The Safari was encumbered by a very plodding Frank this
morning but we did get as far as the small field on Patch 1 only to note that
there were no Peregrines on the tower. All the usual suspects were singing
heartily including a Wren not far from Base Camp; somewhere in a neighbouring
garden which was good to hear.
During breakfast we thought we heard Grey Lag Geese calling
but a quick dash to the window only gave us a few Herring Gulls, we weren’t
really concentrating so could have mistaken the yakking of the gulls for the
honks of geese. However, one of the Peregrines was seen to be sat on the
tower’s wide ledge.
At Patch 2 it was another grey, dismal, no visibility start
to the day which was a shame as the sea was as flat as a silvery carpet and for
a change counting the Common Scoters (well those we could see) was easy...247.
The beach was disturbed by fishermen, bait diggers and dog
walkers and there wasn’t much out there; a handful of Oystercatchers, a couple
of Sanderlings and nothing of note in the three dozen or so gulls.
Behind us a pair of Pied Wagtails danced around calling
loudly.
Fortunately by lunchtime the mist had cleared and we had a
stunningly clear view around the bay from the Welsh hills to the Lakeland
fells. We were now able to get a reasonably accurate count of the Common
Scoters, c5000!!! They stretched in a fairly narrow band right round the
horizon a couple of miles or so out. Apart from a few Cormorants we couldn’t
see anything else with them. Until that is we picked up a Grey Seal (mammal #9) fairly close inshore but so distant we couldn’t see it with the naked eye.
Looking southwards with the Lennox Rig off Formby across the far side of the estuary. The black dots are some of the Common Scoters btw.
Looking north west to the second meteorological mast with Walney windfarm in the distance beyond.
Back in the office we took a call on our mobile and lost the
signal _ the office has really dodgy reception – so went outside in - - - wait for it - - - - - the sunshine!!! –
and found the most bizarre thing...
Did you spot it?
In one of the raised planters was a dead Hedgehog. Now was
it put there or had it climbed up looking for somewhere to hibernate and not
been able to dig itself far in enough down. Never seen a Hedgehog here before
and never had one reported in the six and a half years we’ve been working here
– seen a Fox, an American Mink and a Grey Squirrel (no trees for miles!) but
never a Hedgehog.
Then it was off to the north end of town to meet a colleague and mark out the position of a new pond.
The area had already been ripped in preparation for tree planting in a couple of weeks time.
The ripper had pulled some nice pieces of Bog Oak out of the ground, these will be used as a feature/wildlife shelter in the new pond. A couple of bricks were found lying around and turning one of these over revealed a colony of Gammarid Shrimps lurking beneath. They weren't happy about being exposed to the light and bounced around all over the shop trying to find a dark corner to hide in.
This was the largest piece a little over 6 feet (2m) long and about 18 inches in diameter (45cm), whether or not it is actually Oak or another species - well you tell us cos we don't know!
Where to next? Anything could happen tomorrow - we've got a late start followed by a long lunchtime session at the 6th Form College.
in the meantime let us know what's buried just below the surface in your outback.
2 comments:
That ground doesn't look very boggy Davo!
Anyway, it should prove to be a nice wildlife area in the future :-)
Hi Warren - believe me when I tell you the area we marked out the pond is is boggy, I've got a wet sock due to a minor hole on the instep of my welly.
It'll be a seasonal pond so if it dries up we won't be too bothered as it'll stop people introducing fish - should be good for amphibs and inverts as well as the wildflowers we hope will be in the seedbank
Cheers
D
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