I watched the egrets going to roost from 4pm. I managed 36 little egrets, I may of missed some as some may of come in from another direction. I didn't miss the 7 cattle egrets that flew in all together though
At least 12 little grebes 4 goldeneye Hundreds of coots 85+ mute swans
1 song thrush 85+ coot 37 mute swan, including a few good sized cygnets 1 little grebe 2 common sandpiper 1 oystercatcher 3 little egret 65+ herring gull
Look on the lake when on my way to Marshside this morning:
2 pied wagtail 4 moorhen 7 coot 2 tufted duck Plenty of greylag and Canada geese 48 mute swan, including one with the blue darvic 4CHX 2 great crested grebe 2 common sandpiper 2 oystercatcher 120+ herring gull 2 great black-backed gull
there was also 2 red-crested pochard, a pair the female looked like a female but the male did not have the orange crown or brown on the back, they were black, it had the red bill & they were actually eating bread being fed to them with the mallards./>
Apparently these are both red-crested pochard x mallard hybrids. Richard Else has posted a photo of a pair which fits your description to the hybrid group of flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/134808749@N03/31351757326/in/pool-hybridbirds/ I hope this helps, Joel.
-- Edited by Joel Tragen on Saturday 7th of January 2017 11:19:41 PM
there was also 2 red-crested pochard, a pair the female looked like a female but the male did not have the orange crown or brown on the back, they were black, it had the red bill & they were actually eating bread being fed to them with the mallards./>
Apparently these are both red-crested pochard x mallard hybrids. Richard Else has posted a photo of a pair which fits your description to the hybrid group of flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/134808749@N03/31351757326/in/pool-hybridbirds/ I hope this helps, Joel.
-- Edited by Joel Tragen on Saturday 7th of January 2017 11:19:41 PM
from 2.30pm, I bumped into a chap that said a flock of twite were feeding on the beach & there was only about 50 of them. when I went to look a very large flock of small birds were flying around & I estimated at least 200 birds in the flock. when they landed on the concrete slope & beach a look & count of at least 200 twite & at least 30 linnets were feeding. some shots attached in the murky conditions.
on the marine lake..
at least 15 little grebe 8 gadwall hundreds of coots herring gulls, black headed gulls, 1 great black backed gull there was also 2 red-crested pochard, a pair the female looked like a female but the male did not have the orange crown or brown on the back, they were black, it had the red bill & they were actually eating bread being fed to them with the mallards. from 4-4.45pm I counted 1 cattle egret & 23 little egret going to roost.
200 Twite flying to and fro between the marsh and the roof of the W.Lancashire Yacht Club, seemed to be drinking from puddles on the roof. Seemed to be all Twite for us although we had seen plenty of Linnet at Marshside on the sandworks.
Roger
-- Edited by Roger Baker 3 on Thursday 5th of January 2017 08:43:02 PM
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Blessed is the man who expecteth little reward ..... for he shall seldom be disappointed.
I gave the area a quick visit, there was about at least 100 twites with a larger number (say 150) of linnets. These were going to and fro between southport pier and the marine boat club car park to drink from a puddle. There was also 3 peregrines having a dispute between them that was passing over close. A report at Marshside was a red breasted goose had turned up with pink footed geese. I had a quick look and they were very distant. With having no scope and no luck finding it i decided to call it a day. So that's my report for now. Thanks....
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Which bird is ideal for keeping cakes in? I asked. The answer: a Bun-tin.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/135715507@N06
A scout over the lake this morning on my way to Marshside:
1 meadow pipit over 1 grey wagtail 4 skylark over 1 kingfisher 4 moorhen 90+ coot 6 gadwall 38+ mute swan 3 little grebe 40+ black-headed gull 3 lesser black-backed gull 130+ herring gull 2 great black-backed gull
Coming back late afternoon:
2 pied wagtail 2 (pretty sure, though not seen together) kingfisher, both giving excellent views perched up. Only one little egret seen coming in to roost. Peregrine over, which was a great end to the day.
here with phil Kelly. slavonian grebe showing well inbetween the 2 islands but disappeared when the boats came out. came back later for the egret roost 54 little egrets, 1 great white egret, slavonian grebe still in the same area
no signs of the great northern diver this afternoon/eve. guillemot still around the north end but constantly moving then disappeared around the islands. stayed for the egret roost, 37 little egrets inc 2 great white egrets. a kittiwake was also reported today & yesterday, also a little gull.
great northern diver showing well despite the rough water & continuously diving mostly at the north end until dusk when it starting preening close to one of the islands.
6 little grebes
1 grey heron
I manged 50 little egrets + 1 great white egret going to roost
hundreds of cormorants
hundreds, maybe thousands of pink footed geese over
had a little nosey on the beach opposite before watching the egret roost & managed to see 100+ flock of mostly twite with several linnets amongst them, lots of skylarks & shelducks, close views of 2 bar tailed godwits.
