Tick and run

The safari doesn't like these modern business/management speak cliches but 'tick in a box' it is. The Ring Necked Duck fell at 08.45 this morning, fortunately still at Fleetwood Marine Lake - nice and easy to get to - indeed first seen from the Land Rover parked at the side of the road. A quick sneak down the bank in the early morning gloom to get some photos but we didn't sneak sneakily enough and the flock of Tufted Ducks it was with edged out into the middle of the choppy lake. A few poor record shots below.

If you want to know what it really looks like have a look at Fleetwood Birder's header picture from yesterday in good light with a proper camera.

We nipped round to the Coastguards Station at the point where the wind was fierce. Didn't stay long but we had a Stonechat hopping around the low seawall, a Red Breasted Merganser flew past and there were at least 87 Sanderlings on the beach with a few Redshanks and Oystercatchers. With the scope ratttling all over the shop and a black wintery squall about to land we legged it home - not even bothering to look for any gulls or other seabirds on the rising tide. Frank had a late lie in this morning and the safari went out twitching before having a cuppa - unheard of - so the main priority was back home for a brew.

Before setting off to Derbyshire we filled the Base Camp feeders but looking at them today, a week later, very little has been touched - our flock of Goldfinches must have gone for some winter sun. But a nice treat was a Mistle Thrush IN the Sycamore tree, not just a fly-over - great gareden tick.

Where to next? Our Peregrine has been AWOL too so a nip round Patch 1 this evening will pull it out of the bag hopefully.

In the meantime let us know what your outback has been producing so far this year.