BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="ColinD" data-source="post: 1318890" data-attributes="member: 55409">26th October 2008 - Floods, Pinkies and Tree SparrowsIt was a real struggle on the bike today, but well worth it never the less! My route today took me to Carr Mill Dam, Kings Moss, Dairy Farm Road, Old Coach Road and back home along the East Lancs. It was a beautiful sunny start to the day, but torrential rain yesterday and overnight up until about 5am had turned the tracks and footpaths into swamps and the roads into rivers. At Kings Moss, a stream had burst its banks and poured down the road like rapids on a river, making biking extremely diffficult and wet. And by the time I reached Kings Moss, the wind had picked up to a brisk westerly, right into my face. A group of cyclists went past me, and one shouted out "drop down a few gears, it's a lot easier" - but I always bike everywhere in top gear, it's just a habit I've got into.I don't normally include Carr Mill Dam on my route, but following brief glimpses of a Firecrest yesterday, I called in for a second look. Plenty of Treecreepers here, and Goldcrests and Coal Tits.Then onto the mosslands. At Kings Moss there was a flock of about 1500 Pink-feet in a field, but despite the excellent light, I couldn't pick out anything different through my bins. Dairy Farm Road had about 500 Pinks on the ground, but as I neared the Old Coach Road, I saw a flock of about 2000 geese arriving from the north and heading for the Simonswood Moss roost. I watched them circle around, and then they started gliding down, and were lost to sight behind the trees. Further on down the Coach Road, there was a nice flock of about 40 Tree Sparrows in a hedge and dropping down to feed on the ground.When I reached the end of the Coach Road, I came to the East Lancs. To my right I could see Geese flying around, so I headed towards Liverpool for about 200 yards, and found a flock of about 1500 geese on fields to the south of the road. 120 Fieldfare here as well.So in total, probably about 5,500 Pink-feet today, and possibly a lot more hidden on Simonswood Moss. No sign of the Ross's Goose today, but I'm confident it's still in the area, since it's not been reported from elsewhere. Total birding miles by bike so far in 2008: 1057 (64 bike rides)Number of miles since last puncture: 1042 </blockquote>

Verification