Not a Roman nose in sight

The Safari got out onto Patch 2 as soon as the rain had stopped again today – didn’t fancy an early morning soaking and the visibility would have been even more U/S than it was. . A good number of Common Scoters were all lined up nicely broadside for a change and weren’t too far out today. Just as well most of the scoters were close in, about 5-600 of them with more black dots in the not too distant mist. The tide had just turned and the stiff offshore breeze had the water chopped up a bit so the birds were bouncing around a bit making studying them a little bit more difficult than it could have been.

We did a few scans of them and although the yellow noses of the males stood out well against the grey of the sea but there was no sign of any with a rather larger bill.

Two Red Throated Divers sat close together as did two Great Crested Grebes, a Razorbill dropped in amongst the closest of the scoters giving good views and a drake Eider flew past before disappearing into the all-to-near mist. 

A medium sized passerine flew south well out to sea, Skylark/Song Thrush? type thingy far too far for an ID though.

At lunchtime the tide had dropped and the birds drifted out with it making them on the limits of visibility. Only the usual Common Scoters in the scoter flock but at least we upped the Great Crested Grebe count to a huge three.

What will happen next week is that the Surf Scoter will be so far offshore and only just identifiable with the cheapo Chinese scope now that we've returned the proper-job one back to Base Camp!

Where to next? Early morning Winter Thrushes Survey tomorrow.

In the meantime let us know what very successfully avoiding you, aided and abetted by the weather, in your outback

No such luck

The Safari left the house as usual with Frank only to see a light mist swirling around in the light from the street lamps on the cold easterly wind. It didn’t bode well for our Patch 2 search later. Driving to work our fears were realised as we could barely see across the beach for low mist and the tops of our popular land marks, the Tower and the Big One could not be seen. Searching for an aquatic needle in a watery haystack wasn’t going to be easy.

Grabbing the scope we got onto the wall forsaking our normal position for one by the more or less useless 'designer' shelters as we tried to glean a bit of shelter in the lee on the nearest one for the tripod – yes the proper-job scope does actually have a tripod!

As we scanned it was evident that we weren’t going to be successful, the light was worse than atrocious, the mist was down over the sea only yards beyond the water’s edge and the few Common Scoters we could see were well out and just indefinable black dots...absolutely no chance of finding our American quarry under those conditions.

Two Razorbills were closer in but we still couldn’t see much detail on them, but that reminded us we forgot to mention the Guillemot we saw out there yesterday.

Nothing of note was on the ever expanding beach.

By the time lunchtime came round we were hoping the mist would have lifted but no such luck if anything it had drifted in with the tide. The scoters had drifted in too but were still far enough out to be shrouded in the mist, only just about able to tell males from females on all but the nearest birds.

A solitary Great Crested Grebe was the only other species seen other than the regular gulls and a couple of fly past Oystercatchers.

Not the best of safaris!

Where to next? Only one shot at the Yankee tomorrow got an out-of-the-office-but-still-indoors event at lunchtime but there may be some news from that part of the world.

In the meantime have you signed the petition to help protect the raptors in your out back. For a description of what it’s all about see here.  Two and half thousand signatures is good but there's a long way to go...let's make this one count!
LATE UPDATE - our friend DW who we met up with yesterday sent us us pics of his Land Rover adventures but also included a couple of pics of a mustelid he'd picked up dead last spring on the side of the road and instead of letting it rot there he picked it up and had it stuffed by a local taxidermist. We weren't sure what exactly what it was so we sent it to the Lancashire Mammal Group who forwarded it to the curator of mammals at Liverpool Museum and the answer came back as a Polecat, not a Ferret/Polecat hybrid...archives are being checked but it could well be the first 'recent' record for Lancashire!

Still springy still surfless

The Safari wasn't liking the fog at all this morning which meant that searching for the Surf Scoter was impossible. We could only just about see across the beach and the low tide was quite high today if that makes sense. The beach held a modicum of interest with eight Sanderlings and a single Ringed Plover.

Mid morning an old friend, well he's a lot younger than us but we haven't seen him for many years, popped in for a visit. We chewed the fat for a while before havong a look at each others Land Rovers, his is far snazzier than our knackered old Disco...a new model Freelander - very swish! Anyway walking back he spotted a movement in the shrubbery and then we both heard the chittering of a Wren (P2 #45), a hard bird to get at work, only saw one last year although we missed one that the Young Un's saw.

Nearby the first Coltsfoot flowers of the spring were growing in the first flower bed.

Lunchtime on the wall wasn't much better than the early session. The fog had lifted to become a hazy mist but the real bug-bear if we can call it that was the sun again - arrrghhh far too bright! And again the huge majority of the scoters were to the impossible-to-look-into south.

Then we had a bit of a surprise - a Swallow was seen along the North Blackpool Pond Trail by the Project Officer - early as you like, hope it survives any cold spells that might lurking on the horizon, plenty of midge-like flies enjoying the sunshine this arvo for it though.

Where to next? More searching sewarching searching and associated stuff in dare we saw cloudy conditions...ooohh errr might not have really wanted to say that!

In the meantime let us how spring is coming along in your outback.

