digi-birder
Well-known member
We were going to have a trip to Fairburn Ings, but decided to stay local due to the weather forecast (it was wrong again, so we could have gone!).
Our first stop was Elsecar reservoir, near to where we would have been living had the house-move gone ahead. There were quite a few Mallard there, along with some dubious looking hybrids. Highlight of that place, though, was a female Goosander. No sign of any male. There were also a few Great Crested Grebes and Pochard.
Then we moved on to Broomhill Flash, a place we've never been to, despite it being close to Old Moor RSPB, which we've been to numerous times. As the car park was closed we parked in the entrance and were greeted by a small flock of Tree Sparrows. The first sighting from the hide overlooking the water was a huge flock of Canada Geese, among which were several strange looking hybrids. Then I spotted a Barnacle Goose and a few Greylags. Lots of Lapwing and some Teal and Shoveler and some Tufted Duck. Also the usual gathering of Black-headed Gulls. There were also a few Coot and Moorhens around.
It was quite a pleasant morning, even though nothing unusual spotted, then it was home for a light lunch, and a couple of glasses of red wine and preparing for our turkey dinner later on. Just us two, so nothing too exciting.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Our first stop was Elsecar reservoir, near to where we would have been living had the house-move gone ahead. There were quite a few Mallard there, along with some dubious looking hybrids. Highlight of that place, though, was a female Goosander. No sign of any male. There were also a few Great Crested Grebes and Pochard.
Then we moved on to Broomhill Flash, a place we've never been to, despite it being close to Old Moor RSPB, which we've been to numerous times. As the car park was closed we parked in the entrance and were greeted by a small flock of Tree Sparrows. The first sighting from the hide overlooking the water was a huge flock of Canada Geese, among which were several strange looking hybrids. Then I spotted a Barnacle Goose and a few Greylags. Lots of Lapwing and some Teal and Shoveler and some Tufted Duck. Also the usual gathering of Black-headed Gulls. There were also a few Coot and Moorhens around.
It was quite a pleasant morning, even though nothing unusual spotted, then it was home for a light lunch, and a couple of glasses of red wine and preparing for our turkey dinner later on. Just us two, so nothing too exciting.
Merry Christmas everyone.
