Iain was at mine for 5:30 am and after the obligatory caffeine fix at Killington Lake we had crossed over the Cumbrian border into North Lancashire by 8:30 am. I am always taken by this part of Lancashire, the rolling countryside with its lanes and hedges are very attractive. It is not densely populated yet it is close enough to main centres to make it 'not too remote' for a city boy like me.
The morning, although warm was hazy and this persuaded us to do the main reserve rather than going down to the Allen Pools where the visibility might be compromised. Obviously, the more ruthless approach would have been to examine the tide tables and let them dictate when it was best to do the Pools. I am however, never that organised, but as luck would have it, it proved to be the correct decision.
The reedbed on both sides of the causeway was positively alive with both Reed & Sedge Warbler. It does take my ear a few seconds to get in tune with the rhythm of the two songs. They are not particularly alike, but if you haven't heard them for 9 months, a momentary pause just to get them sorted in your head is necessary.
On reaching the Public Hide our ears were accosted by the screams of the Black Headed Gull colony.
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| 'Chocolate' Headed Gull |
We soon saw our first Marsh Harrier of the day, much earlier than I had expected. I had anticipated perhaps by late morning once the thermals had started to rise. This bird was a female and was in the process of collecting nest material. Indeed we saw both male and female Marsh Harriers very well throughout the morning.
Other notables included Pochard, Gadwall and Great Crested Grebe. A couple of Great Black Backed Gulls were also present.
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| Mr Menace |
A male Pheasant was on the path that goes up towards the campsite and looked resplendent in the morning sun. Keen to take a photograph I was soon set up in the hope of capturing it before it disappeared into the undergrowth. Instead, it walked towards us and led us through the gate towards the path that leads to the Lower Hide. It was just too close to digiscope. Finally however, it cooperated and moved far enough away to allow me to take this:
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| Phwoar ....... Wot a Stunner ! |
The walk down towards the Lower hide allowed us to contrast and compare many of the different Warbler songs including Willow, Chiffchaff and many Blackcaps. Reed & Sedge continued to be heard from the reedbed.
The Lower Hide provided us with more stunning views of Marsh Harrier along with Great Crested Grebes and a single 1st Summer male Goldeneye. On leaving the hide I located a Marsh Tit and indeed we saw several of these birds as we walked through the woodland towards the road. A Green Woodpecker called distantly and I thought I heard a Swift but dismissed it on the grounds that it was 'far too early'. It was far from 'too early' because we soon connected with c8 Swifts over the main pool as we reached the road.
We were soon round at the Visitors Centre and a check of the feeding station produced a good view of a Nuthatch along with yet another Marsh Tit. The Nuthatch came twice to the same feeder in quick succession. Thinking that I was in with a decent chance of a shot I quickly set up and waited. Five minutes soon became ten and with no further sign I gave up.
A quick look at the Reserve sightings board confirmed that a Med Gull was in with the Black Headed Gulls from Lillian's Hide and that the Garganey remained from Grizedale. The latter was obviously an opportuinity for me to dip Garganey twice in a week !
Iain 'The Gull Guru' soon found one of the Meds. However, before I had time to even blink, one of them promptly flew off leaving its 'other half' to defend its territory amongst the throng of Black Headed Gulls.
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| Adult Med Gull......... check the eye liner ! |
It was soon time to 'dip the Garganey' and indeed we did. No amount of scanning and praying would prize even the merest hint of a flash of white supercilium from behind whichever bank he was giggling from. To confound matters, the 'expected' Bearded Tits and Bitterns were neither heard nor seen and we had to content ourselves with a 'showy' Sedge Warbler. The Tim Jackson hide was looking straight into the sun and as such we soon decided that the Allen Pools via the shop would be a better bet.
My fat balls have been proving very popular with the birds of late. I am of course referring to feeding my feathered friends in the garden. The other interpretation is certainly not very likely, certainly not of late and if it did happen it would have been some 3 stones ago. There is a good shop at Leighton Moss that stocks a good range of bird food. I normally buy the fat balls in packets of 4 and they go in no time. Today, however, on the production of a tenner I am the proud owner of whole box of 50. The birds will be pleased !
The Allen Pools can sometimes be a hit or a miss, particularly if you don't consult tide tables. However, on arrival, the number of cars in the car park indicated a degree of promise that things might be good. The sound of nearby Redshanks also added to the impression. On the way down to the hide my first Whitethroat of the Summer showed well and we could hear a Lesser Whitethroat "rattling" from further along the bank.
The Pools were indeed good, with a good number of Avocets and a smartly dressed Spotshank and a large flock of Black Tailed Godwits.
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| Avocet |
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| And another.................................. |
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| You Guessed It |
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| Not an Avocet |
On leaving the Allen Hide we soon connected with the Lesser Whitethroat. A nice view as it moved through a hawthorn showing its mask as it went.
The Eric Morecambe Hide gave us a bonus in the form of 11 Whimbrel, calling as they flew over as well as some Wigeon, Shelduck, Gadwall etc.
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| Shelduck |
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| Gadwall Pair |
Avocets had been particularly evident from the Allen Hide with many calling their characteristic 'Cluut'. The ones from this hide could barely be heard over my rumbling tum that was in dire need of some feeding. The thought of my 104th yoghurt of the week or indeed my remaining jaffa cakes were unlikely to 'hit the spot', and so a diversion into darkest Carnforth to find a Chip Shop was required. My 'legendary navigational skills' quickly found one such establishment and after refuelling we quickly found our way to Warton Crags.
We soon found a Peregrine, which had apparently recently lost its 4 eggs............... stolen by the Ravens, that also had a nest on the Crag.
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| Peregrine - looking for revenge on a Raven |
All in all it had been a teriffic day spent almost in its entirety at one location. I felt that we had done the site full justice, kept car time to a minimum and of course saw lots of birds.
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