Longton Marsh & River Douglas, Lancashire
Tags little egret, meadow pipit, redshank, swallows, wheatear
Open water is always a good bet for some decent birding, and given the time of year, I thought it was about time I made the trip to Longton Marsh and the River Douglas.
I was on duty last night, so left straight after work, and met up with Bassist in Longton at around 11.30am. Already knackered, and having just walked for 2 miles with all my kit in what was promising to be the start of summer, Bassist (or Bear Grills from now on!) led the way.
Trekking over fields sodden with the recent rain, I was concentrating on trying to keep upright as I was slipping and sliding in mud that threatened to come over the top of my boots
Just a couple of fences to negotiate - adorned with barbed wire that lacerated both my hands and the pocket of my jacket. I'm not the most athletic person in the world, and it's fair to say a tad arthritic, the sight of me straddled on a barbed wire fence swaying in the wind while Bear Grills was doing his best to hold down the wire, must have been a sight to behold, and has probably left a scar on his memory
The bulls in the field we were avoiding certainly found it hard to avert their stares!
Eventually, we arrived at a patch of mud, on the bull free side of a field, where we could observe the birds and the incoming tide while I developed trench foot
With hot, swollen arthritic ankles, sore hands and dented pride, chapped wind-blown lips and watery eyes - we set to task and observed the following:
30+ Canada Geese, 2 Little Egret, 1 Redshank, 2 Grey Heron (1 juv.), 1 Shelduck (? juv.) 5 Mallard, 3 good sightings of Kestrel (possibly the same one) Bassist thought he saw a Buzzard, approx 3 Skylark, Crows and many distant Greylag (c.100+) too distant to check for any pinkfeet, and the regular Herring and Black-headed gulls, possibly a Great Black-backed gull flew by.
On the way back, along the more scenic and easy going dyke, we saw a Wheatear. There were flooded areas in the fields with Grey wagtails, Meadow pipits and skimming Swallows. On fence posts and overhead wires were more Swallows and Starlings and in the bushes along the lane were 10 - 15 House Sparrows.
When we reached Longton, Bassist sped off on his bike, leaving me at the bus stop. As the bus hadn't arrived within a reasonable time (10 seconds!) I hobbled across the road and overdosed on brufen and lager at the Black Bull, and contemplated saving up for a cross country terrain mobility scooter
Seriously though, it's a great place and I'd definately make a return visit, but after investigating a more accessible route and definately not straight after a night shift.
I'm now writing this blog at 7.30pm with a nice cold lager after being awake for 26 hours - somehow I don't think I'll manage to kee............................................... ....zzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZ
I was on duty last night, so left straight after work, and met up with Bassist in Longton at around 11.30am. Already knackered, and having just walked for 2 miles with all my kit in what was promising to be the start of summer, Bassist (or Bear Grills from now on!) led the way.
Trekking over fields sodden with the recent rain, I was concentrating on trying to keep upright as I was slipping and sliding in mud that threatened to come over the top of my boots
Just a couple of fences to negotiate - adorned with barbed wire that lacerated both my hands and the pocket of my jacket. I'm not the most athletic person in the world, and it's fair to say a tad arthritic, the sight of me straddled on a barbed wire fence swaying in the wind while Bear Grills was doing his best to hold down the wire, must have been a sight to behold, and has probably left a scar on his memory
The bulls in the field we were avoiding certainly found it hard to avert their stares!Eventually, we arrived at a patch of mud, on the bull free side of a field, where we could observe the birds and the incoming tide while I developed trench foot
With hot, swollen arthritic ankles, sore hands and dented pride, chapped wind-blown lips and watery eyes - we set to task and observed the following:
30+ Canada Geese, 2 Little Egret, 1 Redshank, 2 Grey Heron (1 juv.), 1 Shelduck (? juv.) 5 Mallard, 3 good sightings of Kestrel (possibly the same one) Bassist thought he saw a Buzzard, approx 3 Skylark, Crows and many distant Greylag (c.100+) too distant to check for any pinkfeet, and the regular Herring and Black-headed gulls, possibly a Great Black-backed gull flew by.
On the way back, along the more scenic and easy going dyke, we saw a Wheatear. There were flooded areas in the fields with Grey wagtails, Meadow pipits and skimming Swallows. On fence posts and overhead wires were more Swallows and Starlings and in the bushes along the lane were 10 - 15 House Sparrows.
When we reached Longton, Bassist sped off on his bike, leaving me at the bus stop. As the bus hadn't arrived within a reasonable time (10 seconds!) I hobbled across the road and overdosed on brufen and lager at the Black Bull, and contemplated saving up for a cross country terrain mobility scooter
Seriously though, it's a great place and I'd definately make a return visit, but after investigating a more accessible route and definately not straight after a night shift.
I'm now writing this blog at 7.30pm with a nice cold lager after being awake for 26 hours - somehow I don't think I'll manage to kee............................................... ....zzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZ
Total Comments 4
Comments
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Surprised there weren't more waders, when I visited in September a few years ago (without climbing barbed wire fences ) there were good numbers of waders at an inlet between Longton and Hutton Marsh which I viewed from the dyke, it is a good and underwatched area
cheers, JohnPosted 07-09-09 at 08:00 PM by clydebirder
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lol,a good report with great humour Alan.....it won't be too long before the Pink Feet arrive!
That beer sounded well earned and very much needed!!Posted 08-09-09 at 07:59 AM by Twitcheruth
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Yes, the wader population was decidedly lacking, Bassist commented on how quiet it was compared to his visit the day before. The dyke seems an ideal viewing area and I think next time I shall stick to that.
Apparently 2 Pink-feet were in Stanley Park last week while I was in work!
I've never needed an excuse for a nice cold beer - but yes, it was much, much needed! Thankfully, my bus journey ended at the terminus, as I was nodding off quite a bit - who knows where I could have ended up!!Posted 08-09-09 at 09:19 AM by alanjns
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Alan, you're a natural.Posted 13-09-09 at 06:59 PM by The Actor
