To quote the legendary Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd, "All movement is accomplished in 6 stages, but the seventh brings return" In this case the blog is in three stages, starting with WOW which continues to produce the odd surprise amid a lot of new families. The biggest surprise was the feral barnacle goose I mentioned in the last blog, but there's always something to look for like the single knot which kept us guessing for a bit. Finally got a sandwich tern on the reserve, in fact there were 60+ which is a bit unusual. Also added Manx shearwater and meadow pipit to the NDCP list with a walk along the coastal path
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| Shelduck family |
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| Shoveler starting to eclipse |
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| Black-headed gull chicks |
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| Tufty pair |
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| Common tern |
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| Knot |
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| Med gull v black-headed gull |
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| Good year for BHG chicks |
The second stage is a twice postponed trip to the Gobbins and Muck Island, with all the expected gulls and auks. No stunning pictures, just nice scenes. Listwise I only added puffin and kittiwake, but I still managed 23 species and we found a peregrine nest with two chicks and not an adult in sight. Most odd and we are still searching for an explanation. A later boat trip did find an adult so all is well.  |
| Sandwich seeking herring gull |
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| Breeding auks |
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| Yes the weather was good. |
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| The views were good as well |
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| More guillemots |
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| How did we get that shot? |
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| Even closer!! |
The third stage was the trip across to Bolton to catch up with he family and the chance to visit the odd bird reserve now that I am more mobile and pain free. We had a trip to Burton Mere again and an amble round Elton Reservoir. Burton Mere gave stunning views of a great white egret and added spotted redshank and reed warbler to the list as well as singing Cetti's warbler, chiffchaffs and loads of avocets. Elton was relatively quiet with only singing willow warblers but it was dry enough to walk round the north side without needing wellies and that was nice. The feeders had a willow tit along with the usual multitude of goldfinches. All in all a very pleasant morning with the thermometer at 24 Celsius.
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| Elton reservoir |
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| Burton Mere |
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| Great white egret |
2024
139: Whitethroat
140: Kittiwake
141: Puffin
142: Spotted redshank
143:Reed warbler
144: Manx shearwater
NDCP
55: Meadow pipit
56: Manx shearwater
WOW
75: Sandwich tern
