Zim Girl's 4th Big Year 2021

[Galana]

30 minutes ago, Zim Girl said:

are you identifying it from the shape of the yellow pouch? 

Not really. I just think the amount of white on the nape etc., was more than normal in the Atlantic Ssp. Quite striking.

[michael-ibk]

Stanley Park, what a productive outing for you, well done! 

[Zim Girl]

The last half of February was really slow birding wise but I have made up a bit of ground in the last week.

A real mixed bag coming up here!

 

First was a short trip to the coast, to a spot where I am normally able to find Twite at this time of year.  Unfortunately they were not playing ball on this occasion so a walk along the estuary path gave me these instead.

 

27.  Common Redshank

Knott End, Lancashire Coastal Way  -  01/03/21

 

[Zim Girl]

28.  Eurasian Curlew

Knott End, Lancashire Coastal Way  -  01/03/21

 

[Zim Girl]

These birds have become very common in a number of the local coastal areas where we walk.  Often seen in small groups in the surrounding fields as well.

 

29.  Little Egret

Cockers Dyke, Lancashire Coastal Way  -  01/03/21

[Zim Girl]

30.  Eurasian Oystercatcher

Knott End, Lancashire Coastal Way  -  01/03/21

 

[Zim Girl]

The next day we took a walk on the other side of the coast to see if we could find the two missing birds I had wanted from the other week.  This time we were in luck. But first a large group of Oystercatchers flew down on the beach in front of us.  

 

 

You can spot the bird I was after in the next picture.

 

And one with them on their own.

 

31.  Common Ringed Plover

Rossall Point  -  02/03/21

 

[Zim Girl]

These are the other ones I wanted.

 

32.  Sanderling

Flushed by a walker on the beach.

Rossall Point  -  02/03/21

 

 

[Zim Girl]

Then a bonus bird on the way back to the car.

 

33.  Common Linnet

Rossall Point  -  02/03/21

 

 

[Zim Girl]

Next we drove over to a nearby marsh that also has a couple of large pools.

 

A duplicate first, as this female Shoveler looked glorious in the afternoon sunlight.

Fleetwood Marsh  -  02/03/21

 

[Zim Girl]

34.  Canada Goose

 

Fleetwood Marsh  -  02/03/21

 

[Zim Girl]

The highlight was a Great Crested Grebe in summer plumage.

 

35.  Great Crested Grebe

 

 

Fleetwood Marsh  -  02/03/21

 

[Zim Girl]

On Saturday we went to the more northerly end of the Lancashire Coastal Way.  We had only just driven out of the village when we saw a Barn Owl flying low over the road in front of us.  It flew into a field and I jumped out to see if I could get a bit closer to it.  Luckily there was a public footpath running down the side of the field and I was able to keep cover behind the hedge until I came to a gate.  I carefully looked round it and saw the owl was sitting with his back to me on a post.  He may have been eating something, then he jumped off onto the ground facing me.  Still just a bit too far away to get a really good picture but just to see a Barn owl is always special.

 

36.  Barn Owl

 

Fields outside home village  -  06/03/21

 

[Zim Girl]

There is a pool just before you reach the coastal path that is always worth checking.  Usually the birds are too far away on a small island but sometimes you can get lucky.

This Shelduck was swimming past.  The light was poor but these ducks always tend to be a long way off when I see them so I took it anyway.

 

37.  Common Shelduck

Conder Pool  -  06/03/21

[Zim Girl]

Walking past some fields this crow stayed long enough for a photo.

 

38.  Carrion Crow

Glasson Dock  -  06/03/21

 

[Zim Girl]

Walking along the Lancaster Canal gave us a cooperative Goosander pair.

 

39.  Goosander

Female

Male

Lancaster Canal  -  06/03/21

 

[Zim Girl]

There are usually swans to be found along the canal and it is nice to find them outside of the parks.  I have included a couple from an earlier park visit though,  just because the light was so much better.

 

40.  Mute Swan

Lancaster Canal  -  06/03/21

 

 

 

 

Edited March 9, 2021 by Zim Girl

[Zim Girl]

We got very excited about the next one.  This is the closest we have ever been to this bird.  Normally they are a smudge in the distance but this one was hiding under the branches on the other side of the canal.

 

41.  Little Grebe

Lancaster Canal  -  06/03/21

 

 

 

[Zim Girl]

Finally, my favourite picture of the day.  Another bird that is normally tricky to get.  I saw one first high up in a tree in the dark, but then Adrian found another low down in a different tree.

 

42.  Eurasian Treecreeper

Near Aldcliffe Marsh  -  06/03/21

 

[Soukous]

You've been a busy girl

[TonyQ]

Wow, you are racing along. Beautiful additions - a lovely Treecreeper and an excelent sighting (and photo) of the Barn Owl.

[Galana]

Very busy and what a great sighting of the Barn Owl.

Just as well you were not needing that (ahem) female Shoveller coz it ain't like no Shoveller that I have ever seen..Nice light though.

[Peter Connan]

Lovely additions!

[Zim Girl]

12 hours ago, Galana said:

Very busy and what a great sighting of the Barn Owl.

Just as well you were not needing that (ahem) female Shoveller coz it ain't like no Shoveller that I have ever seen..Nice light though.

 I jumped to that conclusion because it was swimming near a male shoveler, although looking at it I am still not sure I know what it is!!!

Do you want to enlighten me, please?

[Galana]

1 hour ago, Zim Girl said:

 I jumped to that conclusion because it was swimming near a male shoveler, although looking at it I am still not sure I know what it is!!!

Do you want to enlighten me, please?

Happy to do so. "She" is the wildfowl equivalent of the "Town Pigeon." Just a mixed species mongrel of various matings between domestic ducks and maybe Mallard who as we know are hardly the role model of Avian celibacy. The fact that she may have been consorting with a male Shoveller just shows it runs in the family.