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Wet Windy Wander

25/1/2015

 
Hungry for more, Mark did the driving again today...  
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Marsh harrier, 25/01/15, Leighton Moss. Viewed from Public Hide.
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Otter, 25/01/15, Leighton Moss, Lower Hide. Seen from public hide first, we saw five at once, one caught an enormous eel.
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With the wind and rain picking up, this chap decided to join us.
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Why stay outside when its nice and dry indoors? Free grub too! Mark agreed to share his sandwiches with the bedraggled robin.
Rain stopped play at Leighton Moss so we headed for the Fylde coast: drier but much, much windier.   Scanning a group of Pink-footed Geese at Pilling Lane Ends we searched in vain for the Pale-bellied Brent goose.  The Pomarine Skua at Cockers Dyke proved equally elusive, but an unexpected flock of Twite almost made up for it...
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Twite, 25/01/15, Cockers Dyke, Knott End. About 50 of these landed on the salt marsh right in front of us.
With the tide sweeping in, we decided to head towards Fleetwood.  Mark had never seen a Shore Lark before but would this long-staying character still be there?...
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Ring Plover and sanderling, 25/01/15, Rossall Point, Fleetwood. All very nice, but where's the Shore Lark?
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Oystercatchers, 25/01/15, Rossall Point, Fleetwood. Lovely, but where's the Lark?
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Stonechat, 25/01/15, Rossall Point,Fleetwood. Good, but not a Shore Lark.
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Shore Lark, 25/01/15, Rossall Point, Fleetwood. A nice bird and indeed a Shore Lark. It led us a merry dance, but we found it eventually. (On the picnic area next to where we had parked the car!)

Playing with Fire

18/1/2015

 
A very patient Mark Abram did the driving today.  Heading firstly for Leighton Moss, we noticed the weather steadily worsening, so at junction 35 of the M6 we did a u-turn and headed towards the Fylde instead.  Arriving at Marton Mere around noon, we walked to the far north-western side of the lake where six serious birders stood staring at a bush, but what was all the fuss about?  Ten minutes later, we found out...       
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Firecrest,18/01/15, Marton Mere, Blackpool. Never seen one in the UK before. Cracking little bird, but incredibly restless and a swine to photograph . This was my best effort.
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Another poor effort, but at least we can see more of those diagnostic head markings.
No sign of the Long-eared Owls, we headed for Lytham Crematorium, like you do...
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Ring-necked Parakeets, 18/01/15, Lytham Crematorium. Six were seen altogether. Good to see them doing so well.
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Pied Wagtail, 18/01/15, Lytham Crematorium.
A distant Merlin at Warton Bank (too distant to photograph) rounded off a pretty decent day.  I'm still buzzing about the Firecrest, not a winner, but a first for me in the UK.  A slap-up roast dinner awaited us back at home: Mark, Anne, Daniel, Gary, Lynne, Ben, Holly and myself stuffed ourselves merrily.  Isn't life great!?  Especially wildlife!  

Happy New Year

4/1/2015

 
First bird photo of 2015: Bittern at Leighton Moss.  Mark and I arrived at Public Hide at 10.40 to be greeted instantly by this bird on the opposite bank.  Not a great shot but great to watch through the scope.     
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Bittern, 04/01/15, from Public Hide, Leighton Moss, Silverdale.
First mammal picture of 2015: Otter.  3 of them altogether, playing for a good half hour opposite Lower Hide.  Got quite close to pheasants and marsh tits too along the way. 
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Otters, 04/01/15, Lower Hide, Leighton Moss, Silverdale.
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Pheasant, 04/01/15, path to Lower Hide, Leighton Moss, Silverdale.
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Marsh Tit, 04/01/15, path to Lower Hide, Leighton Moss, Silverdale.
Journeyed home via Pilling to scan the fields and usual hotspots down Bradshaw Lane...  
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Yellowhammer, 04/01/15, Bradshaw Lane, Pilling.
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Fieldfare and Redwing, 04/01/15, Bradshaw Lane, Pilling.

    Author

    Tony Wilson.
    Amateur wildlife photographer.   

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