Mere Sands Wood 5

June has been a poor month for me in terms of birding, I've not really done any since my trip to Marshside at the end of May.

It's very frustrating being stuck in doors watching this nice weather go by day after day, especially being a night worker, it's a nightmare trying to sleep when the temperature is in the 70's.

Anyway, finally some time off and an opportunity to go out and about. I'd read on various internet forums that some Tawny Owls were showing well at Mere Sands Wood, and as it still owed me a Kingfisher, I decided that I would make this my destination.

British Rail was behaving itself today, so I arrived on schedule, just after 9am.

I'd also read that the 'resident' Reed Warbler was nesting in the reeds of the pond in front of the visitors centre for the 2nd year running. I got some great pics of it last year and wandered if it was indeed the same bird. Who knows, but within 5 minutes of my arrival, it put in an appearance and I got some more good snaps.

Also on the pond were a pair of amorous Coots with two well grown juveniles and a tiny chick that could only be days old, clearly a second brood. The chick was very cute as it sat on a lilly pad waiting to be fed. The two adult birds gently pressed their shields together and rotated slowly on the water, then one preened the others feathers on the nape of the neck. I've never seen this behaviour before and for generally aggressive birds, it was very endearing. I wish I'd had my ipod with me so I could have played them some Barry White. I took a deep breath, dabbed my eyes and walked through the visitors centre to the feeding station at the back.

Here, I was mobbed by 8 female Mallard that encircled me and sat patiently waiting for bread, occasionally giving an impatient quack. I tiptoed through them, like Tippi Hedren in an Alfred Hitchcock film, only less well groomed, and made my way to the Lancaster hide and the wader scrapes.

Here, I shared the hide with a very nice lady and we spent a good 45 minutes or so helping each other out and chatting generally, as you do.

It went along the lines of: ''oh look at those plovers....where....over there......they're Lapwing......oh!!'' (I'll let you decide who said what to who) We got along so well, I ended up stalking her from hide to hide. I'm sure I saw her quickening her step as I waved from further along the path!!

Next stop was the Marshall Hide. It was reported that the Tawny Owls were roosting in the trees just outside of the hide - not today they weren't.

I continued along the paths through beautiful, mature, deciduous woodland, visited the Ainscough Hide along the way and then continued towards Holmeswood corner.

I met a man called John with his wife/girlfriend/partner - please delete or specify other, who were on the lookout for Kingfisher. They are regulars at Mere Sands Wood and I've seen them before, so we stood chatting for a while, discussing what was about and where the good locations were. He'd heard about the Owls too, but hadn't seen them. I went on my way and they headed towards the Rufford Hide - the best bet for Kingfisher.

I was desperate to find the Owls and I painstakingly searched the trees. I was about to lose hope as I approached Holmeswood corner when I saw dark shapes out of the corner of my eye and with trembling hands (heavy night last night!!) I lifted my bins onto two gorgeous, beautiful, spanking Tawny Owls- RESULT!!!!!

I watched them watching me for a good 5 minutes and then rattled off some pics. John and wife/girlfriend/other came back and said that the Rufford Hide was useless as men were wading in the water conducting maintenance. I couldn't wait to point and blurt out that I'd found the Owls.

The three of us spent about 15 minutes watching them and getting photo's and having a bit of a chat - if he is ever reading this, thanks very much for the tips and advice on Kingfisher and Barn Owl, it was nice to have met you both.

I eventually dragged myself away from ''my'' Tawnies and arrived at the Holmeswood corner feeding station. Here there were good views of Nuthatch, Jay, Coal tit, Bullfinch and all of the usual tits and thrushes.

Eventually, I arrived at the Rufford Hide to find that the maintenance men had gone - oh, dare I dare to hope. I had ½ an hour left before I had to leave to get my train. So, there I sat, staring at an empty perch, and clock watching.

It took a good 20 minutes or so, but eventually a brilliant blue bullet alighted and my day was made. It sat for about 5 minutes or so and did a bit of fishing. Glorious!

I had to get a move on to to catch my train and arrived as the train was pulling into the station - dripping sweat and grinning like a Hyena.

My sightings for the day were:

Lapwing
Coot
Little Grebe
Blackbird
Mallard
House Sparrow
Collared dove
Reed Warbler
Moorhen
Robin
Chaffinch
Lesser black-backed Gull
Canada geese
Shelduck
Black-headed Gull
Great Crested grebe
Grey Heron
Chiffchaff
Oystercatcher
Jay
Jackdaw
Blue tit
Willow warbler
Coal tit
Nuthatch
Tawny Owl
Wren
Great tit
Bullfinch
Dunnock
Kingfisher

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