Spent almost two hours freezing my bits off in the Rufford Hide at Mere Sands Wood today before one of the Bitterns came mooching through the reeds, moving slower than a Three-Toed Sloth on tranquilisers.
Despite its extremely laid-back approach to the business of the day (namely feeding), when just about the whole place was encased in ice, it was good to 'scope the superbly camouflaged carpetbag as it crept through the reeds, its head slowly swaying from side to side.
As is often the way, it remained motionless for long periods.
I like it when they seem to inflate and deflate, their streaky turtle backs rising or falling into the reeds to become invisible, shortly before they look for food by gently easing their sensitive beezers into the shallow water to feel for movement/dinner.
Struck the alarm posture once or twice, especially when a young Grey Heron seemed to be thinking of taking over its feeding area.
Shame the BIttern didn't sit out like its cousin, but luckily Ron Jackson has got some cracking video footage of one of the Bitterns, which he shot earlier in the week,.
You can watch it here.
Thanks to Ron for the link.
He adds: "Hope you managed the Bittern(s). A bloke I know had one fly down into the reeds by Rufford Hide from the trees over the hide! Strange birds".
He's right, they are strange birds. The one I watched this afternoon picked up the pace a bit as the light began to fade, but only insofar as it moved 20 metres or so into deeper cover.
Elsewhere at Mere Sands Nuthatch, Jays, Treecreepers, 5 Goldeneye, 1 Great Crested Grebe and hordes of Reed Buntings, with fewer Tree Sparrows around the centre and its feeders.
8 Goosanders back on the one unfrozen area of the main mere.
Left the reserve at about 1545 and on a whim (I could still feel something below the knee, so was therefore not cold enough), called in at Southport Marine Lake.
7 Goldeneye, Gadwall, Wigeon, Little Grebe, Peregrine and at least 11 Little Egrets roosting on the north island by 4.30pm.
Too cold to wait and see if the Great White came in, and once I had averted my eyes from the "Caramac" Red Crested Pochard, I headed for the hills.
After all, a Shag sitting directly under the Lakeside Inn was surely a none too subtle hint to call time.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Frost Bittern!!
John, congrats at seeing the Bittern. I had a couple of half-hour stints in the Rufford hide myself yesterday (I was there with you when the Sprawk showed), interspersed with a couple of laps of the perimeter path in a vain attempt to keep out the cold.
It just goes to show that persistence pays! You got to see the bird, whereas I just got frost bitten!
Great blog. Keep up the good work.
BRgds
John
Two visits to Hightown (between Gorsey and Sandy Lanes) in recent days have turned up Short-eared Owl, male Sparrowhawk, 3 G.S.Woodpecker on telegraph posts, 60+Fieldfare, Redwing, good numbers of common finches, 1 female Siskin and 1 male Tree Sparrow.
This has taken me 30 minutes as I just cannot read the Captcha and it is rejecting my postings! Final attempt as this one looks a bit more legible!
Please could I have some info on the Weld Road Twite flock for this winter. I have to give two talks on the coastal Lancs Twite in quick succession starting next Saturday and the composition of the Weld Road flock is of great interest as it APPEARS, on rather meagre evidence so far, to be the "southern limit of flcoks mainly comprising Scottish birds"
It would be really useful even if you have only seen that say '20/40 were unringed', or 'five were ringed but could not see the sequences'. Thanks very much - please send to PMrsh123@aol.com
S E Owl and Little Owl in the fields around Thornton and a regular covey of 10 Grey Partridge
Funnily enough, having not seen Twite at Weld Road for weeks, I saw at least 47 there today, early afternoon. In the usual area just norh of the car park. There have been some seen further north near the Marine Lake recently too which presumably are part of the Weld Rd flock. I didn't get close enough to see any rings, but will try again during the week.
Also nearby, 2 female Blackcap in buckthorn in the wooded cutting at Selworthy Road adjacent to Royal Birkdale.