Monthly Archives: November 2010

Winter Thrushes this week at work flock of Redwing and Fieldfares with the odd ones stopping and soon moving on

Fieldfare

The weekend brought another visit to Sands Lane for the now report Adult Ringed Billed Gull, this was reported on the 21st and is being seen on and off at Sands Lane but today was to be one of those off days but I did get a small bonus in the form of two Redshank [Video Link]. Along with the Redshank today were a great count of Lapwing (100), Pied Wagtail (1), Black headed Gulls, Common Gulls, Canada Geese, Tufted Duck (1 Female), Goosander (1 male), Sparrowhawk (1 thru), Blue Tit, Mute Swan, Mallard

We went to Pugneys this week, Friday the 19th of November, we set off from Huddersfield on a sunny morning arriving at Pugneys in thick fog and were unable to see the lake but not to be disheartened we set off in hope of finding the Long Tailed Duck but it wasn’t to be but Grey Wagtail, Goldeneye ♀♂, Tufted Duck, Grey Heron, Mallard, Coot, Black Headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Common Gull and Great Crested Grebe were all seen despite the fog. So it was to be that Saturday the 20th was catch up day for “the duck” late afternoon after all the chores were done. On arrival at Pugneys we could see the lake this time, so off we went in search of the duck again. This time we soon found it tucked away in the left hand corner giving us fantastic views. Long Tailed Duck ♀ [Video Link] below is a snap shot from video taken, great views of a splendid species you usually see at sea

Long-Tailed-Duck ♀

 

Saturday was our Church group outing which was heading towards Martin Mere this time but due to people having other commitments it was a select group of four and a new destination was put forward and it was to Potteric Carr we went. A uneventful day at Potteric Carr for our group with few highlights Black Headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, and Herring Gull were the gull species about with Robin and Blackbird on the thrush side, Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal on the side of waterfowl, Chaffinch and  Bullfinch for the finches, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Long Tailed Tits were about with Great Spotted Woodpecker and Green Woodpecker only heard and not seen, Golden Plover and Lapwing on the wader front with Greylag Geese, Canada Geese and a flock of Pink Footed Geese (70+) high overhead for the goose side and Cormorant and Mute Swan as supporting cast, whilst watching the plovers from the bridge we spotted a pair of Kingfisher on the ditch with a Stoat on the banking side.  As the group halfed in number later in the day the remaining two (me and my wife) had a few minutes in the Willow Pool hide to see close at hand a feeding Water Rail [ Video Link ]

Water Rail

Late Saturday brought news of waxwings in the Huddersfield area so an early door visit on Sunday morning was made to the location to find about 40 birds resting in one of the trees

Waxwing

These delightful birds from the Scandinavian region only had two of us admiring them they remained high in the tree top due to the “Bear in the air” making them very unsettled. The afternoon saw us popping over to Hollingworth Lake to see the Pied Billed Grebe [ Video Link ] that had taken up residence, we were able to view this splendid little grebe from the Americas at close quarters. Very much like our resident Little Grebe [Dabchick] in apperance but the bill is a bit bulkier with a hint of the dark bill band, due to it being in Winter plumage, with the throat colour being different also a slightly bigger bird more Slavonian size to me than Little Grebe.

I started the day at 9am at my local village cricket field looking thru the gulls present hoping to find the one elusive one but not today only Black Headed Gulls (37) and Common Gulls (24) and a single Pied Wagtail over with a Sparrowhawk going thru and then it was on again to Sands Lane. The weather had improved over the last hour and it was now sunshine and very little wind.

 First glance over the pools I could see the usual geese were about these being Canada and Greylags (2). Mallards still numerous with the lone female Tufted Duck still present., the family party of Mute Swans this week were back on the small pool.

Numerous Gulls still present but I could see a single Cormorant (Video Link) amongst them holding out its wings in the drying off position and then having a good preen, Gulls present this week were Common and numerous Black Headed Gulls with them this week were a few Lapwings. More Cormorants later on in the day with four birds flying over and a male and female Goosander (Video Link) taking up residence whilst I was there.

I had a quick look by the weir but only added Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher to the day list.