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. 

 

13/02/2017 Yarrow Valley Country Park, Chorley

Kingfisher: Looking at the weather and seeing that it was going to be a bright and milder day than yesterday, I decided to go see the famous Yarrow Kingy.

This bird is probably the most photographed Kingy in the county and I can totally understand why, the bird isn't shy.

The bird can be found at the back of the park between the two lakes in a little outlet, here the bird is sheltered, has plenty of fish to feed on and feels safe.

This bird was a male, as told by its all-black bill, females have a red patch on the base of their lower bill.

While there I heard some shocking stories of a well known local photographer setting up a fish pond beneath one of the birds perches and setting up a rigged automatic flash to capture the perfect image. This is *totally* unnecessary, could the flash disturb the bird? Could the bird injure itself on the glass frame of the tank? All good possibilities.

If you view from the footpath and don't enter the fenced area the bird will be fine. There are tons of dog walkers, children and other people passingby along with a dozen birders and photographers who were chatting, and not in a hushed tone, and the bird was fine.





It was pointed out that Kingfishers breed early in the season and are prone to disturbance and can even suffer in cold weather, more so than most other birds. So if you view from the path the bird will be fine. This is a well established viewing area of which all the locals and the park ranger all keep a close eye on.

29/08/2014 Pennington Flash

Garganey:  Finally connected with the female Garganey that has been frequenting Ramsdale scrape.

Green Sandpiper: I stayed and watched the Garganey feeding for about half an hour before clambering on one of the islands to have a sleep.

From there I moved on to Teal Hide and was treated to not only some excellent views of two green sands but there was a pair of Kingfisher who were very active and very showy.

Kingfisher: The pair were happily perching on the posts around teal bay.

This week as been awesome for Kingfisher at Penny one of the few birds that capture non-birders excitement and a bird I always like to see.

They are just beauties.

25/08/2014 Pennington Flash

Kingfisher: A lovely bank holiday Monday morning spent at penny, despite the weather it was full of activity.

With some great views of Common Tern from Horrocks and at least 6 Willow Warbler and a family of Backcap from Ramsdales.

Although I was unable to connect with the Garganey I was treated to some brilliant views of the local Kingfishers.





There were three zooming around Ramsdales, if it was a bright clear morning these would have been my best Kingfisher images, but alas I had to make do with the wet, gray, dull conditions.

05/04/2013 Houghton Green Flash

Ringed Plover: Back from my trip to sunny but windy Essex, dam eastalies. I decided to go Grebe hunting, Black Neck specifically, and headed to Houghton Green Flash a large fresh water pool next to the M6 motorway and over the road from Woolston Eyes.






There has been reports of the Black Necked Grebes here over the few Days I was in Essex, but as I arrived they had all disappeared, there was no sign of them at all. However I did spot 3 pairs of Great Crested Grebes, 1 Redshank and 4 Ringed Plover.

Kingfisher: Trying to find the place was hard, OK I had no Sat Nav or map apart from the scribbling's (which I never actually followed) Dawn wrote before we left. I dropped her off at work and was soon lost but ended up at Sankey Valley Park were I was surprised to see a pair of Kingfisher on the Sankey Canal.

I also heard my first Chiffchaff of the year here and spotted a tone of garden birds, nice little place.  

16/01/2013 Langford Lakes

Kingfisher: While at Longleat I took trip out to the near by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve, I had been looking on the local wildlife sightings websites and noticed that Goosanders and Red Kites and Kingfishers has been spotted here.

This stunning male was practically playing with me, I first saw it from Number 7 hide - bird feeding station hide, where the feeders where empty. Here I was unable to get a picture  he then turned up gain at Robins hide where it was flitting between he one side of the lake to an island in the middle.

Robins hide is along side Brockbank Lake, the reserves second largest lake. This lake had about a dozen pairs of Great Crested Grebes and as I was watching these I noticed the Kingfisher perched in he trees on the left hand side of the hide.

The bird was constantly flying from one side to the other but mostly keeping from full view, behind a bloody branch!

Goosander (male): From Long Pool, the largest lake on the reserve I spotted 3 Goosander, 1 male and 2 female.

Other highlights where a Red Kite soaring above the education center, Siskin around the feeders and a green woodpecker feeding the the field along the track on the way in

(Female) I would definitely recommend a visit to Langford Lakes if anyone get the chance its a well present reserve with good facilities and  some great birds! They have also started to build a new hide and established a new reed bed which will only enhance the place.


www.wiltshirewildlife.org/Reserves/langfordlakes - Good site from Wiltshire Wildlife Trust about Langford Lakes

08/07/2012 Moore Nature Reserve

Kingfisher: This was all I could mange after a three hour wait on the side hide at Lapwing Lake, but i bet the guy who was next to me with his 800mm Canon lens did much better.



It’s not size what matters, it’s what you do with it that counts!


White Legged Damselfly: the whole of Moore is a buzz with Dragonflys and Damselfy, thsi was taken at the same hide just off Lapwing Lake.