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| Incoming Blue tit, for Bullfinch rendezvous - R Blythe |
Once upon a New Year’s Day, six
intrepid bird watchers set out for Mere Sands Wood, where hangovers were put in
abeyance. Being keen we arrived before
the staff, well the poor man had cycled in from Preston!
Whilst waiting to get into the
reserve Wood Pigeon, Rook, Great Tit, Magpie, Robin, Chaffinch, Tree Sparrow, Greenfinch,
Collared Dove and Jackdaw, were spotted.
Refreshed and warmed up a little by a mug of Rosie lee, we saw on the freshly
stocked feeders lots more, including Coal Tit and the gloriously colourful male
and female Bullfinch. A beautiful Great
Spotted Woodpecker was also seen enjoying his breakfast.
We set out in the pouring rain
and dashed from hide to hide – seeking warmth and shelter!! We hoped for the alleged ‘showing well’ Water
rail but instead got noisy Canadian
Geese, resplendent Goosanders, flighty Grey Herons, the inevitable Black Headed
Gull, Shovelers, Coots and Shelduck or should that be Shedluck!?
A dashing highlight was the turquoise
flash of a Kingfisher speeding across the lake in front of the redwing hide - the
Mere sands warden was ecstatic, no one had reported a sighting for over a month!
Between hides we spotted Reed
Bunting, Robin’s, Dunnock and the noisy and charmingly pretty Goldfinch.
On our return to the centre, Cuppa
Soup, Hot Chocolate and Tea was consumed - desperately needed to warm us all
up, then yet another dash for five of the six intrepids, this time to Southport
Marine Lake. The wind by this time was
rather blustery, and we got blown about but did manage to see some Greylag,
Mute Swan a lovely Goldeneye, Herring Gull, Coot and the stunning Great
Northern Diver in its winter plumage.
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| Ross's goose - N Prendergast |
Rhodie
