1 Willow Warbler in song...earliest record for me on the moss beating my personal record by one day set last year....even more remarkable that both birds were in song from exactly the same area...nature always offering something for us to marvel upon...in spite of what mankind does to eradicate it (and consequentially us, being a mere part of it).....
Drake Green-winged Teal at Croxden's at 12:15 this afternoon after an hour long search. At least 9 Eurasian Teal also present. Other birds seen in a walk from Twelve Yards Road included Marsh Harrier, 2 Yellowhammer, 2 Reed Bunting, Little Egret, Curlew, 8 Lapwing, Skylark.
2 Grey Partridge across the M62 bridge in Astley Road
The Green Winged Teal showed well (eventually)at the rear of the pools with a single Eurasian Teal. A singing Willow Warbler was nearby and other birds seen included 2 Little Egret,Curlew,Oystercatcher etc. Attached a record shot of the bird looking through the foliage!!
Well done Colin! Persistence pays off. Was it my imagination, but we're you shouting 'Steve' down the path just after you had seen it? If it was I wished I had turned back now!
The drake Green-winged Teal still present on Croxdens Pools at 15:45. Viewable with patience from the footpath which runs parallel to Twelve Yards Road, one field north of it. Access this footpath by walking north from the Twelve Yards Road/Cutbokk Lane junction and turning left. At least 10 Eurasian Teal also present, all drifting between sections of the pool, visible at various points through the line of Birch.
Male Green-winged Teal with Eurasian Teal flock on Croxden west pools this morning. Still present at 12.15pm. But it is elusive and hides in vegetation asleep for long periods. View only from the path along southern edge of pool.
110 Redwing...in jubilant Sub-Song...warming up for Finland etc....a Scandinavian Choir of distinction...poignancy heavy in this pre-spring air as I was made VERY aware that another winter is drawing close in my birdwatching calendar---ssssssss!) over an area I was first introduced to in the early 60's.....and have loved ever since...
Female/immature Merlin flew through field 67 disturbing a flock of Starlings, three Skylarks and several Meadow Pipits.
The trees along the southern section of the old mineral line held a flock of 130 Redwings which included lots in sub-song, a flock of 62+ Stock Doves and singles of singing Goldcrest and Chiffchaff
On Astley Moss East, around the old sand quarry, were a flock of 52 Wigeon, 16 Teal, three Shelduck, 76 Canada Geese, two Oystercatchers and a Cormorant
2 Shelduck,2 Teal and 2 Greylag Geese on floods south of sand quarry on Astley Moss East. Sand quarry had numerous Canada Geese and about 30 Lesser Black Backed gulls on the water. This area can be view by taking public footpath east from Rindle Cottages to the old mineral line and they walking left for couple hundred yards and crossing through birch covert to view area.