Galgate, Day 5

Woke to a grey morning again for our journey home.  At least it's not yet raining and we are hoping to see red kite on the way home.  Over breakfast I managed to capture some images of out local grey wagtail outside the lounge window.  Despite the weather the journey home went well, stopping for lunch in Otley and managing to see some kites as we passed through Harewood.

Grey Wagtail

Galgate Day 4

A mixed morning of weather today; I initially dry and clear but soon clouding over and turning to light rain.  Before breakfast Linda pointed out a pair of grey wagtails on  the wall outside to lo ge window and a hare in the field.  This provided me with half an hour's amusement but it didn't result in any successful images as the light was too poor.

Eventually we girded our loins and set off for Dunsop Bridge in the forest of Bowland.  On the way over we were delighted to find a large flock of golden plover, many in handsome breeding plumage.  Our walk took us up the Dunsop Valley, attractive despite the low cloud and rain.  We were pleased to find 5 dippers including 2 pairs, one with a singing  male.  We also heard a yaffling green woodpecker and saw some smart stonechats.  We managed to find an old cowshed to have lunch before heading back down to the car into the rain.  It was pleasant to get  back to the warm cottage and a cup of tea.  After adding today's records to Bird Track it was with wry amusement to note that my list for the year stands at 99!

Galgate Day 3

We woke this morning to sun streaming in our bedroom window and a sharp frost. It was beautiful out, feeling really spring-like despite the frost.  A song thrush was singing and on the lake were 2 male and a female goosander.  I had the unusual experience of a brown hare run up to my feet in the car park before it saw me.

After breakfast and Peter's run we loaded up the car and and were quickly off the  motorway and driving  through Carnforth towards Leighton Moss RSPB reserve. Peter and I enjoyed an excellent couple of hours in the Eric Morecambe and Tim Allen hides overlooking Morecambe Bay and the saltmarsh.  Immediately in front of us were redshank feeding busily  and further out good numbers of black-tailed godwit and avocet.  Wigeon were present, their whistles carrying across the pools.  The evocative calls of curlew were wonderful to hear but the predominant sound was the cacophony from the large colony of black-headed gulls.  Moving to the Tim Allen hide we were fortunate to have closer views of the black-tailed godwits some of which  had already moulted into their handsome, rufous breeding plumage.

Soon it was time to meet up with Heather and Linda at the visitor centre for lunch before heading heading  out again to the Causway  and the distant Lower hides.  The highlights of this walk were the plentiful marsh tits and occasional  cetti's warblers.  The strident song of the cetti's would periodically explode from right next to the path.  We were unable to spot any of these skulking, reddish brown warblers, though, but they were stunning to hear.

Driving home I reflected contentedly on an excellent day.

Brown Hare

Brown Hare

Goosander, male.

Avocet and black-tailed godwit

Avocet

Avocet

Avocet

Black-tailed godwit

Black-tailed godwit

Black-tailed godwit

Bullfinch

Chaffinch

Cormorant

Cormorant

Great black backed gulls

Goosander, female

Goosander, female

Goosander, female

Jay

Marsh Tit

Oystercatcher

Redshank

Shoveler x cinnamon teal

Snipe

Snipe

Wigeon