Denbigh Moors, North Wales

I was out on the Denbigh moors this morning checking out the extent of an area of moorland for a local farmer, when a ghostly male hen harrier drifted past at close range. It was no more than about 30m away when suddenly it dropped down after prey, but missed and then carried on its way.  Such great views of male harriers are always special, and it was a pleasure to be on the moors on such a lovely sunny day, especially following the downpour of yesterday afternoon.

Appleton Reservoir, Warrington

Gadwall 24

Tufted duck 20

Shoveler 1 male

Black Spleenwort, St Helens

Whilst pulling out a few weeds from the wall today, I came across this fern which I didn't recognise. It's very leathery with large brown sori (spore producing structures) on the underside. Following a bit of research it turns out it's black spleenwort Asplenium adiantum-nigrum, which amazingly is a species I've managed to avoid seeing in the past, and is therefore unsurprisingly the first I have seen in St Helens. I suppose it does occur elsewhere in the borough, but not if you believe the NBN Gateway, which has no records of the species in St Helens.

Not bad, a new species for me and possibly St Helens whilst weeding! It just goes to show that it's always worth keeping your eyes open even in the most unlikely circumstances. This takes my wall fern list to five, the others being maidenhair spleenwort, hart's-tongue fern, wall rue and male fern. The black spleenwort is still there by the way, but I'm surpressing the exact location because I don't want a mass twitch.......

Eccleston Mere

Snipe 2

Pochard 2 males

Pink footed goose 70 over north

Little grebe 2

Tufted duck 35

Redwing 10

Goldfinch 100

Goldcrest 1
Kingfisher 1
Grey wagtail 1

Mute swan 3

Good to see a couple of snipe in the fields, but nothing like the numbers of a couple of years ago when there were also a few jack snipe. The fields where much wetter then though.
 

I'm in the middle of some serious decorating at the moment, finished the hall, stairs and landing last week, half way through the yard this weekend (painted walls - yuk!) and still have the kitchen to do. Hence the lack of exciting birding recently, but normal service will be resumed soon (not soon enough!).

Southern Scotland

Jack snipe 3
Snipe 40

Wet heath. The yellow / green shrub is bog mrtyle.

Red Grouse, Winter Hill

I just found this photo on my camera of a red grouse on Winter Hill from a few weeks ago.

Appleton Reservoir, Warrington

Shoveler 7 (4 males)

Gadwall 29

Tufted duck 8

Appleton Reservoir, Warrington

Gadwall 6

Redwing 10

Kingfisher 1

Grey wagtail 1

Tufted duck 6

Mute swan 2

Eccleston Mere

Willow tit 1 in SW corner

Tufted duck 22

Coot 154

Black headed gull 150

Herring gull 20

Lesser black back gull 1

Treecreeper 1

Just a quick look around the mere today and not much has changed, except that there was a relatively large number of gulls on the water.

Appleton Reservoir, Warrington

Gadwall 14

Tufted duck 10

Grey wagtail 1

Mute swan 2 adults

Redwing 2 over

A big drop in duck numbers over the past few days, and not even the excitement of winter thrushes passing over in numbers today. 

Appleton Reservoir, Warrington

Pink-footed goose 150 over west
Fieldfare 50 over south
Redwing 100
Grey wagtail 3
Bullfinch 3+
Gadwall 20
Shoveler 2 (m&f)
Tufted duck 10
Little grebe 1