25/01/2021 Hale Park, Cheshire

Firecrest: Today I was working in Halewood carrying out a preliminary ecological appraisal and thought I would use my limited outdoor time at Hale Park., which was nearby. 

The birds distinctive head markings, with black eye-stripe contrasting with broad, white supercilium really make this bird stand out, one of the best UK birds for sure. Really lovely little things. 

Although I don't keep a 'Cheshire list' this species is much sought-after by local listers and is very elusive and is definitely under-recorded due to one of their favourite habitats being rhododendron scrub under mature trees, which Hale park has in abundance. 

It was a tricky little blighter to pin down as it restlessly moved within the dense bushes and shrubs, but it was doing a circuit and with a bit of patience it would occasionally show itself. It even came right out into the open and foraged from the ground right in front of me. 

I believe the original finder was Geoff Bond, good stuff mate. 

This was another nice, safe, outdoor, socially distanced, Covid free post work walk. No crowds or other folk about and a stunning little bird to boot! 

18/01/2020 Moses Gate Country Park, Bolton

Iceland Gull: For the past few weeks there has been a juvenile Iceland gull that has been regularly reported loafing about on the main lake at Moses Gate Country Park.

I now have a new job working for a ecological consultancy in Bolton and not too far from Moses Gate. I've been working from home as the guidance recommends since I started my new job at the start of January, but needed to go there today.

So after a long day of printing, planning and scanning in the office I headed home via Moss Gate .    

Centred around three large lakes Moss Gate is just a mile or so from Bolton town centre, Moses Gate Country Park ia an uplifting taste of serenity and nature, away from the industrial Bolton town.

It's clear that Moss Gate is a popular place, with families and dog walkers enjoying their limited time outside.  Not too busy, perhaps that's different on a weekend, I don't know. But everyone was behaving well and enjoying the outdoor freedom. 

The gull wasn't hard to spot, there were some other Greater Manchester birders there to see it, again all well behaved and socially distanced. And the bird was sitting right in view on the main lake, in amongst the juvenile herring gulls. 

The bird was pretty active when I arrived, following the families who came loaded with loaves of bread to feed the ducks, ready and willing to steal a slice or two. 

Often it would jump into the feeding frenzies that would breakout as one herring gull was caught with some food.  I even had it land on the grassy area where the black-headed gulls hang out, but only briefly before getting spooked by a dog walker. 

Although herring gulls are slightly larger than Iceland gulls this bird in flight had a much larger appearance, perhaps  its due to the stunning cream-white wings that stand out against the grey skies and grey black herring gulls?

The light was fading so I packed up and headed home, but if I'm working from the office again soon I might just come back for a second visit. 

06/01/2021 Wigan Flashes Local Nature Reserve

Kingfisher: With the sun finally coming out here in Wigan and the baby at the childminders, I was keen to go out for a safe and Covid-secure walk to the flashes and back. I had a typical brief glimpse of electric blue whizz past me up down the canal before approaching a lock-gate where I was treated to a dazzling male kingfisher perched on the wooden walls. 

In area of the canal was still very much unfrozen unlike much of the edges of the actual flashes which is probably why this bird was in his area with plenty of open water to fish in. 

The flashes themselves had the usual stuff, tufted duck,  great-crested grebe, cormorant, shoveler, gadwall and teal. Nothing out of the ordinary  although I didn't spent too long looking, before making my way back home. 

 

02/01/2021 Astley Moss

Barn Owl: Happy New Year everyone. 

I'm  often surprised by how many people view my umble birding blog, its something I really enjoy doing so thanks for checking it out. 

With Christmas and New Years over with all the fizz drunk and mince pies eaten I was keen to get out of the house and out birding. Staying local I visited Astley Moss NR.  

The nature reserve stunning with its shimmering blanket of white ice and snow covering the fields, haedrows and mosses. As soon as I stepped out of the car I noticed a barn owl hunting in the adjacent field. 

The bird must be struggling to find enough food, probably hindered by the ice and snow as it was out hunting in the late morning.  

As temperatures start to drop in winter, small mammals become less active which means a lot less food is available for barn owls and they need to work extra hard to find it. 

The bird flew between the fields and paddocks across both sides of Rindle Road before disappearing out of view.