Snow-Fakes

Dan here.

My vestiges of hope that the trio of snow geese might be wild vagrants melted as I snapped them at close range at Marsh Point today. We were all a bit too cosy.

I'd bet that the closest they've been to Greenland is the Iceland in Morecambe. A while after I took this they were to be seen grovelling at the foot of the tip with those huge baggy-bellied farm geese and the tamest of the greylags.

Anyway... enough of this hilarity. Some wild honkers were about with 300 pink-footed and 3 Eurasian white-fronted geese dropping onto Aldcliffe Marsh about midday, with several hundred more pinks seen on Colloway Marsh, and a thousand more seen in flight over the Oxcliffe area.

DH.

Knot my cup of tea...........

Brilliant cold sunny day. Freeman’s much as it was last visit, Tufted Ducks, Gadwall, Coot etc. Marsh Point was a treat with hundreds of birds, Knot 27 unusual for here,  Canada Geese 162, Greylag 110, Snow Geese 3 flew in had a quick look about then flew off down river, Lapwing 720, Golden Plover 4, Redshank 60, Oystercatcher 40, Curlew 1, Black-tailed Godwit 8,  BH Gull 60, Comm Gull 19, Herring Gull 16, LBB Gull 4.

The track was quiet with just a few Chaffinch. Wildfowlers’ Pool Coot and teal. The Flood saw Redshank 65, Shelduck 2, Mallard 8. The Marsh had 45 Curlew and 1 Little Egret. Gull Bank had Mediterranean Gull 1, BH Gull 160, Golden Plover 87, Dunlin 48, Lapwing 800 and a flock of 120 Starling flying over. Opposite bank were Little Egret 2, Pink-footed Geese 750 approx and did see 4 European White fronts possibly more. A pair of Goldeneye on the river. Found a dead bird looked like a Guillemot will have picture checked. Sewerage works Grey and Pied Wagtail.

Yesterday Little Owl Admiralty Wood and Redwing 6.

Update on dead bird, confirmed Guillemot. 

Steve

Pink-Collar Worker

Dan here.

Five species of geese were using the saltmarshes this afternoon, including around 450 pink-footed geese.

One PG had been fitted with a collar, which, after a bit of 'scope-work was seen to read 'TNV'. No doubt this will have been collared on breeding grounds in Iceland. I'll forward the sighting and report here if any info comes back.

The touring threesome of white-morph snow geese were conspicuous, while five European white-fronts on Heaton Marsh and a further three on Aldcliffe Marsh blended in a little better.

DH.

Think Pink...

Quick jaunt through the Parish today. Freeman’s Pool was quite lively with 20 or so Teal, 6 Tufted Duck, 6 Goldeneye, Mallard, Coot, Little Grebe, Heron and BH Gulls. The track was quiet, today a brisk wind was blowing and heavy rain sleet showers. On trig point hill sheltering from the very high tide were 125 Pink-footed Geese I separated out 5 European White-fronts amongst them. The Flood saw Curlew 48, Shelduck 3, dozen Mallard and 26 Redshank. A Buzzard, local, landed in the field.

Steve.

Snow Geese and Rockets..........

After a week ill and cabin fever well and truly set in I thought Aldcliffe is my best remedy. Thankfully all was still as it was, apart from the hedges which have been savagely cut back, cyclists be warned! Freeman’s Pool had Goldeneye 4, Little Grebe 2, Tufted Duck 6, Gadwall 5, Mallard, Coot and a Grey Heron, Kestrel did a fly by. A juicy pile of fresh manure had been dumped by the maize field entrance, more to come hopefully, and will attract more than the Chaffinch which I saw there today. The Flood was busy Shelduck 3, Redshank 10, Curlew 28, Pied Wagtail 2 and BH Gull 60. In the field next door a flock of 20 Pink footed Geese were joined by 15 Greylags and 3 Snow Geese giving excellent views, Dan had texted me earlier having seen them and 5 European White-fronted Geese.

As it was a big tide I predicted Rock Pipits and was pleased to find 4 near the walled meadow and a few at the sewage works. Wildfowlers’ Pool had Little Egret 1, Shelduck 2, Teal 5 and Moorhen 17. A Buzzard was circling above. Near the old snuff mill were Greenfinch and a flock of up to 25 Redwing.  A very enjoyable hour,  just the tonic.

Steve