Met a nice couple from canada who called them cedar waxwings
Hi Gary,
Cedar Waxwing is the American counterpart of 'our' Bohemian Waxwing and would be a Mega! Slightly larger with subtle plumage differences.
thanks for the info Mark
Nick Isherwood said
Wed Nov 3 7:54 PM, 2010
Don't we all Gary!! I too dipped on the Waxwings on the way back unfortunately.
Gary Gorner said
Wed Nov 3 7:41 PM, 2010
yep that was me Nick nice to meet you wishing i was in fuerta
Mark Rigby said
Wed Nov 3 4:27 PM, 2010
Gary Gorner wrote:
Met a nice couple from canada who called them cedar waxwings
Hi Gary,
Cedar Waxwing is the American counterpart of 'our' Bohemian Waxwing and would be a Mega! Slightly larger with subtle plumage differences.
Nick Isherwood said
Wed Nov 3 3:12 PM, 2010
Gary Gorner wrote:
Quick visit this morning to barrow in the hope of getting my first waxwings and as i passed the rowan trees no signs of the birds, so did a u- turn and slowly drove past again .As i looked to the oposite side to where the rowans were, in brambles close I spotted them. At least 50 birds, watched them for about ten minutes mainly preening, wing stretching and trilling then a sparrow hawk shifted them hopefully missing its intended prey.Lifer for me tickety tickafter 3 years of missing them. The weather was changing so decided to go for the great grey shrike at waddington . On arrival the shrike was posing on a fence post but after 2 minutes was chased off over the hill buy some crows waited an hour but it didnt re appear so went back to barrow for more of the waxwings By 2pm rain came so that was that, but another day to remember great this birdin Met a nice couple from canada who called them cedar waxwings
Gary,
I think I may have been chatting to you in the lay by at the Great Grey Shrike site. Were you in a red car? I was in the 4x4 that was parked in front of you.
Gary Gorner said
Wed Nov 3 2:38 PM, 2010
Quick visit this morning to barrow in the hope of getting my first waxwings and as i passed the rowan trees no signs of the birds, so did a u- turn and slowly drove past again .As i looked to the oposite side to where the rowans were, in brambles close I spotted them. At least 50 birds, watched them for about ten minutes mainly preening, wing stretching and trilling then a sparrow hawk shifted them hopefully missing its intended prey.Lifer for me tickety tickafter 3 years of missing them. The weather was changing so decided to go for the great grey shrike at waddington . On arrival the shrike was posing on a fence post but after 2 minutes was chased off over the hill buy some crows waited an hour but it didnt re appear so went back to barrow for more of the waxwings By 2pm rain came so that was that, but another day to remember great this birdin Met a nice couple from canada who called them cedar waxwings
Pete Welch said
Tue Nov 2 8:59 AM, 2010
I too went to Barrow on Sunday and really enjoyed seeing the 40 or so Waxwings that were there at that point. Shame the light was a bit poor for photos but a joy to watch anyway!
Mike Baron said
Sat Oct 30 4:32 PM, 2010
Stonking views of Waxwings at Barrow today
92 birds counted (from a photo of the flock in flight)
Pete Welch said
Sat Mar 6 3:51 PM, 2010
Watched the Great Grey Shrike just north of Clitheroe for an hour this morning fascinating bird which was patrolling quite a large area using trees, walls, wires and posts to hunt from and seemed to move through an area of around 800m square quite consistently. Sadly the nearest it came was around 200m from the road so couldn't see what prey items it was favouring.
Rachael Hill said
Sun Jan 31 7:41 PM, 2010
Two buzzards on lamp post & tree on by-pass at Clitheroe Saw buzzard soaring in distance from grandparent's when doing Big Garden Bird Watch there- awwwhh can't I count it?
Mark Jarrett said
Sun Jan 24 7:43 PM, 2010
Just an info update - 25 Snow Bunting seen on nearby Pendle today.
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Jan 2 5:54 PM, 2010
Ian McKerchar wrote:
No sign of the Velvet Scoter at Barrow Lodge this early afternoon.
Info thanks to John Tymon
first and last twich100 mile round trip due to motorways being blocked-fer nowti could have been adding to my points on penny
Rachael Hill said
Sat Jan 2 3:26 PM, 2010
Scoter not there this afternoon, 1pm ish. Might have moved on. Nice to meet fellow birders A lot of snow dropped this morning- some roads were blocked. Buzzard on lamp post on by-pass coming up to pond. Lots of mallards, coots, moorhens, some black headed gulls
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Jan 2 12:55 PM, 2010
No sign of the Velvet Scoter at Barrow Lodge this early afternoon.
