No this time it really is Blackpool and not Paris! Mrs. B. and I took a day off today to have a look at the
Long-eared Owls at Marton Mere. We strolled along the bridleway where the LEO's were already being watched by another couple which saved a bit of work to say the least.
At first we could only get obstructed views of the 5 birds on show. A couple were sitting very low but with a bit of manoeuvring we managed better looks without any branches obscuring our views.
Long-eared Owl at Marton Mere, Blackpool, Lancs 4 February 2008.
After about an hour of soaking up these cracking birds we headed back towards the car. A small gathering of Pink-feet could be seen in the distant fields as we left.
Plenty of common stuff on the mere: Great-crested Grebe, at least 80 Teal, 30+ Wigeon and a selection of diving ducks including a few Pochard, Tufties and Goldeneye.
Best of all there was a fine adult
Med' Gull in with a small flock of Black-headeds and Common Gulls on the playing fields. Digiscoping was tricky in the wind but I managed one half decent record shot. The black, semi-developed hood stood out a mile and those white wing tips made it easy to pick out, even when it was preening. We jumped in the car and drove to a layby near where the gull was loafing but it soon flew off towards Stanley Park.
After lunch we drove across the Wyre to the Pilling area, passing Stalmine. No sign of the Ross's Goose in the field where we saw it Saturday (it was nearby apparently) so we went on to Cocker's Dyke. A nice late afternoon walk along the seawall produced a lot of common waders and several
Twite. Mrs. B. tried out her 'scope and tripod for the first time and once we'd stopped "fencing" with the legs we settled down to some proper birding! Plenty of Pink-footed Geese in the fields near the village of Pilling and a few on the saltmarsh at Lane Ends where there were also a couple of
Little Egrets. A very nice day indeed.
No this time it really is Blackpool and not Paris! Mrs. B. and I took a day off today to have a look at the Long-eared Owls at Marton Mere. We strolled along the bridleway where the LEO's were already being watched by another couple which saved a bit of work to say the least.
At first we could only get obstructed views of the 5 birds on show. A couple were sitting very low but with a bit of manoeuvring we managed better looks without any branches obscuring our views.
Long-eared Owl at Marton Mere, Blackpool, Lancs 4 February 2008.
After about an hour of soaking up these cracking birds we headed back towards the car. A small gathering of Pink-feet could be seen in the distant fields as we left.
Plenty of common stuff on the mere: Great-crested Grebe, at least 80 Teal, 30+ Wigeon and a selection of diving ducks including a few Pochard, Tufties and Goldeneye.
Best of all there was a fine adult Med' Gull in with a small flock of Black-headeds and Common Gulls on the playing fields. Digiscoping was tricky in the wind but I managed one half decent record shot. The black, semi-developed hood stood out a mile and those white wing tips made it easy to pick out, even when it was preening. We jumped in the car and drove to a layby near where the gull was loafing but it soon flew off towards Stanley Park.
After lunch we drove across the Wyre to the Pilling area, passing Stalmine. No sign of the Ross's Goose in the field where we saw it Saturday (it was nearby apparently) so we went on to Cocker's Dyke. A nice late afternoon walk along the seawall produced a lot of common waders and several Twite. Mrs. B. tried out her 'scope and tripod for the first time and once we'd stopped "fencing" with the legs we settled down to some proper birding! Plenty of Pink-footed Geese in the fields near the village of Pilling and a few on the saltmarsh at Lane Ends where there were also a couple of Little Egrets. A very nice day indeed. 
