The Safari joined forces with the North Blackpool Pond Trail Project Officer (sorry - no website yet) this morning to lead the Big Garden Birdwatch count guided walk around Kincraig Lake. Nine people turned up and we saw a good selection of birds on a bright and frosty morning.
First of all we looked at the waterfowl on the lake which was mostly frozen. Immediately we saw a colour ringed Coot to report to KB. (White over black on the left leg, pink over BTO on the right). Counting the gulls gave us a Darvik ringed Common Gull; white ring - black letters JXC4.
The walk round the lake is only short but it took us over an hour to count all we saw. A Pochard asleep in the open water was a surprise and considering the numbers of people milling around 14 Teal was a pleasant surprise.
Sackfuls of common birds included splendid views of two Great Spotted Woodpeckers.
Back at the lake viewing area the light was superb for getting a few pics.
The birds are definitely used to people as this Heron was only a few feet away. But it didn't allow too close an approach as we snuck a little nearer it flew to a perch across the lake back-lit with a backdrop of reedheads -beautiful.
At the car park we spotted a dity old penny lying in the grass, picking it up we chanted the old adage:- See a penny pick it up and all the day you'll have good luck...well you never know.Back at Base Camp we were processing the morning's pics when we decided to have a click on the Interweb - Holy Mackerel - - - three Waxwings not a mile from where we were sat, even Wifey joined us on this twitch for the tufty little fella, she likes tufty birds best of all. At first we couldn't find them, then we met up with MMcG who'd also heard the news. We then saw BS who we've not seen for a couple of too long years. We thought it was he who'd phoned them in...it wasn't, he didn't know about them. The Waxwings (103) appeared after he'd walked of to work. Better pics than our last attempt but top see proper pics see MMcG's here.
Wasn't expecting to get out on safari this arvo and deffo wasn't expecting a year bird...thank you very much to that little penny!!!
Where to next? Wonder if we've used all the penny's luck up yet...
In the meantime let us know what old adages work in your outback.
8 comments:
Hello Dave,
Your Coot was ringed in Stanley Park on 13/09/10.
Cheers,
Seumus
Guessed it probably was but looking at some of Kanes returns there are some widely travelled coot about.
Cheers
D
Some fine photos there Dave, the panoramic Heron photo is a beauty, plus you found a penny, happy days!
Wow,what beautiful birds, great shots, way to go Davo!
Hi Dave & Seumus,
Many thanks for this sighting Dave! I think this is a bird from Southport, as I don't think Craig has ringed any Coot with Pink above BTO. I seem to remember using the full bacth of 100 combinations (with Pink above BTO) at Southport on the day we caught 100+. This is off the top of my head, as I'm not at home at the minute - so I'll check later & get back to you.
Cheers again
Kane
Hmmm....Could do with finding a penny myself :-)
I need a Coot!!
Hello Dave & Kane,
Sorry for the confusion. I had assumed that when you had reported it as pink, it might well have been mauve which Craig has used. I think we have had this confusion before between mauve and pink!
Cheers,
Seumus
No probs! :)
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