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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ColinD" data-source="post: 1389608" data-attributes="member: 55409">24th January 2009 - Returning Pink-feetA great day to be out on the bike! Almost spring like.As I biked it down the Rainford bypass, it soon became obvious that there had been a build up of geese over the past week or so. There were several skeins in the air, and they all seemed to be heading towards, or leaving, Inglenook Farm. As I approached the farm, sure enough I could see birds landing on the field behind, but I was still surprised to see such a big flock, around 1600 birds I estimated. I guess that the build up is due to birds leaving Norfolk and heading back our way, so it's possible that we might see the rerturn of the Ross's Goose soon.Also at Inglenook Farm I heard my first Corn Bunting song of the new year. Good to see they're still around, and likewise the covey of 8 Grey Partridge I flushed from the side of a ditch. At least 200 Rooks fed in a field at the side of the bypass, with Jackdaws and Crows. Rooks are not particularly common birds in St Helens.There were plenty of Redwings and Fieldfares seeping and cackling across the mosslands today, and a flock of 200 Linnets was an impressive sight in Dairy Farm Road.I hadn't been at Eccleston Mere for more than 5 minutes when a deep croak overhead alerted me to two Ravens flying overhead, and as I watched, one bird flipped over almost onto it's back, almost as if it was displaying. A pair does breed in  St Helens, but I'm fairly sure that these are diferent birds.Less than two minutes later, an adult Peregrine appeared from the same direction and circled around for a bit, before heading off powerfully west. A wonderful sight against the bright blue sky.The was plenty of activity on a bird table in a garden which backs onto the mere, which included a nice selection of tits, including a single Willow Tit. This is a good news story. It took me 15 years to see  my first Willow Tit at the mere, but now I've seen them in each of the past five years. Hopefully they've now successfully colonised.Total birding miles by bike so far in 2009: 45 (3 bike rides)Number of miles since last puncture: 1132 </blockquote>

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