Info thanks to John Tymon
Mark Jarrett said
Sat Jan 2 10:27 AM, 2010
Just an update on the Pendle Snow Buntings, as one or two folk have mentioned the possibility of combining a visit to Pendle and Barrow. 34 were seen yesterday.
Word of warning - snowed a fair bit yesterday afternoon and again overnight (and snowing now). Not the best time to attempt Pendle if you are not confident in winter conditions.
Updates on the East Lancashire Ornithologists site, grid ref shown on the 1st Jan entry.
-- Edited by Mark Jarrett on Saturday 2nd of January 2010 10:28:39 AM
Jon Taverner said
Fri Jan 1 7:57 PM, 2010
Scoter present all day giving incredibly close views. Many thanks to the posters who gave directions - even I found the place straight away!
Rachael Hill said
Fri Jan 1 5:58 PM, 2010
I'm saying rude words as I drove passed here on Boxing day & saw man with tripod and was rather curious but late for visiting 'in-laws' after stopping at Springwood feeders (plus bloomin cold). Kids would have killed me!!
sid ashton said
Thu Dec 31 10:52 PM, 2009
Some very interesting pics of the Scoter on Richard Steel's web page :-
http:wildlifephotographic.blogspot.com/
Tim Wilcox said
Wed Dec 30 11:36 AM, 2009
Cheers Riggers for the helpful explanation of their extraordinaryily powerful digestive system. And Ian, only meant that Collins had the attributes of a generic juvenile down well as opposed to female in stressing the white belly of the juvenile compared to an adult feamle (visible only when it wing flapped and reared from the water) and much more strongly pronounced facial markings but not in sexing a juvenile which, as you say, is beyond its scope. Fine bird to observe close in either way.
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Wednesday 30th of December 2009 11:39:29 AM
Gary Gorner said
Wed Dec 30 10:54 AM, 2009
I was there tues morning must hve just missed you Sid .Great bird and a lifer for me. what was unusual was the way the black headed gulls were following it and grabbing anything it disturbed in its bubbles.
steve ashworth said
Tue Dec 29 5:10 PM, 2009
steve ashworth wrote:
thanks to all. scoter still here at three as i am looking at it at the moment
steve ashworth said
Tue Dec 29 3:06 PM, 2009
thanks to all. scoter still here at three as i am looking at it at the moment
-- Edited by steve ashworth on Tuesday 29th of December 2009 06:38:53 PM
sid ashton said
Tue Dec 29 11:23 AM, 2009
Yes Pete, Scoter was still there this morning from 08.30 until I left at 09.45 blooming cold by then but a smashing bird - probably the best views that I shall ever have of the species There were also 70 +/- Mallard several of which were displaying - some rather vigorously for such a cold morning
Pete Welch said
Tue Dec 29 10:51 AM, 2009
In case they're of use here are some directions I've PM'd to a few people who've asked, its about 15 mins from the M6 and there are Snow Bunts reported on Pendle Hill which is about three miles from the Scoter:
Come off M6 at Tickled Trout take A59 for Clitheroe [not Blackburn] go past Samlesbury [BAE] keep going on A59. About a mile south of Clitheroe there are two roundabouts within 300m and at the second there's services signed which is a McDonalds and a petrol station. Just to the left of the services is a pond about 100 m long - it's on there ( with a bit if luck it'll still be there anyway) it's dives a lot so may take a while to spot.
Paul Heaton said
Tue Dec 29 8:23 AM, 2009
it's 2 miles south of Clitheroe by A59 near McDonalds at Barrow Lodge SD,740,381
Keep birding
steve ashworth said
Tue Dec 29 8:14 AM, 2009
hi ian would like to see the scoter were abouts in clithero is it
-- Edited by steve ashworth on Tuesday 29th of December 2009 06:40:21 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Dec 28 11:22 PM, 2009
Tim Wilcox wrote:
The face markings were very distinct and as I had Collins with me for reference I'd say it has it down pretty well.
