Pennington Flash

The deep freeze continues, and much of the flash was iced over. A female Goosander was about the best water bird, but the bird feeders were a buzz of activity, with about 15 Bullfinches, several Reed Buntings and perhaps 30 Robins.

Bullfinches (left) and Stock Dove.

Waxwings on ASDA car park

There has been a big Waxwing invasion this winter, with thousands of birds elsewhere in the country. Only a few meagre pickings here in St. Helens, but still, it was great to see a couple on ASDA car park, and these were my fourth self found sighting of the species in the past couple of months, so shouldn't complain really! Other birds seen around the town centre today, Raven, Peregrine and Grey Wagtail.

It's easy to moan about the dire conditions out there at the moment (still -11'C at 9am!), but it's already been a Christmas to remember for me, with such glorious picture postcard scenes everywhere, and great birds to be found, with Little Egret yesterday and Waxwings today both found on walks from my house.

Raven (left) and Peregrine (right)

St Helens tundra also known as Ravenhead Greenway. These Canada Geese should surely feel at home in the Arctic like conditions, or perhaps they've just gone soft since they arrived in the UK.

Little Egret on the coldest weekend of the year

If you had to give an example of one species of bird to prove that Global warming is happening, what would it be? I reckon most people would say Little Egret, an archetypal Mediterranean species which 30 years ago was very rare in the UK, 20 years ago was quite unusual yet by 2010 there were probably well over 1000 pairs breeding in the UK. It is probably the most dramatic and well known example of the effects of Global warming on UK wildlife. So what was a Little Egret doing flying over Berrington's Lane today, with the ground covered in snow and following a night when temperatures dipped to -16'C in Berrington's Lane?

It was a most wonderful sight, the sky was deep blue and the reflection of the snow on the bird made it almost glow as it flew overhead in the direction of Carr Mill Dam, with its yellow feet dangling behind it!

Below are a few photos from the weekend. The photos from Eccleston Mere were taken yesterday.

Blue bridge at Windle Hall (left). An umbellifer sp. is restored to flower by the snow (right)!

Berrington's Lane (left) and Pink-footed Geese over Eccleston Mere (right)

Eccleston Mere. The colours might just be black and white, but look at the tree on the right especially, what a wonderful pattern.

More from Eccleston Mere.

And more from Eccleston Mere.

Coots

Queens Park

Pink-footed Goose 100 flew over
Buzzard 1 flew over SW

Eccleston Mere

Water Rail 1 showing well in ditch in SW corner.

Waxwing, Lowton

One Waxwing flying calling over Dalesford Close Lowton first thing this morning, and later sat in a tree with Starlings.

Waxwing, Earlestown

One Waxwing flew calling over the Sankey Valley Industrial estate at 12:30 today.

Pied-billed Grebe and Great Northern Diver

Little and large! Great Northern Diver at Astbury Mere, Cheshire (left) and Pied-billed Grebe at Hollingworth Lake, near Rochdale (right). Both birds seen really well today, but no sign of the Woodlarks in Cheshire (though they were seen this morning).

Eccleston Mere

Willow Tit 2
Water Rail 1
Pochard 4

Kidney-spot Ladybird

Waxwings and Great Grey Shrike

After an initial sighting of a single Waxwing at Burnley cemetry this morning, we finally caught up with a large flock at Barrow near Clitheroe. This morning there were about 70 birds in the village, but by this afternoon the flock had grown to at least 108 birds, some of which were very obliging. In between our two visits to see these wonderful birds, we called in at nearby Waddington Fell and had good views of a Great Grey Shrike.

Leighton Moss

We had an excellent day at Leighton Moss. A pair of Bearded Tits showed well on the grit trays from the public causeway, and a Cetti's Warbler sang nearby, whilst at the Eric Morecombe hide there was a superb Great White Egret, along with several Little Egrets, 10 Greenshank and five Red-breasted Mergansers.


Bearded Tits

Great white Egret