A pictureless post! The camera was in the boot but no way was it coming out for a trek on the Mosses - my back is hopefully on the mend and I hope to keep it that way? Oooops, I've started at the end....
I won't bore you with too many negative returns but a North Shropshire trawl started off at the Goose sanctuary otherwise known as VP and didn't get much better at Whitemere or the Mere! I got up to a Coot count of 241 at the Mere before I nearly lost the will to live - there were undoubtedly more!
Wood Lane had just a few less Geese than VP, other than c100 Lapwing, no waders there either! Colemere was almost birdless, the Scoter having scooted. I then bumped into Reevsey who had seen a Marsh Harrier on the Mosses. The floods were my next stop anyway as I extended a bit of good old Shropshire hospitality to a visiting Cheshire birder, Richard Howells. That hole in the hedge to view the floods might have taken some finding....
The Spotted Redshank had fled the floods which are now home to double figure Common Snipe (11 seen) and the usual Lapwing flock. As we made out way from the canal bridge to the Moss access from the towpath, I commented that being slightly elevated this was a good spot to scan the Moss. A Common Buzzard and Hobby were quickly noted and then unbelievably close, approaching the Moss perimeter path was the Marsh Harrier - being harried by a couple of Crows and frightening the living daylights out of a Pheasant. The Harrier had the instant look of a juvenile.
A particularly dark bird with golden crown and pristine plumage . Job done for both of us, year tick for me and Shropshire lifer for him - now that's what I call hospitality....
Thursday, 23 August 2012
Tuesday, 21 August 2012
North Shropshire - surprises!
A very quiet part morning at VP hadn't exactly sparked my enthusiasm but a text alerting me to a Common Scoter on Colemere was just the prompt I needed :-)
It was still there on arrival mid afternoon the plumage pointing to a juvenile ...
More excitement was to come as Martyn Owen who had found the Scoter was now at Whixall floods where he had found a Shropshire mega - Spotted Redshank!!
Just seeing the bird was a pretty awkward feat but how was I going to get a record shot?? A tiny gap in the hedge with foliage all around and then the Spot Shank distantly behind a willow bush! This was the scene.....
And eventually standing on tiptoes with manual focus and a bit of luck, the record shot came!
Astonishingly there was one soooooo tiny patch of water where the view through the hedge was unobstructed and eventually (using all my luck up here) I somehow kept the image in focus and improved the record shot no end. OK it's still only a record shot but always nice to have one in the bag for the records committee!
Quite an afternoon, well done again Martyn! Even had a bonus Ruff to finish in the Allscot area :-)
It was still there on arrival mid afternoon the plumage pointing to a juvenile ...
More excitement was to come as Martyn Owen who had found the Scoter was now at Whixall floods where he had found a Shropshire mega - Spotted Redshank!!
Just seeing the bird was a pretty awkward feat but how was I going to get a record shot?? A tiny gap in the hedge with foliage all around and then the Spot Shank distantly behind a willow bush! This was the scene.....
And eventually standing on tiptoes with manual focus and a bit of luck, the record shot came!
Astonishingly there was one soooooo tiny patch of water where the view through the hedge was unobstructed and eventually (using all my luck up here) I somehow kept the image in focus and improved the record shot no end. OK it's still only a record shot but always nice to have one in the bag for the records committee!
Quite an afternoon, well done again Martyn! Even had a bonus Ruff to finish in the Allscot area :-)
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
Venus Pool - Garganey
A bit of a Shropshire blitz on the year list today with Wood Sandpiper and erm Greenshank added! Both were very distant with no chance for photography but with news of a juv Garganey at Venus Pool - I was hoping for better luck?
Martyn Owen had spotted the probable juvenile Garganey from the main hide before it promptly vanished, heading for the North hide! I joined him there but it didn't reappear....
He had to leave so I waited another 30 mins or so before spotting the likely duck at the other end of the pool! I raced (well sort of) round to the main hide.....
No doubt about this one then, all the boxes were ticked. The head pattern with distinct eye stripe and pale loral patch, all grey bill and lack of pale patch on tail side...
It was surprisingly small however, clearly smaller than the female Teal present (here's a comparison shot)
That shouldn't be problem as the two species can overlap in size but I waited patiently for a post preen wing flap/stretch and wasn't to be disappointed :-) No green panel.....
It spent most of the time dozing on the dock laden island, often out of view but surprisingly came close on a couple of occasions!
More than makes up for the distant even more elusive January one
Martyn Owen had spotted the probable juvenile Garganey from the main hide before it promptly vanished, heading for the North hide! I joined him there but it didn't reappear....
He had to leave so I waited another 30 mins or so before spotting the likely duck at the other end of the pool! I raced (well sort of) round to the main hide.....
No doubt about this one then, all the boxes were ticked. The head pattern with distinct eye stripe and pale loral patch, all grey bill and lack of pale patch on tail side...
It was surprisingly small however, clearly smaller than the female Teal present (here's a comparison shot)
That shouldn't be problem as the two species can overlap in size but I waited patiently for a post preen wing flap/stretch and wasn't to be disappointed :-) No green panel.....
It spent most of the time dozing on the dock laden island, often out of view but surprisingly came close on a couple of occasions!
More than makes up for the distant even more elusive January one
Monday, 6 August 2012
Venus Pool - Little Grebes
Little Grebes usually frequent the far bank or just skulk but with at least two adults currently have youngsters in tow - a closer encounter is guaranteed - in search of fry near the pool edge!
Ever watchful!
And in need of a stretch now and then...
Not very often you see these guys in a flap!
The adult....
And youngster....
Ever watchful!
And in need of a stretch now and then...
Who is of course perpetually hungry and constantly squeaking for food!
On rare occasions, junior was satisfied - time for a wash?
Not very often you see these guys in a flap!
It's a dangerous life out there and the original four have now become two......
Saturday, 4 August 2012
Venus Pool - out and about :-)
Little steps and gradually I'm getting more mobile so a bit of Venus Pool therapy wouldn't go amiss! Nothing exciting of course apart from fresh air and a few local birds like Green Woodpecker ......
Mt Grumpy juvenile Heron....
There were at least three (2 juvs) Spotted Flycatcher in the trees to the right of the main hide!
Two adult Little Grebes were on the water with young, this individual had four tiny chicks in tow...
Chelmarsh scrape produced five Green Sandpipers and this one having a wash and flap dry...
Next challenge is to get the big lens bag moving again?
Mt Grumpy juvenile Heron....
There were at least three (2 juvs) Spotted Flycatcher in the trees to the right of the main hide!
Two adult Little Grebes were on the water with young, this individual had four tiny chicks in tow...
Chelmarsh scrape produced five Green Sandpipers and this one having a wash and flap dry...
Next challenge is to get the big lens bag moving again?