29/12/2020 Elton Reservoir, Bolton

Greater Scaup: Staying within Greater Manchester today combined with a short trip to the office and I thought I would check out the local scaup.

This was my second visit Elton to see this drake scaup and I was surprised to see how much it had undergone a transformation as it leaves its eclipse plumage to its adult plumage. 

The bird had also moved into a more sheltered inlet area on the west side of the lake. There was high congregation of water birds here with several tufted duck, kingfisher, teal, mute swan and  two little egret. 

Here is a side-by-side comparison of the same bird, the top image was taken on the 15th of October and the bottom image today. 

The bird has changed from it's mottled brown head to almost full adult plumage with no white blaze around the face.

28/12/2020 Brickcroft Nature Reserve, Longton, Preston

Red-crested Pochard: Today was a day of two halfs, after waking up to snow here in Wigan and playing with the baby. I ended the day collecting some photography studio equipment from Preston where there was no snow at all!

Seeing as I was already in Preston picking up this studio kit which I will use for work purposes. I thought I would stop off at the Brickcroft Nature Reserve. Brickcroft Nature Reserve is situated west of the A59, southwest of Preston on the edge of Longton village. 

There had been reports of a drake RCP on the main lakes here for over a month, but with Christmas and the tightening of the Covid restrictions I thought it best not to travel. 

When I arrived the bird was on the largest southern lake, unfortunately the bird was clearly associating with mallard and wasn't shy, I even saw it come to bread that some family had brought to feed the ducks.

I have even been told by Stuart Darbyshire that its sporting a red ring on its leg. All of which leads me to believe this is not a genuine, bonafide, truly wild RCP. Nevertheless and regardless of its credibility it was still nice to be out of the house seeing a decent bird.

If anyone wants to see my professional work photography page, please check it out below.

https://austinmorleyphotography.com/

18/12/2020 Letcombe Regis, Oxfordshire

Great Bustard: Today I was carrying out some work near Swindon and after I was done I thought I would use what little time I had left of the afternoon to go and see the great bustard that has taken up residence in a stubble field outside of Oxford. Although it may not be considered acceptable to the purists this would still be my fisrt ever great bustard. 

These magnificent birds sadly became extinct in the UK back in 1832 and thankfully reintroduced on to Salisbury Plain in 2004 by the Great Bustard Group. 

http://greatbustard.org/

This particular individual has been identified as a male from Wiltshire, identified by a pink ring on its leg.  This bird had known to have left the main group for its first winter and will likely return to Salisbury Plain next year.

By the time I arrived I in the village of Wantage the soft winter sun was setting fast and before I knew it I was shooting in the dark. Despite the awful light conditions the bird showed well and I was blown away by it. They are seriously great birds and a real joy to watch. 

 

15/12/2020 Bickershaw Rucks

Short-eared Owl: After dropping Autumn at the childminders I spent the morning on some rough ground at the back of Brecon Drive where a shotie had been reported. 

This rough ground is just north of Bickershaw Rucks which was only 10 minutes away from my front door. Rucks is a local word that seems to indicate old pit workings. These go wild and are reclaimed by nature and present good wildlife habitat.

Almost as soon as I arrived the owl did a 'fly by' right in front of the back gardens to Brecon Drive before perching in some trees opposite the school. 

Shorties have distinctive mottled brown plumage with pale under-wings and striking yellow eyes that betray this as a daytime hunter. Increasingly, this species seems to be overwintering in Britain, when before most either migrated to the north English moors or to continental Europe – as an amber listed species, this is good news.

If anyone intends on going please note - wellies are essential.  

30/11/2020 Marshside, Southport

Grey Phalarope: This bird had spent a few days on Rimmers Marsh, which is located at the back of Marshside opposite Stanley High School.  This is the second  grey pahl that has been recorded this year at Marshside, and thankfully this one was much more visible than the last.

 The weather had been a mixed bag during the week and as usual I had been busy with work so when the opportunity to  do some work close to Southport came I jumped at the chance. 

Phalaropes have a very strange way of feeding, by spinning around and around in the water to bring small creatures to the surface, picking up this food without slowing down as they frantically spin. 

Pretty cols to watch. 

This bird didn't stop feeding and spinning and drew a small crowd. Again being outside there was plenty of space to social distance and everyone was well behaved.