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It was a gray overcast day when a party of 9 Society members met at the free car park next to the ferry slipway at Knott End.
The exitment started at the slipway as there was about 20 Twite flitting about. A good start to the outing. We continued down the prom then past some cottages to a jetty that overlooked the River Wyre and a creek opposite that had several species of duck including Wigeon Mallard and Teal.
Climbed down steps and walked along the beach for a few 100 yards to climb some steps then followed an old walkway lined with scrubs leading to Hackensall Hall. This building was being refurbished and was fenced off. There was a few species of small birds in the grounds.
There was a hedge that could be seen from this point. It had a few small birds coming and going so it was decided to follow an access lane to get a closer look.
Walked back through an housing estate to the shore. Then turned left back the cars for lunch.
In the afternoon we all drove to Pilling Sewage farm as there was a Siberian Chiff Chaff there. There was a few people there already which made life easier. Saw 2 Chiff Chaffs, one of which was paler flitting about the settling tanks and a hedge at the back. Could this be the Siberian?
Continued onto Eagland Hill to look for the juvenile Purple Heron.
Again there was a few people looking over a field covered in reeds without luck. A Barn Owl flew from an old Nisson hut. It swooped down onto an unsuspecting field mouse and carried it in its mouth then transferred it to its talons in one movement.
After a while another group from around the corner texted to say that the Heron could be seen in a ditch.
Everyone raced around to see it but only partial views of its head were seen.
A great first outing of the new year.
The exitment started at the slipway as there was about 20 Twite flitting about. A good start to the outing. We continued down the prom then past some cottages to a jetty that overlooked the River Wyre and a creek opposite that had several species of duck including Wigeon Mallard and Teal.
Climbed down steps and walked along the beach for a few 100 yards to climb some steps then followed an old walkway lined with scrubs leading to Hackensall Hall. This building was being refurbished and was fenced off. There was a few species of small birds in the grounds.
There was a hedge that could be seen from this point. It had a few small birds coming and going so it was decided to follow an access lane to get a closer look.
Walked back through an housing estate to the shore. Then turned left back the cars for lunch.
In the afternoon we all drove to Pilling Sewage farm as there was a Siberian Chiff Chaff there. There was a few people there already which made life easier. Saw 2 Chiff Chaffs, one of which was paler flitting about the settling tanks and a hedge at the back. Could this be the Siberian?
Continued onto Eagland Hill to look for the juvenile Purple Heron.
Again there was a few people looking over a field covered in reeds without luck. A Barn Owl flew from an old Nisson hut. It swooped down onto an unsuspecting field mouse and carried it in its mouth then transferred it to its talons in one movement.
After a while another group from around the corner texted to say that the Heron could be seen in a ditch.
Everyone raced around to see it but only partial views of its head were seen.
A great first outing of the new year.
| Pink Footed Goose 30+ Shelduck 30+ Mallard 30+ Wigeon 50+ Teal 2+ Pheasant 2m Cormorant Little Egret Grey Heron Kestrel f Moorhen h Oystercatcher 100+ Lapwing 100+ Curlew 1 Knot? 100+ Turnstone 10+ Redshank 50+ Black Hd Gull 50+ Com Gull E Wood Pigeon 10+ Collared Dove 2 Barn Owl E Carrion Crow 100+ E Magpie 5+ Jackdaw 30+E | Rook 30+ E Blue Tit Great Tit Long Tail Tit Chiff Chaff 2 P Wren Starling 200+E Robin Blackbird 5+ Fieldfare 20+ Dunnock h House Sparrow 5+ Pied Wagtail Goldfinch 5+ Chaffinch 5+ Greenfinch 3 Twite 20+ Reed Bunting m Grey Squirrel E=Eagland Hill P=Pilling Sewage works |