We've gone twitchy all of a sudden

 The Safari heard news of a Waxwing at one of their favourite sites in nearby Preston over the usual local social media outlets last weekend. Due to serious family stuff there was no way we'd be able to go there an then but we hoped they might stick around a couple of days or so, the strteet it was in has several Rowan trees which often have a plethora of berries. The following day news broke that there were now two birds present; and then three! How do they find these 'regular' places? - we must have stood in that street at least three times over the last 20 odd years. There's no way that it's inherited knowledge as it's often too long between visits for parents to take their offspring, could it be scent that guides them, these berries giving off a 'we're ripe' odour  that the birds can detect on the wind and home in on? Whatever the reason they find the little street their increasing number was the impetus we needed to decide to make the 15 mile trip down the motorway as soon as possible. Tuesday morning arrived and we had a the afternoon available and better still news was now that there were four present. After lunch we picked up CR and headed east. The roads were clear and we made good time but after parking up we were told we should have been there ten minutes ago. Well at least they were about and would probably come back after a short wait and a small group of birders had set off to see if there was any sign of them on any nearby berry laden trees or bushes.

One thing that did strike us as we looked around the trees and rooftop aerials for any sign of them was the large clumps of Mistletoe in several of the trees - don't  recall that being there on previous visits.

The rooftops and aerials gave us a pair of Collared Doves and a couple of Woodpigeons. A few minutes later a small flock of Goldfinches appeared at the top of the furthest tree down the street. It was good to see that all the street's trees had a Tree Preservation Order number on thenm too.

After a good while the local Mistle Thrush showed up, really good to see they're still about as they have become much harder to come by round our way in recent years. It was followed by three Blackbirds all of which came and went as if they had a curcuit they were following. But alas the Waxwings were still a 'been and gone'. 

All of a sudden, after about an hour, DB shouted "that was them" as four birds shot over high above the houses. He went off after them and came back a good while later having found them in some trees overloooking the canal a few hundred yards away. "Rubbish views against the low sun, just silhouettes really - useless for photographs". There were several folk who wanted a look so he showed the way and set off like the Pied Piper with a straggle of birders in his wake. After crossing the road and going down the track to the little marina/stopping point on the canal we scanned the trees opposite where they had been half an hour earlier but there was no sign of them. Back to the street it was just in case they had turned their attention back to the berries. No they hadn't. We hung around a few more minutes and decided to get some pics of the Blackbirds before the light totally went. These short winter days can be a real pain!

And then the light faded too much for pics so we hit the trail back up the motorway to Base Camp. Waxwings will have to go down on the spreadsheet in Bold red letters - a dip!

There are plenty about this year and there does seem to  be an abundance of berries in places so hopefully we'll be more successful with them as the season progresses.

 

The following day three turned on the edge of Stanley Park only three miles from Base Camp but unfortuantely we weere unable to get out when the news broke and even if we had gone it's likely they would have flown off before we arrived as they weren't around long.

On the same day TS texted the Safari to say there was a Long Tailed Duck on Marton Mere, again we weren't able to get out but that did stick and was still there the next day, and the next! Phew, once again we had an hour or more free in the afternoon so went for a shuffy. It was a cool and blustery, bright and sunny afternoon. We arrived on site to the news from some birders that they hadn't seen it from the north west corner, as we chatted a flock of noisy squawking Ring Necked Parakeets flew over from the direction of the Feeding Station. We knew the duck could be elusive so went down to the bench for a look anyway. We aimed to give it at least half an hour but Monty the mutt started to get impatient and wanted to get on the move again. We set off and immediately bumped into TS who told us it tended to hang around with the four Goldeneyes on site and probably got itself tucked in the sheltered inflow channel. We'd already decided to wander round to the bench in the south west corner so that now sounded like a good plan.

A good plan it was, we didn't have to wait too long before the Goldeneyes appeared as if from nowhere. There were four, two females, a male and an immature male. We only managed pics of the two females.

To see over the encroaching vegetation we had to stand on the bench while being buffeted by the 50 mph wind, that Buddliea bush, Alder tree and 'Larry's Willow' really need to go! Not the best conditions to try to hold a long lens steady. We perservered and after a few minutes the Long Tailed Duck came out of the reeds, the last one we saw here was way back in 1998.

