Juv' Red-necked Phalarope, Martin Mere WWT 5 September 2008.
Needed to pop out to get some optics today and although there are a few options in Lancs the arrival of a Red-necked Phalarope at Martin Mere WWT made the choice quite easy.
The rain didn't stop all day today, but this afternoon it just alternated between persistent and teaming down. I went straight down to the Ron Barker Hide where the phal' had been reported about an hour earlier. Come to think of it why are there hides here in the NW named after comedians? Eric Morcambe up at Leighton Moss ....... OK so this one isn't named after THE Ronnie Barker anyway. Just as well the Avenue Hide at Caerlaverock wasn't named after the guy who opened it - Herbert Bonar. Just imagine ..... if they called the hide, yes ....... The Herbert Hide. What? Hmpph.
Anyway, back to the phal: Nice juvenile bobbing around in the rain and flying short distances every now and then. Needle thin black bill, dark mantle with a few pale grey scapulars and buffy-white braces, greyish-buff suffusion to the breast sides. Watched it for about an hour and a half before braving the next downpour and dashing to the Eddie Izzard, I mean United Utilities Hide. Never been in so many hides alone before. Few Pintail, 5 Pochard and a couple of Goosander and a Sparrowhawk flying in front of the Out of Focus shop.
Spent far too long chatting in the Out of Focus shop and delaying Tony from getting on with his work before making for the car. Peregrine darted over the car park - least this Robin had the sense to hide under my wheel arches.
