22/12/2021 Samlesbury, Lancashire

Belted Kingfisher: Earlier this week the BK finally gave up the ghost and decided to settled on a small stretch of the River Darwen. Huge congratulations to whoever found it as many were trying since it left its original area along the River Ribble. 

Its new home was on a bend along the River Darwen upstream from of Roach Bridge. 

From here  the bird can sometimes been seen perching upon the branches at eye level and  looking downstream perched above the water.  Definitely a better area then at Redscar Woods.  Now its been found in a reliable area its fast become a very popular bird with hundreds of birders turning up. 

I  would recommend any who need it goes quickly, as soon as you ca before the locals and landowners start to kick up a fuss. 

This is probably my last post before Christmas so let me take this opportunity to say 'Happy Christmas' to all my followers, regular readers and thoses who click on the link and read my musings and enjoy my images. 

20/2021 Southport

Snow Bunting: A nice trip out to see the snow bunting that have taken up residence in Southport and i wasn't disappointed as typical  in their nature they were very confiding. 

There were five birds, including this paler male bird feeding along the strand line amongst the razor clam shells close to the sea wall, right next to the pier, on the northern side. 

They didn't seem bothered about the passing traffic, the dog walkers or the admiring crowd of birders.  It's been a good year for snow bunting locally with long staying birds at Crosby, Leasowe and reports of them further down the Mersey. 

Always a nice bird to catch up with.

15/12/2021 Pennington Flash

Water Rail: Said to be one of the most elusive birds that we have, shy and reclusive staying out of sight in the reeds, water rails are usually heard and not seen by their unmistakable loud piglet like squeal sound that they make.But occasionally during the winter months they can be seen feeding on split seed around the feeders of Pengy's Hide.

Winter is a good time to see water rails as the vegetation cover has died back and the birds are forced out into the open to search of food. 

The bird was typically nervous only coming out in full view for a few minutes at a time, occasionally rushing in to pick up a few seeds before rushing back to cover. 

On a day like today, after a few weeks of bad weather and thick cloud it was good for the soul to get out under the blue skies and lemon light of the winter's morning before returning to work and logging on back on. 
 

04/12/2021 Water lane, Crossens, Southport

Snow Goose:  A wild windy day, but between work and the baby I have to take what little time I have to get out birding when I can. 

So, today my destination was Southport to try my luck with the snow goose. 

When I arrived a message came from from Stuart Derbyshire saying that the bird had flown off the marsh and landed in a stubble fields close to the pumping station, I wasn't quick enough to see it here but it was relocated around the corner off Water Lane.  

The bird was associating with around 20 pink feet and despite the strong winds and poor weather it was particularly mobile, fling between the fields around Crossons. 

Thanks again to Stuart Derbyshire for the gen. Big help, as usual.