Potteric Carr
I wasn't planning on blogging yesterday's trip to Potteric Carr, partly because it was "only" an opportunity for a stroll, and also because, with a couple of days off work, tomorrow and Tuesday, I am expecting to go there again for some "proper" birding, and I don't want to repeat myself too much.
But the presence of one of Potteric's specialities means I feel compelled, in case I miss out next time.
So, as a bit of brain-relaxation after four months of especially intense work, my good lady suggested a walk there with my daughter, picking up a bite of lunch on arrival, and popping over for coffee and cake at Thornton's at the end.
It's five months since my last visit, and Sedum House (the new function centre) is fully open... very posh! So having figured out how to get in, the three of us made our way to the cafe at the Field Centre.
There was nothing on the feeders at that time, but three Jackdaws were strutting close by.
A Magpie flew across the path ahead of us, and a couple of Goldfinches were flitting in the trees.
As we made our way past the site of the old (no longer present) Decoy Hide, were heard and saw a few Blue Tits and partnyorsha caught sight of a Robin.
Walking along the path beside the railway lines, we saw the first of five or six Bullfinches.
Bullfinches are one of my favorite birds, because they are a bit unusual. They're by no means particularly rare, and I would probably see them just about every day at Potteric, but they are certainly more elusive than most other finches. As a kid, they were amongst the group of birds I never thought I'd see... so a Bullfinch day is always a good day!
My daughter, who had actually spotted (although not ided) the first Bullfinch, spotted a rabbit, and whilst I was looking at that through my trusty, but aged binocs, I saw the head and neck of a reclusive Pheasant in the shrubbery.
Great Tits were also in the trees, and we could now see onto the first pool from the path. The light was a little difficult, but we could easily make out Coot, Wigeon and Mute Swan, and a Grey Heron was perched at the edge of the reeds.
My daughter again got her spotting eyes working and found and ided some Long-tailed Tits.
We arrived at the cafe as a noisy Blackbird charged through the undergrowth!
After relieving the cafe of two bacon butties and bowl of vegetable soup, we continued our stroll. As time wasn't on our side, but equally as we didn't want to rush round at a sprint, we decided just to take a walk up to Piper Marsh hide, call in at the new Hawthorn Hide, and then retrace our steps back to the car (and on to Thornton's!)
We got excellent views of a Treecreeper, and then saw a Moorhen on one of the ditches.
A Carrion Crow (or six) flew over, and we had many more encounters with previously mentioned woodland birdies.
We arrived at Piper Marsh hide, which, not surprisingly at this time of year, was quite full. The Marsh itself brought us Mallard, Gadwall, Black-headed Gull, Shelduck and Shoveler, but best of all, and many thanks to the kind birder who had his scope fixed on the skulking star, we were able to get long distance, highly-camouflaged, but nonetheless unmistakable views of one of the site's Bitterns.
We spent about ten minutes in the hide (fly-by-nights, eh?) before we had to move on.
As I mentioned, we called in at the Hawthorn Hide, and spent perhaps twenty minutes or so watch the wheeling flocks of Lapwings and another wader. Someone who briefly entered the hide ided them as Dunlin, but although I'm rubbish at waders, and therefore perhaps not qualified to argue... I don't think he was right. We figured they were winter-plumaged Golden Plover, but not enough to claim such or type them in red!
(Edit 29/01/07: After some checking of various books and reconsideration, I am happy to now type Golden Plover in red. In comparison to the size of the Starlings and the Lapwings, they were just smaller than the Lapwings and way bigger than the Starlings, so Dunlin is certainly out. Short of being a flock of 100 or so American variants, I'm now convinced they were our very own Golden Plovers.)
There were a few other birds on and around the water, including three Greylag Geese. A couple of Skeins of other geese flew over, but I couldn't id them.
Also, in the wader flocks, there was a smattering of Starlings.
May daughter spotted a squirrel, along with more Blackbirds and Robins, before adding to the list with Dunnock.
It was then time to make our way back to the car, with no more additions until we reached the exit, and noticed a Chaffinch or two in with the Goldfinches.
