Grey Partridges, Longton Marsh 29 January 2010Another hundred "Pinks" from the office window (a good 300 passed by the other day) had me yearning to get out on the estuary again this morning. Lunchtime came and it was all just too much, what with that winter sunshine as well. So, I headed out to the Ribble from the village for a yomp across Longton and Hutton Marshes. The fields near the Dolphin pub were surprisingly empty (there's normally Golden Plovers, Lapwings and Skylarks here) and it was quite a walk before I came across anything of note. The Douglas was pretty bird less apart from a huge flock of Lapwings in the distance. I did see some Pink-feet on the grazed marsh, but just seven and not quite what I was hoping for. Sixty Fieldfares and 3 Redwings with some Starlings were spooked by a Sparrowhawk but it was damn good to see a tight group of 12 Grey Partridge at the edge of the field. I made it all the way to the Ribble before the icy north wind decided to drop some sleet on me, but that soon cleared. Looking across to the Fylde there were at least 1700 Lapwings, 90 Shelduck, 300 Canada Geese, 300 Wigeon and 250+ Teal on the banks as the tide dropped. Another Grey Partridge flew across the fields and a single Golden Plover (where are they all?) flew past with some Starlings. No less than 41 Stock Doves in stubble and 37 Skylark were startled into the air as a Merlin dashed across the marsh. Kestrels and Buzzard only other predator for me today and no sign of any Corn Buntings on the way home. Yesterday afternoon was much better. I spent a couple of hours at Hesketh Out Marsh where a male Hen Harrier graced the reserve with it's presence. It was a slow start but once things got going Merlin, Peregrine, 11 Whoopers and 4 Bewick's Swans made braving the bracing icy wind and showers all worthwhile.
Tides of 9+ metres this weekend .......
3 comments:
Yes....good question regarding the Golden Plover Colin, they've also disappeared from the likes of Glasson Dock/Cockersands on the Lune Estuary where you can normally see numbers up to 3,000+ on a good day at this time of the year.
Won't be cold in Venezuela though Colin....will it?
A long walk in the freezing cold wind with not many birds..............that sums up my memories of a typical day on Longton Marsh when I was a kid........
In the mid 80's there used to be thousands (well hundreds) of Golden Plover in the fields next to the Ribble in Penwortham. When I go back there now (infrequently) I never seem them and haven't for over 20 years..............
Yeah, don't know where all the GPs have gone; unless they're on the Douglas. The biggish tides at the weekend should push them up if they're around though.
Bet you'll be out for the American Wigeon in the morning Pete?
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