19.12.14. Birdlog
An early dart Friday and a quick santa dash to the marsh just in time for a squall of rain to move through. Nevermind, I did manage to see a few birds on No.6 tank which is filling up with rain water and looking good for the wintering ducks there. All the ducks present were bunched together and constituted: 22 Common Pochard, 26 Shoveler, 120 Common Teal, 15 Common Shelduck and 80 Mallard.
The flooded muddy area on No.3 tank attracted a roost of several hundred Lapwing which wheeled into the air on my arrival to be caught out by a Peregrine which caused a lot of swirling by the flocks of plovers.
Walking back to the car and a Merlin shot through looking a little bit late for its supper.
Observer and images: WSM
Additional local news concernsI a Nordic Jackdaw this morning by the small lake at Heath Park, Park Road, Runcorn with a flock of normal jackies at first light.. It’s best to see the Jackdaw flock early before the fields are overrun by dog walkers.
