birdman
Орнитол&
As a trip to B&Q was necessitated, me and my good lady paid a swiftish visit to Old Moor on the way, to see if we could catch sight of ron's Jack Snipe that he mentioned yesterday.
It's been a while since I've been to Old Moor, and I had forgotten what a good place it is. Hard paths, big hides, play area for the kiddies and plenty of variety - it's certainly worth a look. Without wanting to sound like I am criticising the previous custodians, the arrival of the RSPB seems to have just given it a little extra oomph as well - or maybe it's the time of year.
Anyway, we only took a look at the feeding station, the Mere Hide and the Wader Scrape Hide (and about a minute in the Field Pool (?) Hide), and had quite a profitable time.
We were helped immensely by a couple of locals.
One gentleman in the Mere Hide gave us the opportunity of a few looks through his 'scope, and pointed us in the direction of a few of the birds. In return, we were able to locate the Bar-tailed Godwit, although without the aid of said 'scope, we wouldn't have been able to id it!
In the Wader Scrape, finding wasn't the problem, it was iding. But again, a more talented birder than either of us came to the rescue. Not long after our arrival in the hide, a tern arrived, shortly followed by two more. We had enough about to spot the black bill tip, and guess that it was Common, but we were still grateful to have this independently confirmed - and our "aid" had the good grace not to hit us with a big stick whilst we were scrabbling through the book, but just let us know the bill tip was diagnostic! He also helped us id the Dunlin as well - which again was challenging our abilities.
Anyway, we didn't get the Jack Snipe, unfortunately, but we still came away with a list of 41 birds. Not quite up to the standard of ron, who hit 50, but we did get 8 that ron missed out on, so if anyone has some time to dedicate to Old Moor, it looks like you could be well rewarded.
Our list follows...
Bar-Tailed Godwit
Black Headed Gull
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Canada Goose
Chaffinch
Common Tern
Coot
Cormorant
Dunlin
Gadwall
Great Crested Grebe
Great Tit
Greenfinch
Grey Heron
Greylag Goose
Jackdaw
Kestrel
Lapwing
Linnet
Little Ringed Plover
Mallard
Moorhen
Mute Swan
Oystercatcher
Pheasant
Pied Wagtail
Redshank
Reed Bunting
Ringed Plover
Robin
Ruddy Duck
Sparrowhawk
Starling
Stock Dove
Swallow
Swift
Tree Sparrow
Tufted Duck
Woodpigeon
Yellowhammer
It's been a while since I've been to Old Moor, and I had forgotten what a good place it is. Hard paths, big hides, play area for the kiddies and plenty of variety - it's certainly worth a look. Without wanting to sound like I am criticising the previous custodians, the arrival of the RSPB seems to have just given it a little extra oomph as well - or maybe it's the time of year.
Anyway, we only took a look at the feeding station, the Mere Hide and the Wader Scrape Hide (and about a minute in the Field Pool (?) Hide), and had quite a profitable time.
We were helped immensely by a couple of locals.
One gentleman in the Mere Hide gave us the opportunity of a few looks through his 'scope, and pointed us in the direction of a few of the birds. In return, we were able to locate the Bar-tailed Godwit, although without the aid of said 'scope, we wouldn't have been able to id it!
In the Wader Scrape, finding wasn't the problem, it was iding. But again, a more talented birder than either of us came to the rescue. Not long after our arrival in the hide, a tern arrived, shortly followed by two more. We had enough about to spot the black bill tip, and guess that it was Common, but we were still grateful to have this independently confirmed - and our "aid" had the good grace not to hit us with a big stick whilst we were scrabbling through the book, but just let us know the bill tip was diagnostic! He also helped us id the Dunlin as well - which again was challenging our abilities.
Anyway, we didn't get the Jack Snipe, unfortunately, but we still came away with a list of 41 birds. Not quite up to the standard of ron, who hit 50, but we did get 8 that ron missed out on, so if anyone has some time to dedicate to Old Moor, it looks like you could be well rewarded.
Our list follows...
Bar-Tailed Godwit
Black Headed Gull
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Canada Goose
Chaffinch
Common Tern
Coot
Cormorant
Dunlin
Gadwall
Great Crested Grebe
Great Tit
Greenfinch
Grey Heron
Greylag Goose
Jackdaw
Kestrel
Lapwing
Linnet
Little Ringed Plover
Mallard
Moorhen
Mute Swan
Oystercatcher
Pheasant
Pied Wagtail
Redshank
Reed Bunting
Ringed Plover
Robin
Ruddy Duck
Sparrowhawk
Starling
Stock Dove
Swallow
Swift
Tree Sparrow
Tufted Duck
Woodpigeon
Yellowhammer