Down as what thought Tim? It makes practically no plumage difference between juveniles and adult females. There is no doubt, as earlier mentioned, that the bird is a first winter but Collins nor any other 'field guide' go into the sexing of such immatures. Probably for very good reason too! I'd perhaps expect a first winter male to be showing some black feathering by now but apparenly that's not necessarily the case and the pale on the bill seems evident from only one image so may not necessarily be present (allowing for the effect a film of water can have on assessing colouration of bills!). Let's hope the bird itself knows what it is and that perhaps it'll hang on a while and we'll find out one way or another. Until then though this bird is best left as an first winter, the sex of which is open to much supposition
Mark Rigby said
Mon Dec 28 11:09 PM, 2009
Hi Tim
"Scoters and other diving ducks swallow mussels whole and crush the shells in their stomach, where they are then ground into small fragments. Such ducks have a large and very strong stomach,which enables the birds to exploit a wide size range of molluscs.
However this feeding habit is expends a lot of energy which would explain why they are continually diving and eating the mussels. The ducks have to crush the shells, then heat the mussel flesh and the water locked between the valves to body temperature and finally, excrete the salt from the mussel flesh and water."
The Barrow bird caught about 15-20 mussels in the hour or so that I was watching it which fits in with the above explanation
Hope this helps
Riggers
Tim Wilcox said
Mon Dec 28 10:38 PM, 2009
Went to see the bird today in very good light and my notes say it was a 'dark chocolate' colour overall with a turquoise sheen on the back the white wing speculum was visible from time to time but when it reared up and flapped its wings the very pale breast was clearly visible. The face markings were very distinct and as I had Collins with me for reference I'd say it has it down pretty well. The most extraordinary thing was its ability to swallow huge fresh-water mussels whole. How does it manage to digest them? And how does it manage to excrete the shells? If the mussel closes when swallowed how do the digestive juices break it down and if it is open how come the bird's gullet is not cut by the sharp edges? Does anyone know?
richard howells 2 said
Mon Dec 28 8:34 PM, 2009
Still there @1600, close into the road embankment.
Phil Owen said
Mon Dec 28 6:02 PM, 2009
Nice one Ian,
Its ID seems to have been subject of a bit of debate but your comments have certainly made my mind up!!!
Thanks
Phil
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Dec 28 3:55 PM, 2009
I wouldn't read to much into the Collins guide where ageing birds such as this Velvet Scoter is concerned Phil. It hasn't the space to enter into the often complicated not to mention difficult ageing of such birds, it really is beyond it's scope much of the time.
That said, I too had been informed from those who had seen it (I have not!) that the bird is an immature drake. First winter drakes are identifiable by the first emergence of pure black feathering (particularly around the head initially) and also a reddish hue might be detectable on the sides of the bill (where the yellow patch of adult drakes appears).
Judging from photos is always secondary to seeing the bird for yourself in the field but some photos (especially the superb images on Bill Aspin's bird blog by Pete Morris) seem to show the crown and forhead as particularly dark, though not exactly black (coupled with a reduced white area around the lores and base of the bill) and a slightly paler 'patch' appearing where it should on the bill. So I would lean towards the bird being a drake. Also the greater coverts don't appear to have a huge amount of white on them and a couple even have remnants of a dark shaft running down to the feather tip, so atleast we can be sure it's a first winter!
Phil Owen said
Mon Dec 28 2:51 PM, 2009
Good views of the Velvet Scoter at 9.30am this morning on the far side.
I have been told it is a first winter male but looking in the Collins Guide it does look like a female.
Hopefully it should stay around a bit as it does seem to be enjoying those freshwater mussels!!
Karen Foulkes said
Mon Dec 28 1:54 PM, 2009
We visited this morning and saw the bird very easily still scoffing mussels. Should be plenty of good photos of this bird judging by the number of cameramen there!
Ian Campbell said
Sun Dec 27 11:23 AM, 2009
Visited this a.m. with Peter Johnson after seeing the excellent photos taken yesterday, the bird is still present and very easy to see, would definately recommend a trip here to anyone thinking about it. Cheers Ian
Pete Welch said
Thu Dec 24 2:59 PM, 2009
Popped off the M6 today to see the Velvet Scoter at Clitheroe which was showing very well. As the small lake it was on was nearly completely iced up not sure how long it will stay but was fascinating to see it diving below the ice, retrieving freshwater mussels [small swan mussels?] and swallowing them whole. Occasionally it came up with one that was too large to swallow and so dropped it. Wonder how freshwater mussels compare with its normal diet?