No surf dude but all wasn't lost

The  Safari wasn't going to look for the weekend's Surf Scoter with the usual cheapo Chinese scope; no, we brought the full monty HD/ED Japanese proper job from Base Camp for today's sessions. Pity the weather didn't think of upgrading too.

It wasn't too bad but visibility wasn't good beyond middle distance and the breeze had chopped up the water and there were plenty of white horses. Unfortunately the tide was out and the majority of the scoters were well out as well. We couldn't find anything of note apart from about 700 or so Common Scoters and half  dozen Great Crested Grebes.

All was not lost though, looking further down the beach past our relatively birdless stretch the southern beach was crammed with birds. While looking through the multitude of assembled Oystercatchers and gulls three Grey Plovers (118, 43) flew through and within seconds of them whizzing by the scope settled on three larger longer billed waders, Bar Tailed Godwits (119, 44)...can't be bad!

At lunchtime it was a case of not wanting the warm spring sunshine...how mad is that! Everything to the south was far too hazy and bright to be able to distinguish anything but silhouettes and that's were almost all the scoters were and the sea was a lot calmer! Very few were to the north of us and those that were were illuminated perfectly if still a little distant. Shame we didn't have the larger number to work through.

The day had a last surprise for us. Wifey got home later than expected and we were making her a brew when she said she had some milk in the car. We went out and saw a Grey Wagtail heading east low over Base Camp (garden #22).

No pics today, we've been so busy we've not had a chance to notice anything around us other than the two sessions for the Surf Scoter, only the fourth in Lancashire since 1882 you know.

Where to next? We have a feeling the proper job scope will be taken to work again tomorrow.

In the meantime let us know what gave you the unexpected saving bonus in your outback.

Unforced labour

The Safari had a day off from wildlife safari-ing and met up with three other members of the BEAT NatureWatch group to do some practical conservation work...with real spades n stuff!

We braved very pleasant early spring sunshine and excessive Brambles to remove a huge clump of non-native bamboo and about 50 tree saplings that had been planted in the nature area for reptiles and amphibians by well meaning but unfortunately ill-advised members of the public.

The bamboo was taken to the zoo where it will be enjoyed by a selection of animals including their gorgeous Red Pandas. The trees will be trans-located to new homes in various locations along the North Blackpool Pond Trail.

Also at this site is our tiny population of Water Voles. we had a bit of a quick survey along the bank rather than getting in to the water. We found a few burrows and this latrine which we think the droppings are as indicated in the pic - any help anyone? The Rat(?) droppings were a little longer, thicker and more pointy. They were drier and well out of the water so they could have been the same colour in the beginning.

We found a lovely patch of moss on an old log.

Nearby another log was full of Jelly Ear Fungus - formerly known as the (now unPC) Jew's Ear Fungus.

Lovely purple hue to them today but as hard as iron to the touch, not the normal wibbly-wobbly jelly texture

While we were photographing this the others were rummaging around near the water's edge lifting up all manner of litter/fly tipping/ logs etc and found this little chap.

Smooth Newt - not stalking a worm as it appears to be

Turning a slab we also found five Frogs lurking beneath...not long now buntil the first spawn appears.

After we'd left the zoo we had to take the kit back to the nature reserve so we had a quick look in the Feeding Station while we were there.

Some fun with the Pheasants in the feeders that have sadly been trashed by drunken teenage ar*ewipes - what on earth do they get out of numptyness like that?

Mind you don't get yer head stuck down there!

 A Woodpigeon only gave one photo opportunity, it flew when it heard the camera shutter.

Time to get back to Base Camp but outside the hide we spotted more signs of spring in the form of some nice Hazel catkins.

Back at Base Camp Frank was looking cute with one of Wifey's shoes but his bad leg is still giving him gyp after his puppy-like leaping around the other day. he's had a couple of quiet days so hopefully it'll be better soon.

Where to next? There's a Surf Scoter to be re-found on Patch 2 - apparently no sign of it today...

In the meantime let us know who's been well meaning but got it all horribly wrong in your outback.

A cruel twist of fate

The Safari has spent plenty of time over the last week staring at the small flocks of Common Scoters scattered across Patch 2 to no avail. This lunchtime we received news that their numbers had swelled by two to three times and one of them was a drake Surf Scoter...How cruel is that! Sometimes you can go right off weekends!  Will it still be hanging around by Monday and we will be accused of a right royal string if we see it without a pic?

Unable to get down to Patch 2, where we would have missed it anyway as it had flown south and out of range, we had a  wander up the North Blackpool Pond Trail instead.

As expected it was fairly quiet seeing as it was now mid-afternoon. The usual Goldfinches and Blackbirds were about and a good sized flock of Woodpigeons gleaned what they could from the over-grazed horse field. we spotted one Grey Squirrel than watched as a father pointed out another to his two young children...good to see them enjoying the wildlife but if only they were Reds. A drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker gave us the run-around so no pic unfortunately

We've read today about Defra's plan to remove the tiny and inconsequential but rat and mouse loving population of Aesculapian Snake in North Wales as part of their Invasive Species mission...Little Owls next? No chance of them doing Canada Geese, Grey Squirrels or Signal Crayfish...just the ineffectual easy to catch ones?

