Monday 28 December 2009

where shall i wander......



Geese being the highlight today…….
Despite a slight thaw yesterday it was back to winter at Aldcliffe, frost, sun and no wind. As I arrived I saw thousands of Pink Footed Geese flying over Snatchems/Asda, they split into two large flocks going north and south respectively. Aldcliffe was lucky enough to have about 350 of the birds land in the fields near the flood.
Freeman’s, Darter and Frog Pools all frozen and not a bird insight. Wildfowler’s had a small open pool with Mallard, Coot, Moorhen and Shoveler all crammed in.
Dung heap on stubble field saw mixed flock of Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting and Dunnock with a couple of Meadow Pipits and one Fieldfare.
A single Snipe was feeding in a small pool, Pied Wagtail and few Mallard on the flood.
Water Rail showing well on the track along with Chaffinch, Bullfinch and Goldfinch.

Marsh
Little Egret 2
Snow Geese 4
Barnacle Geese 3
Greylag and Canada’s
Curlew 17
Skylark 1

Marsh Point
Collection of Black-tailed Godwits, Lapwing, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Black-headed, Common, Herring, Great black backed and Lesser black backed Gulls.
Goldeneye 2
Cormorant 6
Grey heron 4

Breaking News..
14.00 news just in from Pete Marsh who spotted another Barnacle Goose which has come in with about 400 Pink Footed Geese. Also, an orange-legged looking Pink Foot, that disappeared! Which will be worth trying to find and confirm. Thanks Pete.

Steve

1 comment:

Pete Marsh said...

Aldcliffe birders: Please can you keep an eye open for this bird - its usually around the Lancaster City Football ground, by the cricket pitch or on the nearby river. Mark Prestwood finds it on a fairly regular basis when he has time to look but we are desperately short of first and last date info for the last two years. Pity with such as interesting history. There may also be Polish sightings subsequent to the breeding with 5HR - I'm just about to check. Thanks.

Med Gull
Poland FM11199 (Darvic red P96 (formerly P70)
Ringed:Skoki Duze, Wroclawek, Poland AdF 19/5/01

Seen Battery car park, Morecambe 31/1/03

Retrapped and reringed: Skoki Duze 19/5/03

Seen Morecambe Stone jetty (with 5HR) 8/3-18/3/04

Seen urban Lancaster, mainly Marsh estate area winter 2004/5

Seen urban Lancaster, mainly Marsh estate area autumn 2005-14/3/06
Seen urban Lancaster, mainly Marsh Estate area c25/7/06 to at least 28/1/07

Seen urban Lancaster, mainly Marsh estate area at least 29/11/07 to 28/2/08

Seen as above at least early Nov 2008 into 2009

Seen as above at least 1/11/09