Snow Joke?

Dan here.

Nothing much to report apart from  three lesser snow geese. These white-morph birds have been touring the local beauty spots with greylags.

As ever the question is- are they tickable? They look as plastic as a block of Costcutter cheddar to me.

But I might well change my mind in a couple of days when I draw up the grand Aldcliffe list for 2011.

Season's Stringings,
DH.

Blustery Morning....

Blowing a bit of a gale, high tide lots of waders, Lapwing etc being spooked by something which I couldn’t find. Greylags, about 200 at the Wildfowlers’ Pool. Freeman’s Gadwall of note. Track very quiet as very blustery. 6 Little Egrets near pylons. Sewage works 5 Rock Pipits, 3 Meadow Pipits, 2 Grey wagtails and half a dozen Pied Wags. Mistle Thrush in field.

Steve.

Quiet Morning....

Very quiet down the Old Parish today. Freeman’s Pool 8 Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Coot, Wigeon, Goldeneye. Lapwing 200 at Marsh Point. 3 Little Egrets on marsh. Greylags have returned though lower numbers, 300 or so including 70 near Flood, also on here were 20 Redshank. 2 Song Thrush on track, and two more on sewerage works track along with 6 Redwing, 20 Blackbird and 1 Goldcrest, couldn’t really stop as the track here is under water! Lapwing 3500 on mud. 

Steve

Spectacular Mist….lenses that is

Had a cycle round in the snow and not much to see, birds were about just couldn’t see em! Bullfinch pair on track along with Robins, Dunnocks, and Blackbirds. Freeman’s Pool much the same as its been of late. A few hundred Lapwing at Marsh Point. Pair of Oystercatcher were at the Flood. Near the sewage works Fieldfare 21.

Steve

Whitening Strikes Twice

Dan here.

In the wake of what the Scots have dubbed Hurricane Bawbag the parish was looking a bit bleak and blasted today.

However, a great egret was looking grand in the same spot as the autumn find-- near the legendary pylons where Heaton Marsh and Colloway Marsh collide.

Couldn't find much else of interest, bar an adult Med.  Sadly there seems to have been a major clear-out of geese.

Freeman's Pools was hosting six goldeneyes and eleven gadwall. A peregrine falcon and two kestrels were noted.

DH.

The dead tree that’s been standing for donkeys years succumbed to the wild weather.

Buzzard close by being mobbed by crows, Sparrowhawk, Reed Buntings at the maize field.

Steve

Yesterdays Dash.......

Freeman’s Pool Gadwall, Goldeneye, Tufted, Coot, Heron, Mallard, Swan and 6 Bullfinch flew onto hedge. On the track Greenfinch, Chaffinch, 5 Song Thrush and 7 Reed Bunting, a couple of dozen Blackbird. A Kestrel was hunting over the cut maize field. A quick wander along past walled meadow so Little Egret, across the Lune were Lapwing, Golden Plover and Redshank. A Skylark flew over.  Fence around wood is coming on and had a chat with building manager who is a birder, and was very interested in the Aldcliffe mob and gave a nod. Not sure if the land will be eventually built on, though realistically I guess it is in a prime position.

Steve

Fence post.....

Asked the chaps who were fencing off Freeman's Wood, and yes its going all the way round and he emphasised the private land bit. Well at least the birds will be undisturbed for now. Freeman’s Pool dozen Gadwall, Goldeneye 2, Coot, Swan, Little Grebe and a pair of tufties. 

The track was quiet, saw 14 Fieldfare, Blackbird and Bullfinch. Bumped into Guy and Ola so walked back towards sewerage works. Little Egret, Linnet flew over. At the works were numerous Meadow Pipits, Pied and Grey Wagtails. A dozen Curlew in the field opposite, a flock of 120 Starlings were flushed by a Sparrowhawk and a pair of Great spotted Woodpecker in the trees.

Steve