Happy Days........

What was meant to be a quick trawl round ending up being a leisurely stroll and various conversations with other birdwatchers en route. Guy was having a pedal round and had seen a male Merlin, Red Breasted Merganser 3 by the pylons along with Raven, Little Grebe, and Meadow Pipit 1 on the dung heap near the Flood. Other birds seen,
Freeman’s Pool
Goldeneye, Tufted Duck and Smew still present.
Stubble field and track
Skylark 4
Linnet 17
Reed Bunting 5
Dunnock 4
Greenfinch 3
Goldfinch 8
Chaffinch numerous.
Great/Blue Tit half a dozen of each.
Song Thrush 2
Mistle Thrush 1
Water Rail 1
Wildfowlers’ Pools
Teal 9
Oystercatcher 2
Redshank 3
Moorhen 28
Flood
Green Sandpiper 1 and 1 Redshank.
Marsh
Little Egret 2
Black-tailed Godwit 3
Shelduck 7
Curlew 19
Pink Footed Geese 275

Steve

Monday's Rail Timetable

The Water Rails were on fine form, squealing and scolding each other, three in total. I watched one for about forty minutes and got within a couple of meters, amazing birds. Other highlights, Smew still present, along with Tufted Ducks, Wigeon, Goldeneye, and Gadwall and 2 Snipe on the island. Wildfowlers’ was frozen, and the Flood was void of birds due to farming activities. Black-tailed Godwit 106 at Marsh Point.

Steve

British Rail Announcement

 

A minimum of three water rails continue to entertain down by the hedgerow ditch on the lower path.

The redhead smew is still on Freeman's Pools, along with small numbers of other ducks including gadwall, goosander and goldeneye.

Two green sandpipers and two black-tailed godwits were on 'the flood'.

A hundred-strong wigeon flock by Cadaver Corner did not harbour the rather elusive Cockersands/Conder am wig drake. 

Circa 900 pink-footed geese flew high North over the estuary area early afternoon (descending near the Heysham bypass), and a rather bold grey wagtail was feeding on the sewage works track.

Dan. 

Confiding Water Rails

 

Water Rails on the bottom path

A pleasant walk with Steve under a bright blue sky until a fog moved up the estuary at a very rapid speed.

Highlights included 

3 very showy water rails in the ditch on the bottom path. We were getting views from 5 metres just by standing still on the cycle track and letting the birds coming to us.

15 golden plover heading down the estuary.

c. 70 linnet and 5 reed bunting in the stubble fields.

3 snipe, a redshank, 2 tufties, 2 goldeneye and a kestrel round Freemans pool.

30 black tailed godwits at Marsh Point.

2 collared doves came down with the mist. Fairly unusual down here.

Guy.

High Tide highlights........

Changeable weather today, from sleet to rain showers and sunlight lighting up the pylons against heavy leaden skies. Not being a poet I fulfilled my creative urge by settling for a photograph, one for the album, and got on with bird watching. The Smew was present again along with ones and two of a great selection of birds on Freeman’s, list below.............
Freeman’s Pool
Smew 1
Goldeneye 2
Tufted Duck 2
Teal 1
Little Grebe 1
Shelduck 1
Gadwall 6
Shoveler 5
Little Egret 1
Redshank 1
Mute Swan 3
Coot and Moorhen, along with Grey Heron. There were about 30 Woodpigeon sitting on the fence.
Darter Pool
Mallard 55
Wildfowlers’ Pool
Teal 9
Shelduck 2
Little Egret 1
Marsh.
Wigeon 35
Shelduck 5
Oystercatcher 45
Curlew 16
Redshank 35
Little Egret 3
Flood
Green Sandpiper and 1 Redshank.
Also, Raven 2 and Kestrel 1.


Steve