Misty and murky for a quick spin up to Preston today to have a look at the party of Waxwings on Stocks Rd. With many recorded to the north, east and south of us already, I hope for better...
Misty and murky for a quick spin up to Preston today to have a look at the party of Waxwings on Stocks Rd.
With many recorded to the north, east and south of us already, I hope for better conditions and bigger flocks as the winter unfolds.
As it was, today’s trio were in the usual Preston habitat – terraced streets with berry laden trees, guarded by possessive Blackbirds.
What wasn’t usual was the fact that mild temperatures meant the chubsters showed no interest in the berries while I was there around lunchtime, preferring instead to flycatch from the tree-tops at they do in Scandinavian breeding grounds…
Still splendid to watch them of course.
Stopped off briefly at Marshside on the way home – Marsh Harrier, ringtail Hen Harrier and Great White Egrets on the outer marsh; Common Buzzard, 2,000 Golden Plover, big parties of Snipe (several 20+ flights) and Peregrine over the inner marsh.