Sunday 21 December 2008

Patch-work guilt...

After failing to get to Aldcliffe yesterday I felt in desperate need to spend a bit of time there this morning but it was pretty quiet down the old patch, thanks mainly to the blustery wind which seemed to have the effect of making everything seek cover.

The 1st w female scaup was roosting on the island at Freeman's Pools alongside a pair of drake shoveler. Also present were the 3 regular 1stw-type goldeneye plus a pair of smart adults (m&f) on the top pool, 1 little grebe and the usual (though notably reduced) scattering of coot & mallard.
The Wildfowlers' Pools were quiet but for the large numbers of mallard and a few moorhen.
Other than an audible but invisible group of long-tailed tits the cycle track was pretty birdless, and the marsh seemed quiet too.

Stop Press
Thanks to Guy McClellan who texted with the discovery of a roosting tawny owl in the Freeman's Wood area.
Zipped down to have a look and found it - though it wasn't all that easy, so big thanks to Guy for his great instructions! Worth keeping an eye on it in case it's a regular roost, it might come in handy on New Year's Day...

No comments: