Jane Turner
Well-known member
I was part way through typing an entry about how I'd missed a third new bird for the house and nearly messed up a skua ID, when I got a call to say I had another chance.
Apparently about 1.30 6 Grey geese landed on the beach between Hilbre and Bird Island and orange-legs could be seen from the island. They then got up and flew along the north Wirral Shore. Unaware of this I was driving back down the prom about to turn into the house, where I was surprised to see a skua flying towards to me, having caused havoc in the Gull roost. A heavy bellied dark phase juv bird - big wing flashes - it had to be a Pom.
I pulled up the drive and nipped in for some optics. The skua landed on the beach and poceeded to vomit profusely. I suspect that it had been gorging itself on the dead seal that has singularly failed to attract and ivory gull so far. I decided to take a wander out after it. A bad plan, since when I got close enough on the pack ice to see it, I was so cold I couldn't work the camera or see much through streaming eyes...though what I could see looked more like an Arctic Skua. I came back into the house, went upstairs and managed to operate a camera from inside the office! It still looks like an Arctic!
I was about to write this up when I got a call to see the 6 geese were heading my way. I went out into the back garden, and sure enough 6 grey geese came straight at me (with the sun behind them). They turned, and it became clear that there were two species, 4 Pinkies and two slightly larger and longer-necked birds. I was waiting for them to go over, so I could get some light on them, but they turned inland and dropped.
After an interesting cross-country off road experience, where I failed to find them, I eventually located a flock of about 20 geese half hidden down a dip in the middle of the Carrs. At least two of them were White-fronted Geese.
137/197
Apparently about 1.30 6 Grey geese landed on the beach between Hilbre and Bird Island and orange-legs could be seen from the island. They then got up and flew along the north Wirral Shore. Unaware of this I was driving back down the prom about to turn into the house, where I was surprised to see a skua flying towards to me, having caused havoc in the Gull roost. A heavy bellied dark phase juv bird - big wing flashes - it had to be a Pom.
I pulled up the drive and nipped in for some optics. The skua landed on the beach and poceeded to vomit profusely. I suspect that it had been gorging itself on the dead seal that has singularly failed to attract and ivory gull so far. I decided to take a wander out after it. A bad plan, since when I got close enough on the pack ice to see it, I was so cold I couldn't work the camera or see much through streaming eyes...though what I could see looked more like an Arctic Skua. I came back into the house, went upstairs and managed to operate a camera from inside the office! It still looks like an Arctic!
I was about to write this up when I got a call to see the 6 geese were heading my way. I went out into the back garden, and sure enough 6 grey geese came straight at me (with the sun behind them). They turned, and it became clear that there were two species, 4 Pinkies and two slightly larger and longer-necked birds. I was waiting for them to go over, so I could get some light on them, but they turned inland and dropped.
After an interesting cross-country off road experience, where I failed to find them, I eventually located a flock of about 20 geese half hidden down a dip in the middle of the Carrs. At least two of them were White-fronted Geese.
137/197
Re-count revealed 19.
