Dip tick undip

The Safari has failed to see many fresh-in migrants so far this week. We've been looking at our toes when an Osprey flew unnoticed over our heads and not connected with any of the several others that have passed through close by so far, we've not heard any Chiffchaffs singing from the 'Golden Triangle' of scrub on Monty's early morning walk and there haven't been many Wheatears along Chat Alley.

Then the other morning we did have a couple of Wheatears grounded well out on the beach with a Meadow Pipit with them and almost another two dozen overhead.

Yesterday we were able to get out a little further and decided to have a look for the two Cattle Egrets about 10 miles down the road. We stopped at the place shown on the maps provided by the bird club and even saw some some cows but couldn't find the egrets, we now think we were looking in the wrong direction! There were a few Shelducks in the fields and displaying Lapwings along with a Curlew or two. We drove away with a big dip under our belt. 

We hadn't gone far when the phone rang, it was LR telling us that he'd just been told of Ring Ouzel back in town at Stanley Park. Only one thing to do - point the car that way! A minor traffic jam slowed us down but as we drove into the park it was obvious it was busy with families enjoying the Easter break and we fretted there would be nowhere to park. As we drove up the main drag we saw a bunch of familiar faces staring into the trees on the right hand side of the road. Luckily we found a parking spot and two minutes later were being shown where the Ring Ouzel had been spending most of its time when not hiding up in the top of the trees as it was now.

Within a few minutes the call went up that it had dropped out of the tree but had landed in a dip where we couldn't see it. Not to worry it soon hopped in to view. Great binocular views but a little distant and against the light for the camera so this was the only half decent pic we got. OK for our Challenge (125, PYLC #109). Not seen one in the Fylde for a few years and the only one we saw last year was very very distant even in the scope so it was good to have quality views at a local site.

We stayed a  while but was regularly seen back up in to the trees by the local Blackbirds and stayed there for extended periods.

A Nuthatch poking round the base of some of trees kept us entertained and a flock of Woodpigeons held a Stock Dove, another species we've never seen in the park before. It was a shame we weren't able to get a pic of the Ring Ouzel and Stock Dove together or at least in the same frame, would have been a unique Stanley Park combo pic. During one of its sojourns up high we took the opportunity to walk round to the other side of the copse to get better light for pics. We waited and waited until finally it dropped from its perch but was almost immediately seen on its way by one of the Blackbirds. A dark bird was seen to fly high to the north well beyond the nearest trees - was that it had we just seen the last of it?

A Blue Tit kept an eye on us to make sure we didn't stray from the straight and narrow.

After another half an hour and no further sighting of the Ring Ouzel we called it a day and were convinced we'd seen it leave, but fortunately for late comers we heard later that it was seen again in the evening.

First thing this morning there were three Wheatears on the cliffs at Chat Alley but very few Meadow Pipits going over.

After breakfast it was back to the park to see if the Ring Ouzel had stayed overnight. As soon as we got out of the car and began to wander over that way another birder just leaving told us there's been no sign since very early morning so there must have been a gap in the rain during the night and it's taken advantage of that to continue on its way. 

While chatting to another birder we watched a pair of Mistle Thrushes bringing great cobs of moss to line their nest in the fork of a Sycamore tree.

Back and forth they came at fairly regular intervals but at one point a Blue Tit dropped in up to no good by the shifty look of it, checking this way and that to make sure the residents weren't on their way back.

It skiddaldled moments before one of the Mistle Thrushes returned. we thought it might have been trying to burgle some free moss but it left with an empty beak.

Then our friend pointed out a Nuthatch on a nearby tree and looking closer we saw that there were two working their way round the trunk, always seemingly equidistant from each other.

He then spotted a Treecreeper a little further back, good to see these still hanging on in the park after so many large trees have been removed, including a couple that they have previously nested in.

By now it was lunch time so we had to leave.
After lunch with the weather improved we decided to have another try for the Cattle Egrets but as we were on route the heavens opened and ominous dark clouds drew ever closer. Fortunately the heavy shower had passed by the time we arrived and looking at the sky there was a few minutes gap before the next downpour arrived. This time we looked harder and wider and soon found the Cattle Egrets walking along an embankment miles across across the fields. Just about close enough for the lousiest of record shots (126, PYLC #110).

It was good to add a couple of 'bonus' species to our Challenge tally particularly after not doing so well on Anglesey last week. Hopefully we'll be able to better the Cattle Egret pic sometime later in the year - can't believe we've said that 25 years ago regular Cattle Egrets in Lancashire weren't even on the radar...nowhere near the radar even!

Where to next? We really need to come across on the many passing Ospreys! So we'' be out n about on safari looking and listening for the local gulls making  a hullaballoo to let us know there's a passing bird of prey in their airspace.

In the meantime let us know who's dropped in for a quick hello in your outback.