[Jonny721]

Red Necked Grebe on Fairhaven Lake at 11:10 per Fylde Bird Club for anyone who hasn't heard

[Jonny721]

Managed to miss the Red Necked Grebe this evening at Fairhaven. Had to get the bus there from school but got there as the light was going so failed to locate it really hope it stays 2 more days

Am I the only one using this thread at the moment? Nobody else has posted this year so far

[seedyrom]

I have nothing to post!
I went to see the grebe late afternoon yesterday and had good views. Hope it stays around for you.

[Stephen Dunstan]

Originally Posted by Jonny721

Am I the only one using this thread at the moment? Nobody else has posted this year so far

40 divers off Starr Gate at lunchtime. Colin Bushell had a Green-Winged Teal at Hesketh Out Marsh today.

Stephen

[Jaff]

Originally Posted by Stephen Dunstan

40 divers off Starr Gate at lunchtime. Colin Bushell had a Green-Winged Teal at Hesketh Out Marsh today.

Stephen

I noticed the GWteal on the RBAMap and through a bit of deductive reasoning decided that's where it probably was seen but I just don't understand why that map consistently places some markers a considerable distance from the actual location! Gets very confusing.

I've been enjoying the garden birds too much to want to venture out and as I have a very spacious, well heated hide with tea-making facilities close to hand and got it all to myself to boot you can probably understand my decision.

[Neil UK]

Originally Posted by Jaff

I've been enjoying the garden birds too much to want to venture out and as I have a very spacious, well heated hide with tea-making facilities close to hand and got it all to myself to boot you can probably understand my decision.

Now this I can agree with.

For me a possible Goldcrest in my garden of all places. Then again not to far from Stanley Park so a high possibility it was, need to spend alot of the weekend keeping my eyes on the garden again..... plus my 4 week old daughter.

Holme Road in Preston walking up the Ribble yesterday brought 2 x Jays, 8 x Redwings, 2 large flocks of Long Tailed Tits, 8 x Magpies and 10 x Teal. Nice little area to walk that.

[lalows2]

Originally Posted by Neil UK

Now this I can agree with.

For me a possible Goldcrest in my garden of all places. Then again not to far from Stanley Park so a high possibility it was, need to spend alot of the weekend keeping my eyes on the garden again..... plus my 4 week old daughter.

Holme Road in Preston walking up the Ribble yesterday brought 2 x Jays, 8 x Redwings, 2 large flocks of Long Tailed Tits, 8 x Magpies and 10 x Teal. Nice little area to walk that.

Surveyed that area for the Lancs Atlas and it was quite productive. Did a BBS around Cop Lane and the park for several years that was pretty good too.

D

[Stephen Dunstan]

Originally Posted by Neil UK

Now this I can agree with.

For me a possible Goldcrest in my garden of all places. Then again not to far from Stanley Park so a high possibility it was, need to spend alot of the weekend keeping my eyes on the garden again..... plus my 4 week old daughter.

Even in Blackpool if you have a tree in your garden you will get the odd Goldcrest drop by. I think I have had them in all the Blackpool tetrads I do for the Atlas in 1s or 2s.

Stephen.

[WyreWader]

Originally Posted by Jonny721

Am I the only one using this thread at the moment? Nobody else has posted this year so far

Been depressed since going back to work on Tuesday, was a HUGE lottery win really too much to ask Santa for?

Sightings of note for me since New Years day have been, Bittern on NY day @ Marton Mere.

Buzzard, Sparrowhawk & 2 x Water Rail on 03/01/11 @ Marton Mere

Red-necked Grebe on 04/01 & 05/01 @ Fairhaven Lake

photos attached

Cheers

Cliff

[Neil UK]

Stephen is there a list to what the BTO has listed for sighting in Blackpool?

Looking more likely it is a Goldcrest then.....happy days!!!

Awesome pics again Cliff, one day ill see my local Bittern!!!

Off to Fairhaven at lunch for the Red Necked Grebe, so if you see a lonely man pushing a green pram stop and say hi as that will be me and my baby daughter on our first spotting outing together.

[Stephen Dunstan]

Originally Posted by Neil UK

Stephen is there a list to what the BTO has listed for sighting in Blackpool?

Neil,

Yes there is. If you go on the Atlas website (you may have to register if you haven't) you can request 10 summaries each day. You can ask for a whole 10km square or individual 2km x 2km tetrads. You have to stipulate winter or summer, but you could search on each to get a complete list for the tetrad you live in (for example).

Regards,

Stephen.

[Rob Smallwood]

Grebe still present & showing yesterday although we managed to arrive in a Blizzard!

[Rob Smallwood]

L-e Owls still showing well at Marton Mere

[chris23565]

Missed out on the R b Goose today, but managed some great views of the Red-necked Grebe at Fairhaven.

[gradders52]

I see Brockholes Nature Reserve is on BBC Countryfile, 7pm Sunday 9th January (and often repeated during the week, or available on iplayer if you miss it).
g

[Johnny1]

Originally Posted by Rob Smallwood

Grebe still present & showing yesterday although we managed to arrive in a Blizzard!

Great shots Rob and of the LEO.

[Jonny721]

Originally Posted by chris23565

Missed out on the R b Goose today, but managed some great views of the Red-necked Grebe at Fairhaven.

Same as me today, going to have another look tomorrow for the goose

[Neil UK]

Thanks Stephen will give it a look. Went on babies first spotting mission and had a great view of red necked grebe which was no less than 3 metres from the edge ot Fairhaven lake. Got some nice shots which will add at somepoint.

Also went back for a walk with wife and baby today and the red necked grebe is still there.

[SiG]

The Fylde was the place to be on the west coast this weekend. Lots of people working it over! My video diary is here

[Sandra (Taylor)]

c45 waxwings on the berry trees at the far side of James Hargreaves' carpark opp bottom Towneley gates, Burnley. A mistle thrush was guarding the trees so the waxwings would fly off into trees near Britannia Inn (?) intermittently. We saw them 11.00ish yet half an hour later our son didn't see any at all and he had two tries (before and after trip to Tescos).

....... but this siting was my reward for missing the ones at Milnrow a couple of days earlier............

[Jaff]

Was at Martin Mere yday and the Water Rail was out on the ice in front of Janet Kear again although didn't see it myself and the Whitefronts were viewable from UU again.

[Nick Smith]

I was wondering what the local opinion is on the rbgoose. I've noticed that BBRC have never accepted one in Lancs (nearest record is Cumbria). Has there been one knocking around this summer/recently and what about its 1w status? What are the thoughts?

[Stephen Dunstan]

Originally Posted by Nick Smith

I was wondering what the local opinion is on the rbgoose. I've noticed that BBRC have never accepted one in Lancs (nearest record is Cumbria). Has there been one knocking around this summer/recently and what about its 1w status? What are the thoughts?

Local opinion is probably what local opinion anywhere would be these days:

- it's definitely wild
- there's no way of knowing
- it's definitely an escape

No there hasn't been one knocking around this summer. It isn't immediately evident how a first winter would end up in with Pinkfeet. Red-breasted Goose did breed in the 'wild' in the UK this year but apparently on dates it isn't one of that brood. It is the kind of record where 'unknown origin' means just that but if I had to come off the fence I would say it is an escape which would have to be from a successful captive pairing.

Stephen

[Tao Wild]

Originally Posted by SiG

The Fylde was the place to be on the west coast this weekend. Lots of people working it over! My video diary is here

Thanks for sharing your video. Enjoyed it.

[SiG]

Thanks, Tao!