WWT.

Nothing whatsoever to do with the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust: the World's Worst Twitcher strikes again! OK, I suppose it wasn't really a twitch as I had to be in Dumfries & Galloway to close down our caravan for the winter, but I did try for the drake Blue-winged Teal and duck Ring-necked Duck at Threave while I was up there. Missed them both and I bet one, or both, of them are still on the Dee somewhere. Lucky Craig Shaw was there for a chat or it would've been a dire couple of hours in that hide.

Worcester RSPB group watching ringtail Hen Harrier at dusk today at Hesketh Out Marsh.

No complaints about the local birding though. I met Graham Clarkson at RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh on Wednesday where the 1st winter Greenland White-fronted Goose was still with the 10,000 or so Pink-footed Geese. Five drake Pochards on the Ribble were my first at HOM and Graham bagged a juvenile Glaucous Gull while I was sifting through the geese.

RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh 8 December 2010.
Fresh NW wind, clear, freezing!

1st winter Greenland White-fronted Goose
10,000+ Pink-footed Geese
5 drake Pochard
1 ringtail Hen Harrier
1 - 2 Peregrine
2 Merlin
1 Marsh Harrier
2 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
13+ Brambling
3 Corn Bunting
550 Linnet
1500+ Skylark

Carsethorn on the Solway from the Drumburn viewpoint, Dumfries & Galloway 9 December 2010.

Southerness Point, Dumfries & Galloway 9 December 2010.

Today was fantastic. Still a bitter wind blowing, despite the thaw, but a fine bright afternoon after a dull and windy start. I began at Marshside where I had just over an hour or so to spare before meeting the Leeds RSPB group for their trip to HOM. Ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Merlin, a Peregrine, a Sparrowhawk and 2 Marsh Harriers was a good start at Crossens Outer Marsh. A look over Sutton's Marsh on the reserve revealed a single Barnacle Goose with the Pink-feet, but better still there was an adult Eurasian White-fronted Goose with the geese on the saltmarsh.
The coach from Leeds followed me from Sandgrounders to Hesketh where the RSPB group enjoyed Hen Harrier with Marsh Harrier from the viewpoint and Bramblings in the car park before leaving for Marshside. I stayed on at HOM where my highlights were 12 calling Waxwings over the seawall (still arriving), 24 Brambling, 5 Barnacle Geese with at least 8,500 Pink-feet, Hen Harrier, 2 Marsh Harriers, 3 Merlins, 3 Sparrowhawks, 19 Corn Buntings and 6 Tree Sparrows.

RSPB Marshside 11 December 2010

Brisk W wind, overcast.

3000+ Pink-footed Geese
1 Barnacle Goose
1 adult Eurasian White-fronted Goose
Ringtail Hen Harrier
2 Marsh Harrier
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Peregrine
2 Merlin

RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh 11 December 2010
Cold W wind, overcast start, clearing later.

8,500+ Pink-footed Geese
5 Barnacle Geese
2 Gadwall
Ringtail Hen Harrier
2+ Marsh Harrier
3 Merlin
3 Sparrowhawk
1 Buzzard
6 Kestrel
1 Stock Dove
40 Woodpigeon
12 Waxwing
50 Fieldfare
2 Redwing
200 Skylark
45 Meadow Pipit
24 Brambling
10 Chaffinch
100+ Linnet
19 Corn Bunting
15 Reed Bunting
2 Raven

Sunset over the Colvend Coast on the Solway, Dumfries & Galloway 9 December 2010.