It didn't hang around with the Goldeneyes for long, instead started to make it's way across towards the area we'd been at earlier while the Goleneyes moved eastwards along the reed edge and out of sight. It dived frequently and spent minutes at a time under water sometimes moving a considerable distance too. It's appearances at the surface were brief and unpredictable so it was tricky to get any pics of particularly as it was all too often obscured by the aforementioned trees and shrubs. After a while a noisy gaggle of Grey Lag Geese came up from the east and it wasn't happy about their appearance and kept a distance in front of them as they approached before they all sailed past the Heron into the channel and out of sight.

Once the duck was out of sight we thought we'd best give it a few minutes in case the Grey Lag Geese settled down and it swam out again. They might have done but it didn't. However a large female Sparrowhawk flew past at great speed and once again their was a great deal of sqawking from the parakeets at the Feeding Station. She obviously had a plan and a tast for the exotic. Chatting to TS who was at our first bench on the phone the sky behind him blackened and a rainbow appeared.

He was of the opinion that the front would miss us and we agreed because the south westerly wind was taking it away from us, we might just catch the edge of it. We stayed to see if anything would fly in front of the raibow and give us a pleasing arty shot. A couple of Herring Gulls did but too far away and our pics were deleted straight away, then a Black Headed Gull followed suit, this time much closer, and we firred away again.

We totally missed the Stock Dove that flew past towards Stanley Park but did get this Woodpigeon but missed it while it was in front of the rainbow - ah well you can't have everything! It looks as though it's had a good supper before retiring to bed for the night just look at its crop - full to busting!

A few spots of light rain fell, our cue to leave. Unfortunately we'd left it too late to leave - once out of the shelter of the big Bramble thicket behind the bench we realised the wind had changed from south westerly to west north westerly bringing the storm front back towards us and we now had several hundred yards across open country to walk to the car in torrential diving rain - Monty the mutt doesn't mind a bit of weather and wouldn't be hurried - - we got absolutely drenched!

 

Where to next? It could be anywhere who knows? 

In the meantime let us know who's coming and going in your outback.

Barney blows a bit of a hooley

The Safari has been getting a bit stir crazy confined to barracks so yesterday afternoon our bad hand felt quite good and we decided it was time to try a little drive once the tropical style rain had stopped. We didn't go far just down to the prom to watch the tide rise.

There was an increasing sou'westerly with heavy showers so we found the most sheltered place we could at the top of the cliffs. From our lofty vantage point we had a good view down the troughs between the waves so hopefully if anything came past we wouldn't miss it hidden behind the large waves.

Shower after shower rolled in but fortunately none lasted more than a few minutes giving us lots of rainbows. Our choice of shelter was good so we didn't get wet, thankfully it wasn't too cold either.

Without the scope we were a bit limited distance-wise but visibility in the squalls was limited anyway but all we kept finding was gulls cruising towards us along the cliff edge going to roost over the high tide further down the coast.

It was quite dramatic and exhilarating especially so as we've not been outside much over the last fortnight. 

Others were equally exhilarated which is good to see, and got even nearer to the action.

We missed the next big breaker which totally swamped the car, they drove off pretty quick after that!
There's always some poor guys that have to work in these challenging conditions.

Below us was the former boating pool now used as a go-kart track. At high tide there is a wader roost on the top wall or if windy on the high ledge on the inside of the wall. Today there was no chance of roosting on the top of the wall although a single Turnstone tried briefly before going elsewhere. The ledge was being washed by water slooshing through the drain holes so that was no good either. 77 Redshanks tucked themselves in behind the tryes marking the lanes of the race track but there were no other species with them, we'd hoped there might have been a Purple Sandpiper or two.

Looking north the visibility was good apart from the squalls and we were treated to yet more rainbows.

Someone's going to come back to their hotel room to find a crock of gold under the bed - that'd be a nice surprise!

Looking the other way was hopeless for spotting any wildlife but looking into the sun was extremely dramatic.

