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

Galgate Day 1/2

What a beautiful day for our trip to Galgate.  Cloudless skies and pleasant 10C temperature. The journey through the Dales went well with only a stop for pack-up (egg sandwiches, yum) and a visit to Booth's at Ilkley for supplies.  Peter and Lin were already installed when we arrived but we were soon settled in and enjoying a cup of tea.

We woke on Monday morning to grey skies and heavy rain but we are hoping that it will clear up enough to get out.  We finally began to move by late morning and as we were loading the cars we had great views of a male goosander on the lake in front of the cottages.  Pity the weather was so putrid, the photographs were rubbish; maybe it will still be there tomorrow morning when the weather is due to be sunny.  Excitement over, we set of for Heysham and the ancient rock cut graves but first heading for Sunderland Point for some birdwatching as the tide ebbed.  Heather and I had never approached by the tidal causeway before and today under lowering skies and drizzle, with the tide only just clear of the rough, silt coated road, it was a wild place.  Once over we sat on the edge of the village for a while bird watching from the car. We only managed 13 species but it was a relaxing half hour.

By the time we arrived in the old village of Heysham it was raining steadily and bleak to say the least.  The old chapel and rock cut graves on the headland was a wild, dreary scene today, but fascinating nonetheless.  The massed purple crocuses in the churchyard were spectacular and would have made for an excellent image in brighter light.

Time to return to the cottage for lunch after which Heather and I opted to stay in with books and sewing while Peter and Linda went down the the local garden centre.

In the evening Thomas and Katy came round for meal; a wet but pleasant first day.

Redshank in rather gloomy conditions.

Shelduck

White-tailed Lapwing

 A trip to Winters today to look for the white-tailed lapwing while it was still there.  The weather was challenging to say the least: 4C, strong NW winter and continuous wintry squalls sweeping over.  None the less we found the lapwing where we expected by the wind pump of the marsh.  Although it was busily feeding when we arrived it spent a great deal of time sheltering behind the rushes out of the wind.  It was quite distant and too far away for successful photography but I was pleased with some record shots.  Although we didn't move far away from the pit, we did manage to find 35 species plus a roe deer buck so a successful day.

To view large, please click on an image.

Burton Agnes Snowdrops and an Early Trip to Bempton

 After an overnight frost, we pulled up into Burton Agnes Hall car park in bright, clear sun at 11.00 am.  We had come with friends Brian and Heather to visit the magnificent snowdrop walk.  As usual the woodlands were thick with them and the main challenge for me was to select compositions from the mass.  Soon it was time to indulge in some lunch before heading off to Bempton.  Although it is early for a first visit, there is always a frisson on anticipation.  Gannets were plentiful, but none on the cliffs; they were all gliding past.  Fulmars, on the other hand, were on the cliffs but perching under overhangs and ledges and out of site as they so often do.  They were indulging in their usual pastime though flying out over the sea in a loop before swooping back in out of site and challenging the photographer to lock on in that brief moment when they are visible.  Feral pigeons were plentiful but I could see no rock doves among them.  Brian and I wandered along to join the twitchers looking for the lapland buntings, but we arrived late on in the afternoon when they weren't cooperating.  Back at the visitor centre there were large numbers of tree sparrows at the feeding station but the light was now very poor so photography was difficult.

All too soon it was time to take our leave but we had the pleasure of fish and chips at Papa's on the way home to look forward to.

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Fulmar

Tree Sparrow

Snowdrops, Aconites and Feeding Station

 I made two visits to Scallows on 8th and 10th of February, to top up the feeders, photograph at the feeding station and to photograph the snowdrops and aconites.  The 8yh was mild and sunny at 12C after a dull start, whereas 10th was cooler at only 7C with excellent light later.  The snow drops and aconites were in their prime and looking their best.  I enjoyed a happy hour photographing them.  Pottering about birding after photographing the snowdrops, I was delighted to disturb a sparrowhawk at John and Judith's feeders.  It was good both days to hear the great spotted woodpecker drumming.  Although I didn't see either the male or female at the feeding station I could hear them nearby.  There are at least two nuthatches coming to the feeding station and they are very bold and confiding.  Long-tailed tits were present but only two.

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Aconites

Aconites

Aconites

The Wood

Snowdrops and Aconites

Snowdrops

The Wood

The Wood

The Wood

The Wood

Snowdrops

Snowdrops

Snowdrops

Snowdrops

Snowdrops and Aconites

Snowdrops

Snowdrops

Blue Tit

Blue Tit

Long-Tailed Tit

Long-Tailed Tit

Long-Tailed Tit

Nuthatch

Nuthatch

Nuthatch

Robin