Something has sprung!

How soon we forget – not that long ago EVERY day was dark, dreary, miserable and overcast and light levels so low, photography wasn't an option. Now it is wall to wall sunshine and there aren't enough hours in the day.

So here are some images from out and about and briefly, a coal tit from the garden; Martin popped around and a quick walk locally revealed a Bullfinch (no photo) and SPOOKILY no sooner had I finished the sentence 'I have only ever seen one Golcrest hereabouts over many years, I don't think there are any', than two minutes later, flitting about in the hedgerow was a Goldcrest. I could only manage a record image, so you know I'm not making it up. Spooky indeed! Two sightings in twenty odd years (but that's probably my lack of ability than there not being any). 

Godwits at Newton Marsh, a male in summer plumage with an immature male of the Icelandic variety I believe; Lapwing, Shoveler, a male Teal, some Wigeon action and on another visit no sooner than I was mentally bemoaning how quiet it was when I found this Merlin. Smashing.

Boinnngggg! (or was that just Zabadee passing?)

Coal Tit in the garden 

Goldcrest

Goldcrest – spooky

Black-Tailed Godwit, Icelandic, male and juvenile male

Lapwing – becoming territorial

female Shoveler

male Shoveler

male Teal

Wigeon fly by

spooked Wigeon, harrassed by Coot and Lapwing

Wigeon, retreat to water

male Wigeon

female Wigeon

the Wizard of Newton Marsh – Merlin

Merlin

Strewth, it's nearly the end of March and I have only posted 4 posts, hmmnnnn – too busy birding!

The things you see... and that 'Wizard'

The first surprise was a male Reed Bunting in the garden (photographed through double glazing). I live in typical suburbia with a pocket handkerchief of a garden and was pleasantly surprised by this visitor, why he choose to visit is unknown (apart from a free meal of course.. I don't have a reedbed, hmmmnnn actually I suppose I do but surely not big enough for this chappie... garden pond and wildlife garden, yellow Iris bed etc). Any comments on ID appreciated (young male going into breeding plummage?)

I spend so much time down at Newton Marsh, I rarely bother posting about the site nowadays unless there is something unusual to say, complacency has overcome me. The Wigeon are always great to see but the busier vehicular traffic is keeping them (and everything else) further afield. The water appears to be too deep for the waders.

Evening visits are difficult because of the low sun shining straight at you, so photography is 'awkward' to say the least. Anyway I attach a series of record images taken recently of a Buzzard accompanied by a Hare for the simple reason to dismiss the concept of Buzzards being ruthless killers of anything that moves. The Hare clocked the buzzard, who must have been worm seeking and came over and joined the buzzard, who appeared a little perplexed by this approach, but clearly comfortable in each other's company... and I thought you might like to see this encounter. The size comparison is also interesting. Poor images in very low light at distance.

And finally, after two years or more, my first reasonable image of a Merlin. (double clicking images = enlargement)

Male Reed Bunting visits the homestead

Wigeon splashdown at sunset

Spooked

Evening sun catches the Wigeon's wings

Oi

Yeah?

Good 'ere innit?

Think you're big enough?

Merlin – a photo, three years in the making! 

Out and about...

Newton Marsh has not produced a great deal recently other than the usual suspects, Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen and two Mute Swans, a couple of Curlew and singing skylarks and the exception, an old friend from December, a Merlin. The water appears to be too deep for the waders or indeed the dabbling ducks and I am not convinved the additional man-made features as enhancement has actually helped, it seems to be holding too much water and not draining properly; perhaps in time the 'improvements' will show benefits. There is certainly a lot more traffic to the Waste Disposal Site and contractors to United Utilities Site appear to be creating a disturbance forcing the birds deeper towards Freckleton and away from the east end. Perhaps as the days grow longer, earlier and later visits may produce something 'interesting'.  This fleeting glance of a Merlin, on a grey day was short lived as it was disturbed by a passing wagon. On one visit it appeared to be 'bath day' as about twenty wigeon were busy calling to each other while all taking a bath, splashing and preening.

Merlin

Male Wigeon

Male Wigeon

Female Wigeon

Female Wigeon

Female Great Spotted Woodpecker – tree hugging

Female Great Spotted Woodpecker

Starling

Pied Wagtail (female)

Siskin (female and male)

Siskin (male)

Jay

It always surprises me how Great Spotted Woodpeckers know where you are and always disappear around the other side of the tree – not quite this time! The tendons in their feet must be amazingly strong the way the grip the bark – unlike my arthritic hands – make you wonder if they suffer the same in time. A couple of 'common birds', those we so frequently overlook – fewer Starlings have been visiting the garden recently but a pair of Pied Wagtails have been regular visitors, especially during the colder and harder weather. I was surpsrised to see these Siskin, a first for me, and outwitting Jays to get a photo is a major pre-occupation taking a great deal of patience, time and suitable weather conditions.

The Wizard of Newton Marsh

It was grey overcast and generally miserable, but time to get out of the house. For the past two years I have been convinced of sightings of a Merlin down at Newton Marsh but it has always been a glimpse here and there or at the extreme limit of any optics I might have with me. Finally in the right place at the right time as it flew in across the marsh and landed on a fence post in front of me. I took a couple of photos through the windscreen, hence the 'blue' cast to the image as I thought it may be the only opportunity for a photo. Thankfully it dropped off the post, flew across the road in front of me and landed on the opposite fence posts. Sadly it was just too far away and at the limit of the cameras ability and I didn't want to spook it. It sat for a few minutes and gave good views thorugh the bins before taking off and flying back off over the marsh.

The Wigeon have returned with a small flock of about 60 with the usual suspects, small numbers of Mallard (12) Teal (20ish) and Shoveler (3 males) while around 30 Shelduck flew over north.

I went on to Lytham and again at the end of my optics clocked about 50 Pintail on the foreshore while skeins of Pink Footed Geese were making their way north. At Fairhaven three male Tufted Ducks were making the most of limited open water and on the way home I was fortunate to come close to a Jay, which in the poor light, constantly on the move, proved very difficult to follow, focus upon and then take any photo but I managed these two.