31.01.15. Birdlog
With a stiff wind all the way from the arctic it was a cold time birding the marsh today and this was probably reflected by a lack of active birdlife.
The duck on No.6 tank were bunched together in the centre of the water with 78 Common Teal, 16 Shoveler, 45 Mallard and a solitary drake Pintail. 30 Redshank were the only waders noted.
The mitigation area of No.3 tank attracted 340 Golden Plover and 470 Lapwing but their wait for the receding river tide only lasted as long as the activities of the shooters in the area. The plovers aren’t particularly bothered by the presence of Common Buzzard but an irritated Kestrel was and soon gave the raptor short sharp thrift.
Frodsham Score was a bleak and overly exposed site, a couple of Little Egret and a small bunch of distant Whooper Swan could be forgiven for finding whatever shelter from the wind they could muster. A herd of 1200 Canada Geese were made of sterner stuff with most on the marsh at the edge of the river.
A female Marsh Harrier was hunting the reed beds of No.4 tank and 30 Raven were benefitting from the excess carrion present.
Along Lordship Lane a pair of Stonechat were on the fence wires while a flooded field behind the model aircraft field attracted 47 Redshank, Curlew and loads of Lapwing. Shortly after an adult male Peregrine zipped over the farmland fields before disappearing over Moorditch Lane.
Observer and images: WSM.