Not many words necessary really, apart from "Thanks"!
Rich Steel (check out the link to his site on the right) shares his shots of Waxwings from Dalston in Cumbria and Preston - winter is good for something after all!
Superb, thanks again Rich!
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies....
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Some species WeBs counts for Marshside RSPB/ Crossens Inner Marsh (14.12.08):
Little Grebe 6, Pink-footed Goose 520, Wigeon 9200, Teal 2081, Gadwall 25, Mallard 260, Pintail 242, Shoveler 141, Pochard 20, Tufted Duck 5, Moorhen 30, Coot 122, Golden Plover 1425, Lapwing 1976, Ruff 8, Black-tailed Godwit 2245, Curlew 60, Redshank 35, Snipe 20.
Counts for the foreshore next to the reserve aren't in yet but south of the sand-winning track there was at least 4000 Dunlin, 400 Shelduck, 250 Cormorants and 170 Curlew, amongst numerous other birds.
Huge rafts of Wigeon were observed straight out from the old sand works at high tide, with one estimate of about 10,000 birds, which seems perfectly reasonable.
The top photo is my favourite of the Waxwings. The background is rich with colour and the behaviour was well captured.
Sunday's WeBs count for the two sectors from Southport Pier to the sand-winning track and then sand winning track to the NNR boundary (amalgamated) were;
Cormorant 250; Little Egret 2; Pink-footed Goose 170; Shelduck 545; Wigeon 9000; Teal 250; Pintail 259; Shoveler 4; Mallard 30; Oystercatcher 100; Grey Plover 120; Curlew 205; Redshank 270; Snipe 8; Dunlin 4000.
I had a walk down the sand-winning track this morning and counted; one male Hen Harrier; one adult Peregrine; one Spotted Redshank (in the creek that runs parallel to the track); 800 Pink-footed Geese; 670 Shelduck; 245 Skylark.
Which was nice.
Cheers. G
Good day all,
am taking part in a butterfly recording scheme (http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/text/64/butterfly_distribution.html) with shockingly few Merseyside/West Lancs records. I'd be really grateful if anyone with any at all for this area since 2000 could get in touch (I imagine you can post them if it's easiest; else, I'll put up my e-address).
Thanks (also to Mike Bird - will pick it up tomorrow)
Dan
Hi John
Glad to say that another male Blackcap warbler has taken up residence (Crosby) in the garden again today. Last year a male and female spent over two months here from about the same date.
Really nice photos !
Whereabouts in Preston? I've never seen Waxwings and wouldn't mind trying for that tick.
Regards
Dear John,
The Preston Waxwings (70+) were in Victoria Street just of Corporation Street near the University of Central Lancashire. They have stripped most of the Rowans now though and appear to have left. The best place to try this winter would be Stocks Road near Lane Ends in Ashton-on-Ribble as they seem to like that area and there are still plenty of Rowan berries there.
Good luck,
Colin
John D. - Great Blog by the way and a good read.
John - there was a flock of Waxwings around the town centre in Preston - Bazzo reported them from the UCLAN campus and they were seen in trees around the Blockbuster video shop - but that was a few days ago, I think they may have moved on, as Waxwings often do!