Lancashire Birding

I took an early morning trip to the North West coast near Southport recently, as there were a number of good birds in the area, and there are always good numbers of geese and swans to see here too. I started at RSPB Hesketh Outmarsh, where I had good views of many Tree Sparrows in the hedges, and Whooper Swans in the fields. Then I had a Merlin overhead trying to catch another bird. Moving on to RSPB Marshside where I was looking for a Smew that wasn't there. I did find a Scaup though, which is not very common here, so that was a bonus. 

There were hundreds of Lapwings and Geese on the Marsh. These were mainly Pink-footed, but there were lots of Canada and Greylags too. Oystercatchers, Black-tailed Godwits, Tufted Ducks, Wigeon and Shelduck made for a good supporting cast.

I moved on to Southport where I was fortunate enough to watch a flock of 30 or so Twite. This is a bird that I've really struggled to find over the years, but was in the right place at the right time. So that concluded a very good morning. 

You can see more of my trip here:

Grey Heron

Pink-footed Goose

Pintail

Poor, distant images of the Scaup

Shelduck

Distant possible Snow Goose

Whooper Swans

North Wales

A trip out to North Wales to add a few year ticks was very enjoyable. Once again there was very little in the way of sunshine, but the birds on offer more than made up for that. I started at Rhyl to add a Scaup. I had already picked up a Lesser Scaup in Scotland, so to get the pair so early in the year was great. It has been a few years since I last saw one, so was pleased to see it playing ball not too far out on the lake.

I moved on to the Little Orme where an Iceland Gull had been for some time. It took me a long time to locate it, looking down onto a shingle bay that was the perfect camouflage for the bird. After quite some time it appeared from behind a rock. A cracking gull which then took flight around the bay giving some very good views.

Also here at the Litte Orme, I managed to tick off Shag, Red-throated Diver, Fulmar, Eider, Guillemot and Razorbill. A good day out all round.

Iceland Gull

Red-breated Merganser in flight.

Scaup

With a Tufted Duck on the left.

The 2020 Year List begins.

Happy New Year to you all!! I hope 2020 is a good one.

I made the most of a day off and made a very good start to my 2020 year list. I set off before sunrise and headed towards the Lake District in order to tick off a lifer in the form of a Ring-necked Duck.
I knew it was on Pine Lakes, and on arrival my heart sank when I saw how vast the lake was. The sun was only just coming up and so it was not easy. It turned out that it was mixing with a group of Greater Scaup. A good start to the day.

The first sunrise of the decade.

The Ring-necked Duck second from left, smaller than the Scaup.

Ring-necked Duck left of the top three birds.

I moved on to an area called Eagland Hill, where a Purple Heron had been for a few weeks, and had frustrated me that I couldn't get along to see it. Thankfully, it put on a very good show and was easy to observe from the roadside. Two lifers in a day is always a good thing, but on the first day of the year was very exciting. I ended the day with 65 birds on the list.

 

 

Scaup and Goosander - Elton Reservoir

A couple of weeks ago, I popped along to Elton reservoir in Bury. It was a lovely warm day, which made a change from the previous cold and damp weeks. I was even able to leave the jacket in the car and just walk around with my t-shirt.
There had been 7 Scaup on the reservoir for some weeks, and this is usually around the time of year that I manage to tick them off. So they were one of my target birds. It's not a small area of water but I had an idea as to where they would be. Right at the opposite end to where I was!
I took my time and made sure I had a good look at what else was on the reservoir. This proved to be the wrong tactic. I had picked them up in the binoculars. They were quite distant at first, but looked settled. Shortly afterwards, a group of Tufted ducks took flight and headed off the reservoir. These were followed by some Gadwall and Canada Geese, and before I had even got close to them the seven Scaup took flight too. Noooooo!!
I had to get the camera up quick in case this was the only opportunity I'd get to see them today. It was exactly that :(

They were swiftly followed by some Goosander. 4 Females here.

Two males at the back here.

Greater Scaup

While at Elton reservoir in Bury recently there was a Scaup on the water. This wasn't my primary target here, but it was nice to add to the year list all the same.
It was spending it's time alone at the far end of the reservoir, with just a male Pochard for company. Both were diving frequently and seemed to spend more time under the water than above it.

Scaup

Happy New Year to you all. I hope you all have a happy and healthy 2017.

It was a very cold -3 with frost and ice on the ground as I headed out this morning, determined to get my camera back in use and the promise of some good light.

I headed to Pennington Flash with the intention of giving my fledgling 2017 year list a really good boost. I wasn't disappointed, as I rarely am when I visit Manchester's premier birding site.

A few birds had been around for a few weeks that are not your usual every day birds, so I concentrated on finding these first. Close in from Horrock's hide I found my first target bird in the shape of a Scaup. Two in fact. Similar in looks to a Tufted Duck, but without the tuft on the head and different bill. There also a tell tale white band around that bill, that is much higher than on the Tufted Duck.

Pennington Flash

The forecast for this morning (for once) was for sunshine and no rain. So, I decided to get myself over to Pennington Flash in Leigh to try and catch up with the Scaup that had been reported recently. When I arrived at 8.30, there it was, close to the car park where previously reported. Doing what most other sane people do at that hour. Sleeping.
Light wasn't great, and then as the sun came up it didn't make it any easier really. But there is one picture below, more for record purposes. The Scaup is quite a bit bigger than the Tufted Duck although very simiar in looks. Rather than a black back, it has a greyish look, and no tuft.
There were lots of Widgeon, Goldeneye, Shoveler and Tufted Ducks. A couple of Kingfishers gave good views, proving that patience pays dividends. As usual from the Bunting Hide there were plenty of finches and a couple of Willow Tits too.
The Flash never dissapoints, and I managed to see 31 different species today.

Scaup, with Tufted Duck behind.

Mute Swan, giving me evils.

Bullfinch (regularly found from the Bunting Hide)

Canada Geese