17th February – Gull fest at Anglers‏

Lots of reports of unusual gulls in the Anglers/Wintersett country park area’s had us organising a trip out on Sunday. Only Steve B missing, sunning himself in the middle of the Atlantic! After a late start, well 7:30am, we left Chris B’s home and headed over the hills into Yorkshire. We reached Wintersett, and it was a little icy and quite misty so we walked over to Anglers. The Long tailed Duck showed pretty well and the mist began to break up, we had a plan to return to the area for the gull roost later in the day. Another look at Wintersett revealed two handsome drake Scaup and a few Grey Partridge. The “boatmen” had begun to arrive at Wintersett, so we left the area like the bird also did. We headed to Old Moor RSPB reserve for the reported female Smew along with a supporting cast of Brambling, Yellowhammer & Tree Sparrow. We managed to “clean up” all the target species at this very well supported reserve. Lots of people out on an unusually warm February day! Next stop was Edderthorpe flash, but,unfortunately the light was against us, so not much seen here apart from our first singing Skylark of the year, what a gem! Back at Anglers for the gull roost and a well filled bird hide saw us all get a seat and wait for the action. A Yellow-legged Gull usually appeared at 3:20pm, but it was early today and we all enjoyed great view’s of the local “bully” chasing even bigger birds around the water. This bird was a lifer for one of our number and most appreciated by all. A concerted effort was now required to find a Kumlien’s Gull that had been appearing most late afternoon’s in the roost. To a full hide, one of us found a gull with no black on its tail and a pale grey back and said, “Have a look at that gull”. The bird was watched and photographed and lots of interest shown in it and it was pronounced, by the local gull expert’s, that, that was the bird we think is a Kumlien’s, result! After so much excitement in the hide another chap came in and said, “The Caspian Gull is showing on Wintersett Reservoir”, off we went again through the mud and tangled undergrowth. There was nobody looking at the large gathering of gulls as we arrived, we said , “We will find it ourselves, we have a picture”. After about an hour and as the gulls had multiplied ten fold, all we had seen was the Yellow-legged Gull again and lots of candidates for the Caspian Gull but nothing we all agreed too was the bird! It was getting cold so we left the reservoir all agreeing that we had enjoyed the gull roost, we must do it again. We reached Rochdale by 6:30pm all of us with at least 6 year ticks in the bag. A memorable day out.
Regards,
Dave Ousey.

3rd February – North Wales dip day!‏

Nice to get out and enjoy a day by the seaside birding, we thought it would turn out a bit different! Myself, Steve B and Chris B left Rochdale at 6:30am last Sunday, with me driving, to clear up a few species in North Wales, one of our favourite areas. It was fairly mild, but warm clothing was required. First stop Rhos Point, we knew the tide would be out thus lessening our chances of catching up with the Purple Sandpipers and how right we was. Next to no birds were seen here. Onto Aber Ogwen (The Spinnies) and again the estuary was devoid of a regular Greenshank and Red Breasted Merganser. The only things moving were cockle pickers. A Slavonian Grebe was eventually picked up alongside lots of Great Crested Grebe’s. The hide had lots of common woodland species and a Water Rail feeding below the feeders only 6 feet away and no cameras with us! Llanfairfechan Sewage works and Morfa Madryn next, but not before I missed the turning and locked the brakes, quite a “Sweeney esque” entrance. The Firecrest didn’t show and not much at Morfa Madryn too. Surely our luck would change and we would see the drake Surf Scoter at Llandulas, certainly with Steve B now sporting his “old” telescope as well? After looking through what appeared to be thousands of Common Scoter and not even a Velver Scoter for our efforts, we gave up. We did see Red Throated Diver, Fulmar and “dodgy” Rock Doves, onto our next call. Now these birds rarely let us down the Snow Buntings at Kinmel Bay on the outskirts of Rhyl, but the “town planners” have been messing around again making it difficult for us to enter the right area of beach. A bit of a drive around and we finally found a hidden away Asda, walked east and found about 16 Snow Buntings, the boys took a few pictures and we enjoyed the area in good sunlight. We saw a couple of Ringed Plover also. I got an interesting call from one of our Rossendale birders about a Bittern that had been found, typical I thought, as soon as I leave the area something good turns up! We might squeeze in a visit today, but not before we go and see the Lesser Scaup at Shotton Pools. We arrived, did the commando training course to be able to stand with the other birders and enjoyed this American duck as it dived and fed very happily in the company of Tufted Ducks. Unfortunately, the Greater Scaup that had been with it had gone, that would have made a great comparison picture. We set of for Rossendale, not exactly full of confidence that we would see the Bittern. Then after getting led to the area through lots of slutch, we surveyed a couple of ponds without any sightings of this skulking species. Well it did follow the pattern of the day though! Home for 5:00pm and better luck next time.

Regards,

Dave O.