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Mar 02 2012
Day Out to WWT Martin Mere 2nd March 2012
Day Out to WWT Martin Mere 2nd March 2012
After our visit to Sizergh Castle we headed to Martin Mere hoping to add a good number of species to our two-day list. On our drive there we saw a Kestrel hovering overhead which was a nice addition to our list. At Martin Mere we didn’t go to all the hides but we visited what we consider to be the main ones starting, as often, at the Ron Barker hide where there were around three hundred Pink-footed Geese in the far field to the right of the hide. There were also large numbers of Starlings on the ground mixed in with the other birds. By far the dominant bird numerically, however, were the Wigeon; there must have been at least five hundred. There were also a few Whooper Swans and lots of Shelduck and Teal but the highlight was the newly arrived flock of Avocets. At first when we looked there seemed to be only around a dozen but soon enough more flew in and we managed to count around 120. As we went around the site, however, there seemed to be more of them dispersed here and there. There was also a flock of around 150 Lapwing, a small flock of Dunlin; a few Black-tailed Godwit; a Ruff and a couple of RInged Plovers.
Mar 02 2012
Hawfinches at Sizergh Castle 2 March 2012
Hawfinches at Sizergh Castle 2 March 2012
Our two-day birding trip had already given us a great day out at RSPB Leighton Moss where we saw lots of species with the bonus of three fantastic “life ticks” – a “redhead” Smew, a Snow Goose and a Glossy Ibis – but this second day was the main purpose of our trip and that was to see the Hawfinches that feed off the Hornbeam and Beech trees in the gardens of Sizergh Castle. So as not to have to start off from Manchester at 6am we decided that we would go to Leighton Moss the day before and then drive up to Kendal for an overnight stay, which we did at the Riverside Hotel. We were up early – as were the three Goosanders on the river outside our bedroom window – for the 15 minute drive from the centre of Kendal to Sizergh Castle where we all met up with the National Trust ranger who was leading the event (Rob Pocklington) which started at 8am. When I say that the Hawfinches were in the gardens at Sizergh castle, in fact they were actually in the car park and children’s play area that we saw them.
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Mar 01 2012
Day Out to Leighton Moss RSPB 1st March 2012
Day Out to Leighton Moss RSPB 1st March 2012
We decided to have a couple of days birding so we started off with a visit to Leighton Moss RSPB. We had seen on their web site that there were a number of rarities in the area including a “redhead” Smew, a Glossy Ibis and a Snow Goose so while we were looking forward to a site that we visit as often as we can we had the addition spice of possibly seeing some “twitchable” birds as well. Did we manage to see any of these ? – Read on !
Mar 01 2012
Summary February 2012
Summary February 2012
We were on holiday in Lanzarote for the week between 2nd and 9th of February. We weren’t really doing any serious bird watching but we kept our eyes open and we did see a few species including Pallid Swift, Kestrel, Kentish Plover, Common Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, Collared Dove, Swallow, Spanish Sparrow and Berthelot’s Pipit. It would be well worthwhile returning here in Spring but at this time of year it seemed fairly quiet for birds.
Garden
When we returned from holiday it was clear that it had been very cold and the moment we removed the ice from the bird bath, the Blackbirds were back for their baths. The whole of the first half of the month had been very cold but the second half was much milder if a bit windy at times. The Blackcap has remained until the end of the month at least and is to be seen often having got the hang of the bird feeder – it is as likely to be seen there than on the bird table. Goldfinches are plentiful – often up to 14 or so at a time. Blue and Great Tits are pretty active. Woodpigeons and Collared Doves are back at full force and the Robin is occasionally seen. As usual, a couple of Dunnocks (sometimes three !) are seen daily and may even be nesting in the ivy at the bottom of the garden. Mistle Thrushes continue to be seen from our front and back windows, either protecting a neighbour’s Rowan tree facing our house or in the trees in the park behind it. On occasion they are accompanied by Redwing in varying numbers. Blackbirds and Magpies bathe frequently in the bird bath. A Coal Tit was on the bird table at the end of the month.
Feb 27 2012
Birding Group Visit to Poynton Park and Bramhall Woods 27th February 2012
Birding Group Visit to Poynton Park and Bramhall Woods 27th February 2012
The scheduled visit to Bramhall Park woods was slightly altered so we could go to Poynton Park to try to see the Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers that have been widely seen there. Unfortunately we didn’t see any. This was not the first time I had tried to see these birds but this time I was hoping that with a local member of the group and lots of eyes would be luckier but it wasn’t to be.
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Feb 21 2012
Birding Group Visit to Sandbach Flashes 21st February 2012
Birding Group Visit to Sandbach Flashes 21st February 2012
This was only my second visit with the birding group to Sandbach Flashes and it was Anne’s first time there. As usual, we only went to one of these flashes, Elton Hall Flash. The weather was reasonable and we were hoping for as good a day as we had last time when we saw thirty-one species. We had a fair number this time also.
Feb 19 2012
Poynton Park 19th February 2012
Poynton Park 19th February 2012
We wanted to visit Poynton Park because on of our birding group had been there recently and had seen Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers there. The web site describes the site thus : “The park is situated just a few minutes walk from the centre of Poynton village covering 21 hectares including the pool, which is fished by Stockport Federation Angling Club. A surfaced circular path takes you from the car park at South Park Drive, alongside the pool, the lime avenue and through the grassland. There is a linear public footpath from the car park at Anglesey Drive, which takes you alongside the western edge of the pool. The grassland is maintained solely by the sheep grazing.”
Feb 16 2012
Birding Group Day Out to Hilbre Island 16th February 2012
Birding Group Day Out to Hilbre Island 16th February 2012
The weather forecast was a bit doubtful for our day out to Hilbre but the rain managed to stay off for the morning at least. It was around 10.30am before we set out from the pier across the sands to Little Eye, turning right there via Middle Eye to the main island. the wind was howling and it was pretty cold but the walk was well worthwhile when our first sightings on the island were half a dozen Brent Geese sitting on the rocks below. A single Shelduck put in an appearance and we saw Turnstones bobbing around amongst the rocks at the waters edge. The few Brent Geese to be seen here were dwarfed by those on the north eastern side of the island.
Feb 14 2012
Sale Water Park 14th February 2012
Sale Water Park 14th February 2012
We went for our first walk after coming back from holiday. Neither of us had been feeling particularly bright after both of us getting a dose of the flu. It was a bright day however and we thought it might be good to blow the cobwebs out so we did a regular walk of ours along Brook Burn in Chorlton up to the Mersey and along the Mersey crossing at the railway bridge and then dropping down to Sale Water Park passing Broad Dole Ees and along to the Mersey Valley Visitors Centre and returning back home via Jackson’s Boat bridge. Our first sighting was encouraging as we encountered a female Goosander on the Mersey.
Jan 31 2012
Summary January 2012
Summary January 2012
Garden
The new year started with very mild weather with some wet days and some quite windy days. The Tits seem to be finding lots of insects already and some days you can see a mist of hovering gnats over the lawn in the back garden. Goldfinch numbers on the feeders peaking at around 18 but Greenfinches not evident. The Blackcap we had occasionally wasn’t seen for a bit but towards the end of the month it returned. The Blackbirds are back on the lawn and the Wood Pigeons and Collared Doves that have been absent for a while have started to reappear dominating the bird table when they can.