Shame the breaking wave on the far right is just out of frame

After a couple of hours stood scanning with not a bird in sight over the sea a bit of dark movement caught our eye amid the white water. It took five minutes of concentrating before we picked it up again a little nearer and not too far off the wall, a Bonxie and with it another large skua but this one was pale, a Pomarine Skua. Something was going on they didn't act like traveling companions the Pom stayed down on the water unless a white water breaker threatened to engulf it when it would lift up let the wave pass and drop to the surface again.Each time it did this the Bonxie did the same whether it too was going to engulfed or not, landing close behind it giving us the impression it wasn't being that friendly and was maybe waiting for the apparently weakened Pom to keel over then hey presto - lunch! We didn't see what happened as they drifted past us into the sunny side of our watch point. Interesting and certainly better than but but we would have liked a Leach's Petrel, Little Gulls, a Sabine's Gull and/or Grey Phalarope to come past...OK so we're greedy.

Time was pushing on and slowly but surely afternoon was turning to evening.

It was then we got a txt from CR asking if we'd like to meet him down by the pier to watch the Starlings coming in, we thought he'd be in for a soaking if he did that looking at the waves crashing over the wall down that way so we decided to give it a miss and head off back to Base Camp at 4 o'clock after the sunset if it was any good. 

It wasn't bad but we've seen better.

And moving to the sunny side of our vantage point also meant we were now on the windy side too and we got salt spray on the lens.

From here we also saw some Starlings making their way to the pier so we through caution to the wind - of which there was plenty! - and decided to join CR after all. It was a short drive down to where he was watching from so we went to get the car seeing a lovely illuminated cloud stretching above the roof tops with the moon close by too.

By the time we got to CR the sun had gone down behind the clouds and the sunset was lost too the coming night. He'd seen a couple of thousand Starlings come in breaking into two flocks, an end of the pier flock and a close to the shore under the pier flock and he told us the two flocks appeared to be keeping themselves separate. More flocks came in over our heads the largest one containing at least 1000 birds the others much smaller but by now the light was gone and there was no chance of getting any pics. It was great to see that there were a couple of other folk standing there with cameras snapping away and even people waiting for the tram at the nearby stop watching the rather pathetic mini-murmurations rather than looking down the line for their ride home. Even though it wasn't spectacular this evening the wildlife can sooth the soul after a hard day at work

Best pic of the day? Probably this perfectly (or extremely luckily) timed one...

At our visit with the consultant last night he told us he'd done OK with our hand, the result of his prodding and poking was as well as might be expected and was pleased with his handiwork - however looking at our 'good' hand he said "see you as early as possible in the new year for a good old delve around - it's not looking good at all".

Where to next? Wind's picking up again today so we might have another nip down the Prom, hopefully the sunset and the Starlings will coincide too.

in the meantime let us know who's making a splash in your outback.

You say Martin I say Marton

The Safari was invited on a walk-round and chat with the new staff at the nature reserve yesterday which turned out rather fortuitously.

On a cold and blustery day we had a look at some of the projects that are coming up and rambled on about the 'old days'. Our walk round took us from the under construction visitor centre & classroom across the bridge and along the embankment. We saw various bits n bobs as we walked including a large female Sparrowhawk wafting over the reedbed in the distance which at first pre-bins glance had us thinking ring tailed harrier but to no avail onc the bins were lifted.

We had a look at the pond in the corner which was scraped out of a wet area a few years ago, no Jack Snipe there unfortunately. Rejoining the main path we stopped to let a group of walkers catch up with us and while AH had a chat to them GN and us just admired the scenery. Out of nowhere (well the reedbed actually) down to our left right on the side of the path a Chiffchaff appeared. We lifted the bins and something didn't ring true. It's face was wrong, the rear flanks quite ochorous and although the low morning light was harsh and behind it a Chiffchaff wouldn't have such bright legs would it? Then it called like two stones being knocked together tchk tchk tchk - hang on a mo - what kind of call is that for a Chiffchaff, certainly nothing like a 'normal' one would make and neither would a 'tristis' eastern one? Our mind was racing now! Ahh we've got the camera quick blast off a few pics - but with it being bright sunny and the bird in the shadows we couldn't see it in the viewfinder - point and click and hope. We doubted we got it. We tried to get closer but it moved ahead of us in the dense vegetation still calling until it flew a good few yards and dropped out of view never to be seen again. 

We were definitely unhappy about calling it a Chiffchaff and considered the options of what else it could be which left Dusky Warbler or Radde's Warbler neither of which we are familiar with.

On our round we had a look at the one Long Eared Owl on view and later saw the Iceland Gull drop in for a bathe but didn't see the Firecrest. 

