Marton Mere 8
Tags goldeneye, long-eared owl
I spent a freezing cold 3hrs at Marton Mere this morning after I'd fininshed work. It was very quiet, I didn't see any other birders and only a couple of walkers.
The sun was shining and it was glorious morning - but no good for birding! By the time I'd walked the length of the mere to the east, my eyes were streaming and I had sun blindness - no point searching the tree tops here.
On the way back it was much better, with the sun behind me, it was actually quite warming at times.
The hides, being shaded from the sun and open to the mere, were all freezing - like fridges, but I persevered.
My sightings for the morning were:
3 Long-eared Owls, vey well camouflaged with only 1 head visible, peering over the branches.
Many Lapwing, Crows, Woodpigeon and Starlings in the stubble fields to the east and a solitary Grey Heron standing statuesque by a hedgerow. I tried scanning for Barn and Short-eared Owls over the fields and the barn, but the sun made it a fruitless exercise.
On the mere were the regular Coots, Moorhens, Mallards, Greylag geese, Canada geese, 4 Cormorants, c50 Wigeon, c20 Teal, 12 Tufted duck, 8 Shoveler duck, c100 Black-headed gulls, c10 Herring gulls, 5 Mute Swans, 6 Pochard, 5 Gadwall, and the star attraction; 3 Goldeney - 1 male and 2 females.
The woodland areas and the feeding station had many Great tits, Blue tits, 3 Greenfinch, Magpies, more Crows and Woodpigeons, 2 Collared doves, 3 Robins, 3 female and 1 male Pheasant, 2 male and 3 female Reed Buntings, 3 Dunnock, 5 Blackbirds, c15+ Chaffinch, and 4 Long-tailed tits.
The sun was shining and it was glorious morning - but no good for birding! By the time I'd walked the length of the mere to the east, my eyes were streaming and I had sun blindness - no point searching the tree tops here.
On the way back it was much better, with the sun behind me, it was actually quite warming at times.
The hides, being shaded from the sun and open to the mere, were all freezing - like fridges, but I persevered.
My sightings for the morning were:
3 Long-eared Owls, vey well camouflaged with only 1 head visible, peering over the branches.
Many Lapwing, Crows, Woodpigeon and Starlings in the stubble fields to the east and a solitary Grey Heron standing statuesque by a hedgerow. I tried scanning for Barn and Short-eared Owls over the fields and the barn, but the sun made it a fruitless exercise.
On the mere were the regular Coots, Moorhens, Mallards, Greylag geese, Canada geese, 4 Cormorants, c50 Wigeon, c20 Teal, 12 Tufted duck, 8 Shoveler duck, c100 Black-headed gulls, c10 Herring gulls, 5 Mute Swans, 6 Pochard, 5 Gadwall, and the star attraction; 3 Goldeney - 1 male and 2 females.
The woodland areas and the feeding station had many Great tits, Blue tits, 3 Greenfinch, Magpies, more Crows and Woodpigeons, 2 Collared doves, 3 Robins, 3 female and 1 male Pheasant, 2 male and 3 female Reed Buntings, 3 Dunnock, 5 Blackbirds, c15+ Chaffinch, and 4 Long-tailed tits.
Total Comments 6
Comments
-
I was there yesterday, obviously we missed each other. I was there between 10:30 and 12:30.
Stanley Park was ok but the Woodland Walk was pointless as they where cleaning it up. I had a nice chat about birds with one of the blokes though.Posted 23-02-10 at 07:24 AM by The Actor
-
I was there between 10:00 and 13:00 - we must have worked opposite sides!!Posted 23-02-10 at 08:20 AM by alanjns
-
Glad you got something out of your visit Alan,despite not being able to see too well!
Goldeneyes are a treat to see aren't they,we have a few pairs local to us that were displaying and mating at the weekend.
A nice pic of the LEO too,well seen!
What a shame you missed Martyn!Posted 23-02-10 at 09:04 AM by Twitcheruth
-
Yeah, I was on the caravan park side and the feeding station for the most part. First visit was to the LEO and then on to the mere.Posted 23-02-10 at 06:13 PM by The Actor
-
That would be it then, I did the LEO's then the dyke path, then the Fylde Bird Club hide and the feeding station last.Posted 24-02-10 at 04:38 AM by alanjns
-
One day we'll meet up I suppose.Posted 24-02-10 at 08:13 PM by The Actor
