Started the day very early (6-05am) with my first BTO survey walk along the Leeds-Liverpool canal. My walk starts a few miles out of Maghull, it involves a leisurely stroll along the canal towpath northwards for a few miles recording all the birds you see along the way. Very easy surveywork to carry out and I would highly recommend it to anyone, very well organised by BTO who allocate a stretch of waterway for you to cover.
Along the way some new birds for the year which were.......corn bunting singing on the wires, house martins back on territory collecting mud for their nests, yellowhammer singing away and a group of 5 whimbrels that flew low overhead calling as they went past.
Also seen.......reed warbler, sedge warbler, whitethroat, chiffchaff, red legged partridge, 2 common sandpiper, tree sparrow, coot with young, mallard with young(14), 3 wheatear, skylark.
Walk takes about 1.5 hrs, and only other person seen 1 cyclist. A great way to start the day.
What next.....a walk up a big hill!
PENDLE HILL.
arrived about 11am, never been before, but if you think that walk at Lake Vyrnwy was tough you should try this little hill. Very easy access, parking on roadside just after village of Barley, to the east of Pendle Hill. Total walk took about 1.5 hrs, a bit steep but well worth it. A few other birders coming of the hill pointed me in the right direction as the bird where well away from the trig point (summit) which being a bank holiday was quite busy. 3 birds seen 1 male and 2 females, and yes...... the females are the good looking ones!
Hope you like the pictures, great birds to photograph, sat down and they came as close as 10m. Spent about 20 min with them, then left them in peace.
SEAN.
2 comments:
Lovely pics Sean, as you say
Pendle Hill is a bit of a slog, but your dotties were worth the effort.
Well done for signing up for the BTO survey as well
Laura
Lovely photos Sean, stunning birds aren't they?
Ann
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