HOM and away.

Short-eared Owl at Crossens Outer Marsh, 5 February 2010.

Bit short of time at the moment so just managed a couple of hours on the estuary this week. On Tuesday 2nd I spent a fair bit of time getting wet at Hesketh Out Marsh. It was definitely worth it though as the 10m tide covered the reserve. A good count of 350 Shelduck from the viewoint; Turnstone, Grey Plover, 10 Black-tailed Godwits and 110 Oystercatchers out on the Ribble and Merlin spraying the 100+ Skylarks all over the shop. The usual Peregrine was sitting out on its log on the saltmarsh (what was left of it) and I could see one Short-eared Owl and the 2 Black Swans over on the Fylde at Warton Marsh. Ten Pintail flying over is a good record here despite their large flocks on the outer parts of the estuary. Once the weather closed in I wandered back to the seawall picking up a cracking Short-eared Owl that was mobbed overhead by a Carrion Crow. Put on quite a show before it headed off along the seawall and out of sight. I followed it seeing a couple of Little Egrets and finding another dead one (no rings), before disturbing the shortie again in the long grass on the bank. Some 70 swans in the sleet-ridden distance were mostly Whoopers but I could see at least 4 Bewick's as they took off for Hundred End. A Jack Snipe flushed from the path as I watched a party of Long-tailed Tits was a real bonus.

"White-out" at Crossens and Banks Marshes 3 February 2010.

Wednesday lunchtime saw the return of the snow as I waited for the tide at Crossens. I didn't get long before the visibility was reduced to a few hundred yards but 2 Short-eared Owls and a Dark-bellied Brent Goose made it all worthwhile. I suppose the flock of waders in the floods was the most spectacular sight though: 2000+ Dunlin, 200 Redshank, 50+ Bar-tailed Godwits, 15 Grey Plovers and 500+ Lapwings was an incredible spectacle as the whole scene began to "white-out"


This afternoon I had the pleasure of Brian Rafferty's company at Marshside where 6 Short-eared Owls were performing beautifully over Crossens Outer Marsh. The Bittern was still strutting around too but more distant than previously. Two Merlins and a couple of Kestrels were hunting over the saltmarsh as we watched the owls putting up 8 Grey Partridges. Plenty to see on the RSPB reserve too with hundreds of Pink-footed Geese on the marsh pulling in 17 Barnacle Geese and the Dark-bellied Brent Goose. A raft of 37 Pochard were on the Sand Plant Lagoon with 40 Tufted Ducks on Junction Pool. Another Short-eared Owl flew over while I was counting the Pochard, putting up 40 Black-tailed Godwits and as dusk approached (I was still birding gone 5 PM) a Pale-bellied Brent Goose flew in with the Pinks.

Brilliant stuff!



Best to check out Brian's blog for some decent Short-eared Owl photos!