Rant over for the time being...

Signs of spring were showing all along our walk with this Cow Parsley we didn't notice last weekend.

A distant splash of gold was several Lesser Celandine flowers making the most of their sunny bank, further on there will be carpets of them in a week or two but today there was only a few signs of any flower buds.

Ramsons (aka Wild Garlic) was breaking through the leaf litter in places. 

 But the real harbinger of spring is the humble Snowdrop.

A Cormorant (NBPT #42) flew overhead and a little further on we heard then saw a Jackdaw (NBPT #43) near the lake. 

At the lake we counted 10 Teal, 5 Pochard and a Great Crested Grebe (NBPT #44), but no sign of the Shoveler or Mute Swans that have been there recently to add to our NBPT year list.

Another dad and his pan-lids was feeding the ducks which was providing a half-hearted focus of interest for about a dozen Black Headed Gulls. 

Shame it's headless - but we do like the way the feathers are caught in the updraught/low pressure caused by the stall

Nothing much to report on the way back other than to say if we'd been on our Winter Thrushes survey we'd have done better than usual for Blackbirds there were loads of them on the survey route in places we don't normally find them - typical! 

A Song Thrush just about gave itself up for a pic, it just would face the front! 

 Back at Base Camp our Extrreme Photographer had called by to tell us of the tiger beetle-like tiny ground beetle he'd found Notiophilus biguttatus. No pics from him yet but have a shuffy here and here. The forat link's photostream has a pic showing the set-up needed for photo stacking to get that almost 3D effect. Love to have a go at that but not sure if we've got the patience or the techy know-how...can't knock the results though - superb!

If you'rre a follower/friend of the Safari on Twitter and/or Facebook you'll have noticed we've been 'inviting' you to sign petitions/contact your MP/MEP about a number of issues both local and international recently. We make no apologies for getting more 'political' and asking you to do so too...we blame that Mark Avery chap we went to see a while back. There are so many environmental issues that our 'leaders' need to address at the mo that those who elect them (if we did) or at least those who they claim to represent need to know what is important to us and how they should act on our behalf. The list is seemingly endless; elephant/rhino poaching. 127 marine conservation zones to be declared, fish discards at sea (sorted? through public pressure), Hen Harrier persecution, dolphin slaughter in Japan (please don't ever go to a dolphin 'show' when on your hols but ask yourself how they got there and what happened to their families - let the kids know too, the Sea Shepherd are pirates saga, marine/beach litter, rainforest and it's indigenous peoples destruction...this list is, sadly, endless but it only takes the good to do nothing for evil to prevail so please please please if we ask you to sign a petition then have a good look and a search in your heart and put finger to keyboard - it rarely takes more than a couple of minutes and you never know those on the receiving end might just take note if there's 100,001 rather than only 99,999 signatories.

Political rant over...

Where to next? By way of something different we've a conservation project arranged tomorrow so spades, loppers and survey sheets are at the ready - but what will we find...might be a bit early for some of the hoped for but with this wildlife malarkey you never quite know as my mate DB found out today when a very unexpected Snipe flew over his garden.

In the meantime let us know what's requiring pen to paper/finger to keyboard in your outback.

Poor but at least an addition to the patch list

The Safari once again couldn’t wait to get the scope out of the draw and head off over the road to the wall. With little change in the weather, milder but cloudier with the gentle offshore breeze continuing we needn’t have rushed again as our first couple of scans showed nothing different from the last couple of days.

The tide was well out but other than fishermen and bait diggers there wasn’t much on it. All the action was beyond our southern border where we could see hundreds of gulls and Oystercatchers along with the biggest numbers of small waders we’ve noticed all year some were likely to have been Dunlin amongst the hundreds of Sanderlings.

Just off shore a small shrimping boat plied up and down catching huge numbers of shrimps judging by what he was scooping out of his on-board boiler.  

Beyond the boat little stirred, there seemed to be about the same number of Common Scoters bobbing up and down in the gentle swell and we could only find one Great Crested Grebe and saw a distant Red Throated Diver coming out of the gloom towards us.

A new Patch 2 tick arrived in the shape of five Curlews (P2 #42) crossing the bay northwards a fair way out to sea.

With all that excitement we weren’t really looking forward to our lunchtime visit with our customary eagerness even though the tide would be high. And we were right not to have too many expectations. In the mild conditions we gave it a longer than usual scanning but the only thing of any note to be seen was a reasonably close, one of the closest we’ve ever seen, Red Throated Diver, probably just beyond the low water mark where the fishermen had been stood a few hours earlier.

Excitement barely contained we headed back indoors for a brew and the desk.

That’s yer lot for today, saved by the addition of Curlews to the mix – without them it would have been pretty dire. Although we did receive news from CB that the 1^st winter gull from last week’s jaunt down to see LC in Staffordshire is indeed a Caspian Gull (117) – happy happy happy.

Where to next? It’s the weekend and the safari could end up anywhere.

In the meantime let us know what the last minute saviour in your outback was.