We finished our circuit and AH and GN left the site leaving us on a very late lunch break so we decided to wander back for another try at the Firecrest. Extremely experienced birders MJ and FW were there and we told them about our warbler which MJ immediately said sounded more like Dusky than Radde's or anything else for that matter. We then listened to the calls of Dusky Warbler on Xeno-canto on our phone and that WAS the call we'd heard earlier - the three of us hit the trail to the reedbed for a look and listen! After a conflab we spoke to CB on the phone and he said it sounded really good for one and put it out as a probable on the pager network - we hoped it would reappear and although late in the afternoon some local birders could get down and confirm the ID.

Once home we downloaded the camera and blow us down there was some semblance of some pics - we had got it after all - after a fashion at least!

We posted the pics on the local birding FB group and within minutes CB phoned to confirm the ID - magic, a self found Lifer (87)! Well double chuffed.

Although we weren't the first to see it as NP had seen it last week apparently but not put an ID to it. 

We ended the day with a tally of 55 for the year at the nature reserve, 10% over half our target for the year.

Today we'd already arranged to meet our long time birding buds at the Place We Do Not Mention By Name on the South-side, very confusing having two superb but very different reserves with almost identical names so close to each other 20km/15miles (but nearly 70 miles round trip by road).

Marton Mere LNR v Martin Mere WWT

It was raw in the weather but great fun, we are quite an irreverent bunch of birders enjoying what we see when and if we see it.

Hazel catkins - early sign of spring

Advertsing a well known tyre and exhaust repair company? One of KB's no doubt

New for the year were Whooper Swan, Pintail, Ruff, Black Tailed Godwit, Coal Tit, Tree Sparrow, Peregrine and Barn Owl (95)

Never mind our numbers, their numbers are spectacular 5000 Pink Feet, 1000 Whoopers, 800 Lapwings and over 60 Ruff. The sights and more particularly sounds are awesome and if you haven't been to witness it then we suggest you get your skates on and get down there if you can...wrap up warm though! 

A couple of Peregrines, more Buzzards than you can shake a stick at, a Marsh Harrier and a Barn Owl at the close of play - we couldn't see the Tawny Owl the small birds were mobbing in an Ivy covered tree.

Many thanks to the gang for a superb day out.

Where to next? Indoors doing an event for the Zoo tomoz.

In the meantime let us know who's making all the noise in your outback.

Seaside sunset - sort of.

The Safari is sort of confined to barracks at the mo due to Frank's incapacitation. This morning we had a fit of gardening turning our front garden's tiny patch of crazy paving in to a tiny lawn for the big fella to hobble round so he's never more than 10 feet from the front door.
Yesterday's Peregrine brought the Patch 2 total to 79. The lists stand at World 195; British Isles 175; Patch 1 - 38; Patch 2 - 79; Garden - 36 and Marton Mere LNR - 88.

This evening we had an hour on the prom at the start of Chat Alley. Looking out to sea it looked idyllic but there was only a few Common Scoters and Sandwich Terns mooching about.

Three pics immediately one after the other but on different settings on the camera

A Grey Seal was seen briefly way out but dropped below thee surface and despite severe scanning was not seen again, perhaps not surprising as they can hold their breath for up to a whole hour!

The Emily J was trawling the life out of the seabed again.

To the west over the sea the sun shone summery but sneaking up behind us it was a little different.

We tried taking some pics of the passing Herring Gulls stark against the darkening sky, not the best of results...

With all that weather looming it was time to be prudent and skidaddle back to Base Camp. One the way back to the car (Wifey's this arvo, not the Solihull Special) we had the camera out ready to snap the forthcoming storm when this happy young lady called out 'take my picture take my picture' so we did!  They were having a BBQ by their bus in the car park, hopefully it didn't rain on their parade even if the girl behind her was caught picking her snozza.

A rainbow, with subsidiary, developed over the nearby park - pot of gold? well there was once for a certain JP when he found a Pallas's Warbler in there!

We got back to Base Camp as big heavy rain drops began to fall. The light was just plain weird!

Where to next? Little chance of putting the mothy out this evening and not sure if we'll be able to get further than the front door tomorrow...have to see if there's anything knocking about in the garden.

In the meantime let us know if you've been able to get out n about in your outback.