Purple Heron: I love my job, I really do, but being stuck in the office for a week with no survey work scheduled in isn't good for the soul. So it was good to get out and with some good mates, Gary and Tobie and do some local birding.
We headed south early morning to Ashton flashes in Northwich, were I was hoping to get better views of the Sibe stonechat. After looking in the wrong area for about an hour Dan Foy turned up without any binoculars or a camera spotted the bird in the north east corner - you can't make this stuff up!
The bird was showing much better and much more closer. We had our fill, grabbed a McDonalds then headed north to Pilling near Preston.
This time our target bird was the long staying purple heron which again put on a better show then the first time I saw it. The heron was foraging in the open in the middle of a field.
Barn Owl: We were also treated to a brilliant barn owl coming out of its roost from the nearby sheds. This bird is probably the most photographed wild barn owl in the north west and although it quickly disappeared after we saw it, I think I will have to come back and try again with it.
The purple heron seems like it's being a little more mobile and foraging further away from its favorite ditch, one day soon it might just go for good!
Long-billed Dowitcher: Next stop, Southport where we bumped in to some local legends, John Dempsey and Graham Clarkson who were busy searching for some barnacle geese across the marsh.
We however were interested ins seeing another long stayer, the dowitcher who was in pretty much the precise location to when I saw the bird back on the 11th of January, the day after it turned up.
The bird was happily feeding amongst a group of mallard and appeared to be the only wader in the area except for some distant curlew and redshank.
Our last stop before we lost the light was to Martin Mere, were we bagged the Tundra bean goose before getting kicked out by the surely staff members who were obviously keen to clock off on time and with no exceptions!!. Forget the fact Gary and Tobie paid almost £30 for an hour and a half visit.
The purple heron seems like it's being a little more mobile and foraging further away from its favorite ditch, one day soon it might just go for good!
