Tentative Signs of Spring 7th March 2020

A morning on the Flashes in almost spring like weather. My first signing Chiffchaff of the season was a welcome sound, as always. Other than that it was a little quiet aside from three Cetti's warblers belting it out. I decided to spend some quality time with our wintering star Siberian Stonechat whilst the opportunity remained; he's now very settled in the NW corner of Ashton's, but surely for not too much longer.

The flashes are looking very flooded, so the chances of spring wader passage look slim. That said, the southern end of Ashton's could well be hiding anything. Whenever this area floods I always think it has potential, but the birds seem not to favour it. Maybe this year will be different.

Patch Mega 4th March 2020

Mark Taylor found a Dipper on the patch around 9 this morning. I couldn't get down immediately but got there late am. Surprisingly it was settled and showed nicely. A new patch bird for me, and prompting me to look up my patch total (204). Vernon thought he'd glimpsed one in February, so it's likely to have been around a while. As far as I know this is the first record since 2010.

Malc Curtin's photo

Chris Hynes photo.

Suspect this will now be known as Dipper corner!

As a footnote, today was the funeral of one of birding's great characters - Keith Lyons, aka Dipper. RIP Keith.

Sandbach 27th February 2020

I happened to be passing Sandbach on the way back from Stoke when news came through the adult Kumlien's Gull was again on Pump House Flash, so it would have been rude not to call in. There were no other birders present as I arrived, but it was easy enough to pick out amongst the 200 or so other large gulls (mostly Lesser Black-backeds, which are now on the move along with Common Gulls). Views were good if a little distant, and certainly better than my hand held phone scope photo. It amazes me this bird breeds in Arctic Canada yet is all the way over here as if it were nothing. No doubt in a few weeks it will commence it's epic return voyage to the edge of the Ice.

Kumlien's is a race of Iceland Gull, so shares the same characteristically elegant profile and true to form this was a cracker. Glad I made the effort. 

Pootling About 26th February 2020

A local-ish day out with Jono before he headed back to France. Unfortunately the weather was breezy and bloody cold with squally showers, somewhat limiting options and enthusiasm.

Nevertheless we headed over to Clocaenog where the resident Goshawks were into spring display mode. We enjoyed prolonged views of at least 2 males and one female, the best views I've ever had here. The only other birds of note were small parties of Crossbills, along with Ravens and Common Buzzards. We failed to find the regular wintering shrike nearby, but hardly surprising in the conditions.

After that we headed to Burton Mere wetlands RSPB, although yesterday's Dowitcher had returned to it's favoured Lancashire site. Highlights were limited but plenty of birds to look at - 2 Avocets, 3 Ruff and large numbers of Black-tailed Godwits and wildfowl. A Great Egret was with 13 Little Egrets in a field by the entrance road as we departed for a curry.

It's been weeks of high winds and rain now, with more of the same forecast. There are signs of spring, but it still feels a long way off.

Dads'n'lads

A rare non-birding post to mark Callum's first visit to Old Trafford. A great day out, aided by a 3-0 win. Proud dad moment.

Gulls and Ducks and Crappy Weather. Saturday 22nd February 2020

After a heavy night we were not up and about early. Birding wasn't that appealing I the gale force winds anyway, so we lingered over breakfast, finally leaving the hotel around 10.30.

'Gulling' of the birding kind was our chosen activity, specifically Redcar Tarn near Keighley. This small reservoir had held both Iceland and Caspian gulls over the last couple of weeks and apparently both were approachable.

We stayed for a couple of hours, armed with bred and sheltered from the wind in the warmth of the cars. The Iceland Gull failed to put in an appearance, but the 1st.w Caspian Gull showed exceptionally well, coming to bread with it's commoner cousins. I've generally lost interest in looking at large gulls, but have to admit I really enjoyed it here. Perhaps I would feel differently if there was such an easy place to observe them as here nearer home. Regardless, the Caspo was a very distinctive and smart bird. 

 

From here we decided to head west over to Martin Mere WWT, partly to fix my scope bracket after it fell over yesterday and partly as it offered a little shelter from the gale. We spent our limited time in the 'In Focus' score where Tony Disley kindly sorted the scope issue as we enjoyed the point blank wildfowl. I really should come here more often (it's probably been 15 years!).

Mclusky’s Thrush, Friday 21st February 2020

Some time ago, and probably against our better judgement, Jono persuaded Andy and I to join him in a pilgrimage to see the apparently greatest live band he has ever seen. Given he's seen quite a lot of live bands that's high praise, although it's fair to say there is limited overlap between our musical tastes. Nevertheless, we were up for a night out, and who could resist a band capable of selling out an entire pub in Huddersfield?

Initially there were plans for a road trip, but these changed on a daily basis in the preceding weeks. The appearance of another Tengmalm's owl in Shetland had the boys making plans that ultimately didn't come into play (on that note, Happy Tengmalm's day to me 😎). As the dates got closer the weather continued its unabated grimness too, so we opted for a spot of light twitching.

I collected the pseudo-Frenchman and we met the 3/4 Celt in glorious Huddersfield mid-morning for the short trip over to Grimsby. Actually it's not that short, every time I go to Grimsby it seems to take forever, but the company was good and the journey flew by. We arrived shortly after midday to the urban location of the Grimsby Institute, where the wintering 1w. male Black-throated Thrush was on show immediately as it fed on the ground. It was remarkably unfazed by us or passers by and traffic, so the views were splendid. I thought it was rather smart, albeit not as nice as the cracking adult wintering at Whipsnade zoo. 

This bird has a very small amount of red on the outer tail feathers at the base, leading some to state it is possibly a hybrid x Red-throated Thrush. Perhaps, although I doubt anyone has a proper grasp of the complexities of integration and hybrid rates and it comes down once again to that unanswerable question - 'what is a species?'. Thankfully I've seen a couple of Black-throateds and the only Red-throated Thrush (way back in 1994 in Essex, when they were lumped as 'Dark-throated Thrush'), so could simply enjoy the bird regardless of it's name tag (unlike Andy, who's ticking it regardless).

Boots filled after an hour or so, we headed back to Huddersfield as the weather deteriorated and readied ourselves for the big night out by purchasing a few cans of lager and spraying some deodorant on. 

 

So on to Mclusky. Well sometimes can exceed my limited expectations and I end up thoroughly enjoying them despite initial reservations. This wasn't one of those times. Jono revelled in the moronic shite that was apparently brilliant, whereas Andy and I gave our ear drums a rest and returned to the pub. Regardless, a very enjoyable night out with my two besties.