Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Hen Harrier, Deeping High Bank, S Lincs


This lovely bird is, I believe, a juvenile Hen Harrier. It was hunting ove the Lonely Cow Field or Sad Cow Field, a bit of rough grassy stuff, where the World's Saddest Cow used to live on its own for years... Eventually, it settled on the ground where it sat for a while, then started to rip into the food it was perching on; a dead rabbit, perhaps? Slightly troubling, in all the shots I took it appeared to have its bill open; but it did appear to be feeding OK.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Returning Lottie?


In February 2017, Bob and Sue Titman found a Long-tailed Duck on the stretch of the River Welland called the Deeping High Bank (DHB; near Crowland, S Lincs). This female soon got named Lottie and hung around on the river for ages. It later moved to Deeping Lakes LWT where it could be seen on the east pit or The Lake. It later relocated to Baston & Langtoft pits (BLGP), notably the 'wader pit' and the adjacent 'T-junction pit' (just across the road).
On New Year's Day 2018, Lottie was again back on the Welland near Gull Farm on the DHB, then it vanished for a while, though I refound her further north near Spalding a few weeks into the year. Later it once more relocated to the BLGP complex, and especially the 'wader pit'. It was there for ages into the spring, but started to be afflicted by a horrible condition which made it spin continuously in tiny circles, half on its back. Things looked terminal for Lottie. But she is a tough cookie, and after a few weeks apparently recovered to full health. In April, not long before our annual bird race (around the May Day bank holiday), she disappeared. Had Lottie been predated or just left?
Last week, Chris Lines found what appears to be an adult female Long-tailed Duck on the 'T-junction pit' at BLGP and she is still there. Has Lottie returned? Probably, but we will only know for sure after a bit more moulting to reveal more white in the face. I took these shots last Sunday (25th).

Monday, November 26, 2018

Ferry Meadows CP ducks


PBC area year tick 192 for me and I believe a Cambs tick for me (and certainly my first RbM in the Nene valley and at Ferry Meadows)

Goosander

Scaup

Friday, November 23, 2018

Red Squirrel, Malaga botanical gardens


This nice dark Red Squirrel was happily feeding in the pines of the botanical gardens when we found some Firecrests feeding nearby. Then David The Urban Birder' Lindo started pishing the crests and the squirrel came to sort him out! Hence the squiggle close-ups.

Monday, November 12, 2018

Friday, November 09, 2018

Yet more Red-necked Grebes


Not the iris colour, which is yellow on the outer, and dark on the inner