Void Gulls

I could of titled this 'avoid gulls at all cost' but as its that somewhat annoying time of the year when one is forced to look through endless swarms of larus on freezing wind swept smelly tips I'll give it yet another go.
Having failed miserably at Richmond Bank last Friday when there was supposedly Caspian, Iceland, Glaucous, Med and Yellow-legged Gull all on show...non of which were?? somewhere different beckoned.
The chance came today as I was en route back from south Staffordshire and I nipped in at The Void near Stoke. A freezing wind swept muddy Country Park on the site of an old coal mine I think. The water was iced over so all leg colours could be seen nicely in the overcast light (the best I'm told for ascertaining true leg and mantle colours). Out on the ice a few hundred gulls mostly Lesser Black Backs with a few Herring the odd Greater Black Back a couple of Common and 50+ Black Headed.
In amongst this motley crew one big ugly argentatus type Herring Gull...vid below.

The melee

I did actually find a decent gull well two actually of the same variety unfortunately not the hoped for Caspian but its Mediterranean cousin Yellow-legged Gull, hiding away mid flock.

Of course I could be talking a load of bollocks 

(as usual some say)

but I think I've called the above right.

 If not please tell me why in one of those protracted senseless slagging debates they have on Birdforum!!

TTFN

Wednesday Whoopers

Out in Lancs today and its serious brass monkey weather. Found this lot chilling out in a stubble field miles away from that pay a mortgage to get in duck brothel east of Southport.
A grand total of 157 Whooper Swans, five of which had colour rings (I've sent the numbers off to find out where this mob are from). Great to see quiet a few juveniles mixed in with the adults.

Another good find was a couple of Brambling hiding in a huge flock of Chaffers feeding at a local farmers orchard.

Late on just as the Pinkies were moving back to their roost on the Alt Estuary all 8000+ (yes I counted them all) out came a duo of Barn Owls to hunt the mosses. I just missed this chap as he flew right over the car looking me in the eye as he flew over, marvellous stuff.

TTFN

Cumbrian Dodgy Duck and Goose Fest

Its just amazing what you can find just off the beaten track in deepest darkest Cumbria...

Not one of the above can join the Year List but I should get at least two of'em somewhere else me thinks?

real ones!!

Just down the road at sunny/misty/cloudy/rainy Grange over Sands a rather unexpected bonus in the shape of a wayward Black Redstart doing its utmost to disappear in the rocks.

TTFN

24 POINTS!

PatchWork Pinkies Double Take

I was over in flatville Lincolnshire today and at precisely 13.40 I had a big flock of Pink-footed Geese flyover very high up heading roughly North West. They probably couldn't see Lincs as it was mostly covered in fog.
Wind the clock on four hours later its 17.40 and I'm back home walking the pooch around a mist shrouded patch in the dark, cue the distinctive calls of a flock of Pinkies flying over coming from the South East and heading North West...coincidence? same flock? who knows but a nice extra tick for the PatchWork Challenge where ever they came from.

78 that's 80 points in the bag

TTFN 

Whooper fest

Out surveying on the south Lancashire mosses and a nice boost to the 2013 Self Found List with a couple of decent sized flocks of Whooper Swans..29 & 77 with the winter resident 3000+ Pinkies surrounding them. Add to that two small flocks of Brambling a couple of Barn Owls and a very brief fly past Short-eared Owl the rain swept day wasn't to bad after all.
No chance with Merlin or Hen Harrier the foggy drizzle not really ideal raptor weather.
T'other stuff also padded on Grey and Red-legged Partridge, big flock of Linnet and an unexpected Grey Wagtail.
Up at the top end of Lancs tomorrow so fingers crossed we get some decent weather.

TTFN

Scores on the doors

Out and about as one does early in the new year and with the added incentive of a couple of new competitions to partake in I've been bashing the patch a bit more than is good for one so old.

Footit League Table

not sure how you get 100+ % so early in the month , so ignoring the top two and the hairy comedian plus people who live by the seaside I'm not doing that bad. Bit of a bugger though we've no chance of our usual Jack Snipe or Lesser Pecker so more goodies required please oh birding Buddah.

PatchWork Challenge 2013

No league table as yet!

Focalpoint Local Patch Year List Challenge

Mr Baker must be shitting himself in disbelief...roll on the weekend!!
I've just tempted fate haven't I?


TTFN