneye

Goldeneye

I carried out my WeBS count recently at Redesmere lake and it was good to see the first returning pair of Goldeneye of the winter. It's nice to see the birds returning, especially as we have now lost all our summer migrants. The lakes will be filling up with larger numbers and varying species of geese. Hopefully I will get to see some of the rarer ones this year. 

In the meantime, I am happy enough watching the Goldeneye out in the deeper sections of the water.

Very good looking male.

Male and female here.

A male Tufted Duck here, not to be confused with the male Goldeneye.

And  a female Tufted Duck.

Elton Reservoir

Elton Reservoir in Bury is a great place. It attracts most of the common water birds plus good numbers of rarities and less common stuff. Any visit there brings reward in one way or another, be it some good birds, good pictures or just a nice pleasant walk.
At the car park area there are lots of feeders that are regularly topped up by a local birder. These have brought in some good birds during the winter months, in the shape of Brambling, Willow Tit and Lesser Redpoll. I managed to see a Brambling while I was watching, but it was camera shy.

This very nice looking male Bullfinch was a pleasant surprise.

 A nice Common Buzzard overhead.

A Dunnock on territory and looking very nice too.

There were three Goldeneye on the water, but sadly they didn't hang around.

Long Tailed Duck - Crosby Marine Lake

One of two lifers so far this year, was a Long Tailed Duck at Crosby Marine Lake in Liverpool. (The other was a Bittern the day before). Last Sunday my friend Phil and I made an early icy and foggy start, and headed over to Liverpool. The forecast was for good light and no rain, so to be driving through the fog was not what we expected. Our positivity was telling us that it will be clear by the coast. Well it did clear and the sun shone, but the bird wasn't playing ball and was staying well away from us on the other side of the lake. A couple of times it drifted closer, but not close enough. The sun then disappeared and we had a torrential downpour.
Now both wet and cold (rather than just cold) it drifted a little closer with the aid of some very vocal people in a canoe. Sadly this was as close as it got, and these shots really are no more than record shots. I hope to see another one with better light one day. A nice looking duck all the same.

Long Tailed Duck 

Here together with a Goldeneye.

Goldeneye

 

Martin Mere attracts many wintering ducks and geese. A lovely duck that travels to the UK for wintering is the Goldeneye. I have to admit to not knowing the origins of this particular bird as Martin Mere does have a very good conservation programme, and this bird seemed a little too tame. But still, it gave me the opportunity to get some lovely close ups of a beautiful bird.

 

Going for a dive. Well almost.

Pennington Flash

A nice cold and bright forecast meant I was out before sunrise, and off to Pennington Flash to see what was on offer. You can never fail here, at one of the North West's finest birding sites. Such a mix of habitat opens up so many possibilities. I registered over 30 different species this morning. Nothing really out of the ordinary, but it's just a joy to be out with nature at that time of the morning. One thing that did catch my eye, were the Goldeneye going through their courtship display. Most unusal, and I found myself fixated with three males trying to woo two females. They didn't seem that interested but that didn't deter the males. Maybe they needed their beer goggles.

Goldeneye (not 007)

A Pennington favourite (and my Mum's favourite too)

A Stock Dove

Early morning from the Tom Edmonson hide