I am starting to struggle to maintain my enthusiasm for this birding lark.
With cold grey and windy days week in week out I am starting to wonder when I will be able to leave some of the layers behind and look through the binoculars and telescope without my eyes watering (and not with the emotion of great bird sightings I might add!)
So, this week we started at Cliffe Pools, a really silly thing to do given the forecast, but you can't dodge in and out of cafes the whole winter long. Around the car park we saw Robin, Wren, Magpie, Woodpigeon (surprise, surprise), a family of Long-tailed Tits flitted about in the holly and ivy at the end of the drive. As we passed the cottages a Dunnock was spotted by Sally.
To change the format we went off towards Timber and Alpha pools and took the footpath leading through the farm which has just started to welcome the newly arrived lambs. They were so cute it is hard to believe that they will end up in a butchers someday, but for now it was great just to watch them trying to run, jump and chase each other.
On to the birds seen in the fields around us, a dozen Moorhen enjoyed rummaging in the bottom of a hedge, whilst Starlings and Blackbirds were joined by Redwing and Fieldfares a little further out in full view.
In amongst the lambs more Redwing and Fieldfare were enjoying the food which had been provided by the animals. Beyond the field we walked through the others were flooded and ducks had taken advantage of this with Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Pochard, Mallard and Wigeon present. Further back a Little Egret strutted along the rills looking for a tasty morsel.
Bird watching was put onto the back burner for a while as we continued along the footpath through the Bretts site, but once we got to the other side there were the two lakes to scan. More Wigeon, Pochard and Mallard were joined by Coot, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe. There were a couple of birds which looked like some sort of Pochard hybrid. As I scanned with the telescope I noticed a bird moving along the reedbed - not on the ground but flying along in small "hops", at first I thought it was a Water Rail, but on a second view the wings weren't right for that species. I thought it was a raptor of some type but given the split-second views it was hard to judge. However when it eventually stopped in somewhat cryptic landscape it was obviously a bird of prey, but which? Over to Malcolm who first thought it was a Merlin, but then as it turned the head confirmed Sparrowhawk.
As we continued it became obvious that the route was blocked with water, so we had to retrace our steps.
By the farm buildings we heard a couple of Jays chuntering away to each other making a racket, and then realised why as a Little Owl called out in alarm. After several calls all went quiet and the Jays moved off.
Next stop Bromhey Farm, we had lunch watching the feeders with Lesser Redpoll, Chaffinch and Blue and Great Tit. We soon moved off to get the blood moving in an attempt to warm up. We headed off for the Heronry, via the Marshland Viewpoint. The Scrapes were full and there were lots of birds on them - even the three new diggings were being enjoyed by the birds. Shelduck, Shoveler, Mallard, Pochard, Wigeon, Teal and Mute Swan were the main species seen on the first two pools. Lapwings were the most numerous by far on the new diggings beyond the CSA building. They were flying up in huge flocks swooping around as they were spooked by other birds.
After a muddy walk in front of the Heronry and Rookery where we saw and heard very little we decided to call it quits and returned to base.
We had a good day out with Paul and Gill joining the usual quartet, but I can't wait to have a brighter milder day with some migrants - or am I being fickle?
