Month: December 2017

Up in civilisation for Christmas, we crossed the border into Lancashire for a gloriously cold day’s winter wildlife.

Leighton Moss delivered our first ever Otter in England, as well as three Egret species and some of the tamest Robins and other common birds I’ve ever seen.  Pilling Lane ends were goosetastic.

An Otter came close, but in horrendous light

Great Egret

Mute cygnet

Marsh Tit

An outrageously tame Robin. The zoom was more of a problem than a help.

Cattle Egret

Three Merlins in a day is special. Trying to digiscope one in a hide apparently made out of rubber while the everyone is jumping up and down isn’t.

Q: Why couldn’t the warbler buy a Christmas pint in Titchfield?

A: Because it was Barred

A day out to Pulborough Brooks RSPB yielded distant views of Little Owl and Temminck’s Stint and a brief flyover Hawfinch, but the common birds were more cooperative, with Snipe feeding in front of the hide and Robins everywhere.  Photographing the Robins was tricky as they insisted on coming too close.

A trip out to Eastbourne today, for a look at the wonderfully confiding first winter Black Guillemot that has taken up residence.  It’s a cracking bird and really gave us a show, coming incredibly close, fishing and generally being very busy.