Smaller bird than I was expecting compared to the resident mallard and then an unexpected bonus of a Grey Wagtail in the adjoining stream. Really enjoyable.
thanks for the info Mark
Hi Gary,
Cedar Waxwing is the American counterpart of 'our' Bohemian Waxwing and would be a Mega! Slightly larger with subtle plumage differences.
Gary,
I think I may have been chatting to you in the lay by at the Great Grey Shrike site. Were you in a red car? I was in the 4x4 that was parked in front of you.
The weather was changing so decided to go for the great grey shrike at waddington . On arrival the shrike was posing on a fence post but after 2 minutes was chased off over the hill buy some crows
By 2pm rain came so that was that, but another day to remember great this birdin
Met a nice couple from canada who called them cedar waxwings
92 birds counted (from a photo of the flock in flight)
Saw buzzard soaring in distance from grandparent's when doing Big Garden Bird Watch there- awwwhh can't I count it?
first and last twich
Buzzard on lamp post on by-pass coming up to pond. Lots of mallards, coots, moorhens, some black headed gulls
Info thanks to John Tymon
Word of warning - snowed a fair bit yesterday afternoon and again overnight (and snowing now). Not the best time to attempt Pendle if you are not confident in winter conditions.
Updates on the East Lancashire Ornithologists site, grid ref shown on the 1st Jan entry.
-- Edited by Mark Jarrett on Saturday 2nd of January 2010 10:28:39 AM
http:wildlifephotographic.blogspot.com/
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Wednesday 30th of December 2009 11:39:29 AM
-- Edited by steve ashworth on Tuesday 29th of December 2009 06:38:53 PM
Come off M6 at Tickled Trout take A59 for Clitheroe [not Blackburn] go past Samlesbury [BAE] keep going on A59. About a mile south of Clitheroe there are two roundabouts within 300m and at the second there's services signed which is a McDonalds and a petrol station. Just to the left of the services is a pond about 100 m long - it's on there ( with a bit if luck it'll still be there anyway) it's dives a lot so may take a while to spot.
Keep birding
-- Edited by steve ashworth on Tuesday 29th of December 2009 06:40:21 PM
Down as what thought Tim? It makes practically no plumage difference between juveniles and adult females. There is no doubt, as earlier mentioned, that the bird is a first winter but Collins nor any other 'field guide' go into the sexing of such immatures. Probably for very good reason too! I'd perhaps expect a first winter male to be showing some black feathering by now but apparenly that's not necessarily the case and the pale on the bill seems evident from only one image so may not necessarily be present (allowing for the effect a film of water can have on assessing colouration of bills!). Let's hope the bird itself knows what it is and that perhaps it'll hang on a while and we'll find out one way or another. Until then though this bird is best left as an first winter, the sex of which is open to much supposition
"Scoters and other diving ducks swallow mussels whole and crush
the shells in their stomach, where they are then ground into small fragments. Such ducks have a large and very strong stomach,which enables the birds to exploit a wide size range of molluscs.
However this feeding habit is expends a lot of energy which would explain why they are continually diving and eating the mussels. The ducks have to crush the shells, then heat the mussel flesh and the water locked between the valves to body temperature and finally, excrete the salt from the mussel flesh and water."
The Barrow bird caught about 15-20 mussels in the hour or so that I was watching it which fits in with the above explanation
Hope this helps
Riggers
Its ID seems to have been subject of a bit of debate but your comments have certainly made my mind up!!!
Thanks
Phil
That said, I too had been informed from those who had seen it (I have not!) that the bird is an immature drake. First winter drakes are identifiable by the first emergence of pure black feathering (particularly around the head initially) and also a reddish hue might be detectable on the sides of the bill (where the yellow patch of adult drakes appears).
Judging from photos is always secondary to seeing the bird for yourself in the field but some photos (especially the superb images on Bill Aspin's bird blog by Pete Morris) seem to show the crown and forhead as particularly dark, though not exactly black (coupled with a reduced white area around the lores and base of the bill) and a slightly paler 'patch' appearing where it should on the bill. So I would lean towards the bird being a drake. Also the greater coverts don't appear to have a huge amount of white on them and a couple even have remnants of a dark shaft running down to the feather tip, so atleast we can be sure it's a first winter!
I have been told it is a first winter male but looking in the Collins Guide it does look like a female.
Hopefully it should stay around a bit as it does seem to be enjoying those freshwater mussels!!
Cheers Ian