The final bird of the day, was the Lakeside Village speciality bird... Pied Wagtail.
All that was left to do was coffee and cake!
But the presence of one of Potteric's specialities means I feel compelled, in case I miss out next time.
So, as a bit of brain-relaxation after four months of especially intense work, my good lady suggested a walk there with my daughter, picking up a bite of lunch on arrival, and popping over for coffee and cake at Thornton's at the end.
It's five months since my last visit, and Sedum House (the new function centre) is fully open... very posh! So having figured out how to get in, the three of us made our way to the cafe at the Field Centre.
There was nothing on the feeders at that time, but three Jackdaws were strutting close by.
A Magpie flew across the path ahead of us, and a couple of Goldfinches were flitting in the trees.
As we made our way past the site of the old (no longer present) Decoy Hide, were heard and saw a few Blue Tits and partnyorsha caught sight of a Robin.
Walking along the path beside the railway lines, we saw the first of five or six Bullfinches.
Bullfinches are one of my favorite birds, because they are a bit unusual. They're by no means particularly rare, and I would probably see them just about every day at Potteric, but they are certainly more elusive than most other finches. As a kid, they were amongst the group of birds I never thought I'd see... so a Bullfinch day is always a good day!
My daughter, who had actually spotted (although not ided) the first Bullfinch, spotted a rabbit, and whilst I was looking at that through my trusty, but aged binocs, I saw the head and neck of a reclusive Pheasant in the shrubbery.
Great Tits were also in the trees, and we could now see onto the first pool from the path. The light was a little difficult, but we could easily make out Coot, Wigeon and Mute Swan, and a Grey Heron was perched at the edge of the reeds.
My daughter again got her spotting eyes working and found and ided some Long-tailed Tits.
We arrived at the cafe as a noisy Blackbird charged through the undergrowth!
After relieving the cafe of two bacon butties and bowl of vegetable soup, we continued our stroll. As time wasn't on our side, but equally as we didn't want to rush round at a sprint, we decided just to take a walk up to Piper Marsh hide, call in at the new Hawthorn Hide, and then retrace our steps back to the car (and on to Thornton's!)
We got excellent views of a Treecreeper, and then saw a Moorhen on one of the ditches.
A Carrion Crow (or six) flew over, and we had many more encounters with previously mentioned woodland birdies.
We arrived at Piper Marsh hide, which, not surprisingly at this time of year, was quite full. The Marsh itself brought us Mallard, Gadwall, Black-headed Gull, Shelduck and Shoveler, but best of all, and many thanks to the kind birder who had his scope fixed on the skulking star, we were able to get long distance, highly-camouflaged, but nonetheless unmistakable views of one of the site's Bitterns.
We spent about ten minutes in the hide (fly-by-nights, eh?) before we had to move on.
As I mentioned, we called in at the Hawthorn Hide, and spent perhaps twenty minutes or so watch the wheeling flocks of Lapwings and another wader. Someone who briefly entered the hide ided them as Dunlin, but although I'm rubbish at waders, and therefore perhaps not qualified to argue... I don't think he was right. We figured they were winter-plumaged Golden Plover, but not enough to claim such or type them in red!
(Edit 29/01/07: After some checking of various books and reconsideration, I am happy to now type Golden Plover in red. In comparison to the size of the Starlings and the Lapwings, they were just smaller than the Lapwings and way bigger than the Starlings, so Dunlin is certainly out. Short of being a flock of 100 or so American variants, I'm now convinced they were our very own Golden Plovers.)
There were a few other birds on and around the water, including three Greylag Geese. A couple of Skeins of other geese flew over, but I couldn't id them.
Also, in the wader flocks, there was a smattering of Starlings.
May daughter spotted a squirrel, along with more Blackbirds and Robins, before adding to the list with Dunnock.
It was then time to make our way back to the car, with no more additions until we reached the exit, and noticed a Chaffinch or two in with the Goldfinches.
The final bird of the day, was the Lakeside Village speciality bird... Pied Wagtail.
All that was left to do was coffee and cake!
posted by The Birdman @ 12:20 PM
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