Short visit to Fishmoor Sunday 3rd Feb 1415 to 1515 before it started raining. Only a few gulls around compared to recent times but a 1st winter Caspian Gull was present amongst them.
Took a chance on a mid-afternoon visit to a freezing cold, rainy and windswept Fishmoor Reservoir. At one point I couldnt feel my fingers but I stuck with it and that was a good decision.
- Glaucous Gull (adult - a plumage Lifer!) I scanned the mass of Gulls but couldnt locate it on the res, I thought it hadnt turned up as the sightings for this one are inconsistent. It had just gone 4 o clock, my hands were going numb and I was about to call it a day when suddenly a fair sized group of the roost were put up by a dog walker on the other side and as if by magic the Glauc appeared in my bins, it stuck out like a sore thumb. Brilliant!
- adult Yellow-legged Gull 1 possibly 2 Not 100% but they looked ok, I didnt see the legs though as they were on the res.
- one 1st winter Gull looked a bit Caspian-like but Im no good with Caspians. I see 2 x 1st w Caspians have been reported on BirdGuides (as well as the Glaucous) so maybe it couldve been.
White Fronted Geese quite close amongst Canada's on fields next to the canal around midday...photographed see blog. Eventually spooked to decanted onto the canal which you could approach down to four metres which was surprising.
-- Edited by Paul Samuels on Monday 24th of December 2018 10:32:01 PM
9 European White-Fronted Geese still around Rishton Reservoir 8.30 - 10am.
Originally picked them up in flight over the reservoir, flying west to east. We then headed up Cut Lane and located a large mixed goose flock in a field, 200 yards east along the canal.
The 9 White-Fronts showed brilliantly in the bright morning sun, along with 2 Pink-footed Geese and 60+ Canada Geese.
Full compliment of thrushes and a kestrel in the fields.
The 9 white-fronted geese were present this morning from 11.30 am actually on rishton reservoir with the Canada geese, scope viewed from cut lane. They soon disappeared but then relocated them in the field next to the A678, I then walked down that road to get a closer look, but still to far for a good photo, as I got there they then started heading down the hill out of view.
Went to Rishton this a.m. looking for the reported White-fronted Geese (see previous post) with no sign at either location,lots of Canadas though !! Cheers Ian
Just checked East Lancs ornithologist site and they were reported there this a.m. , so much for my skills !!!
-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Friday 21st of December 2018 03:14:56 PM
Myself and Simon Gough visited the Gull roost again this morning.
The Glaucous Gull and adult Iceland Gull had just left the reservoir, but another birder there told us he was on the Kumlien's Gull. Within seconds though it was flying off and we just couldn't get on it.
Seems the Kumlien's was seen this afternoon at a local landfill site, Whinney Hill, in Accrington.
15:40-16:20pm Fishmoor Res
Managed to find 1 Adult Iceland Gull at 15:55pm but was srugling to locate the Glaucous Gull but with some help managed to locate it at 16:05pm. So happy to see both targeted species of gulls. Also present 5 Goosander and large flock of lapwings over. Cheers Steven
-- Edited by Steven Higginbottom on Sunday 22nd of January 2017 05:57:39 PM
Glaucous Gull was a lifer for me too. I need to credit Jack for two of my sightings, he picked out the Glauc and the Iceland Gull. He can't have been much older than 16, running rings around me! Rob picked out an adult Yellow-legged Gull so he can hold his head up at least. I'm not a guller!
"Nice to meet East Lancs birders Jack Morris and his mum who were scanning the Gulls with us from the football sports hall car park. A friend of his James was on the other side of the Res presumably stood with you Richard ."
Small world in the North West of England, you were spot on Rob, it was me on the other side, I remember those with me said "Jack Morris" and a couple of others are on the other side. I only regret I was so focus on finding the glaucous gull is I didn't look across to see you on the other side. Still, I will eventually be able to put a face to your name as I'm sure our paths will cross again.
It was quite a spectacle seeing all those gulls- the most I've ever seen in one spot apart from Richmond Bank in Cheshire. At least we can both rejoice on our "Lifers" All the best .......
__________________
Which bird is ideal for keeping cakes in? I asked. The answer: a Bun-tin.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/135715507@N06
Afternoon after-work visit to Fishmoor Reservoir with Simon Gough.
- 1 Glaucous Gull 2cy / 1st winter (LIFER) ...at last we can pop the Champagne and join the party, and I suddenly felt a bit lighter as all the hurt and anguish suddenly lifted from my shoulders. Well chuffed. A real Only Fools and Horses moment followed when we got back in the car and I just started shouting my head off.
Other Gulls of note... - Iceland Gull (1 adult) - Yellow-legged Gull (1 possibly 2 adults) ...good shouts for probables but low light and no views of the legs either makes it that more difficult to call.
Nice to meet East Lancs birders Jack Morris and his mum who were scanning the Gulls with us from the football sports hall car park. A friend of his James was on the other side of the Res presumably stood with you Richard.
Also of note... The birders with Richard notified Jack Morris that they'd located another Iceland Gull, a 3rd cy of possible Kumlieni strain but we couldn't find it as it was getting a lot darker.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Saturday 21st of January 2017 07:32:26 PM
Fishmoor reservoir afternoon visit produced my long awaited and woefully shockingly overdue Glaucous gull (1st winter). Fantastic views at the start of dusk around 4pm though not close. Also an adult Iceland gull adult was seen though more distant. There was also a couple of potential (very likely) Yellow legged gulls but because it was soooo cold- all I could care about at the time was my lifer glaucous gull find. I'm nice and warm now- both outside and inside at heart! Thanks also to the local birders for the local input.....
__________________
Which bird is ideal for keeping cakes in? I asked. The answer: a Bun-tin.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/135715507@N06
-Great Northern Diver was still present on Rishton Reservoir early pm. It covered a large area underwater and as a result it kept popping up some 40-50ft away from where it initially dived. Watched it for half an hour or so before some boats came over from the sailing club and I lost it. I scanned the whole reservoir but it could well have relocated to Parsonage Res that Mark mentions.
Other birds of note... 2 Cormorant 2 Grey Wagtail 1 Curlew Few Meadow Pipits Few Sand Martins 1 Swallow
Juvenile Great Northern Diver still present this early afternoon on Parsonage Reservoir. Has been in the area since early December, initially frequenting nearby Rishton Reservoir but for the last six days has been on Parsonage. Both reservoirs a mile or so east and north east of the outskirts of Blackburn.
4 Waxwings on Monday and Tuesday. The sky on Monday was blue and Waxwings were looking very dapper. However, on Tuesday a lone Fieldfare flew in which was chased of by a Mistle Thrush and the former chased of a Blackbird. Mistle Thrush and Fieldfare stuck around, the former chasing off the Waxwings viciously. Both Thrushes, in fact all three gave very good views as they guzzled berries. A Sparrowhawk and 2 Peregrines gave good views. Surprising what you can see in and from a car park in the middle of a large town!
Managed a pit stop "home" this afternoon so I went to Fishmoor Reservoir.
After 45mins of scanning gulls and getting cold and wet I picked up a first winter Glaucous Gull on the roof of the Walker Steel site opposite the reservoir. Nice big brute of a bird - very impressive. There is a lot more satisfaction in finding a bird when you have had to work for it!
Fishmoor is a good spot for white-winged gulls - nearly all are found by Bill Aspin - see his blog at:
http://www.babb2.blogspot.com/
Mike
PS - Big Sam will turn us around - by the time Utd visit Ewood we will cane them!!!
, so much for my skills !!!
