A quick patch jaunt on 2nd with the highlight of 2 hawfinches, imm drake scaup, 3 goosander, 4 pochard and 2 goldeneye whilst out with the dog.
A day of local spotting with Jonno, Andy C and Mark Payne on 6th was an enjoyable; 5 hawfinch, 2 jack snipe, woodcock, stonechat and 2 barnacle geese kept interest going on patch before we opted for Sandbach where a 1st w glaucous gull and great white egret stood out, although the sheer numbers of wigeon, lapwing and gulls were more impressive and put Marbury to shame.
Jonno and I were out again on Saturday 27th, but foul weather meant we failed with the Howden Reservoir parrot crossbills and pretty much anything else. In the afternoon we headed back for Sandbach gulls but few arrived, so a single pink-footed goose and the great white egret were all we had to show (aside from much laughter and quality pies). Always a pleasure.
On 30th I finally made the effort tohead down to Surrey’s Staines Reservoir for the American horned lark, which turned out to be a very enjoyable and remarkably distinctive bird.
Then I decided to have head down the road to Wishmoor Bottom in nearby Berkshire, where i wandered aimlessly for a couple of hours seeing very little before a more local birder pointed me in the right direction and rather luckily I arrived just as the 16 parrot crossbills appeared, giving splendid views in th sunshine. I watched them snip pine cones off and hold them in thei feet whilst removing the seeds - so that’s why they’re called parrots!! Sadly I’d neglected to take my camera, so only hand held phonescope shots.
Not a bad day out in the end and an insurance policy duly banked.
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