15.02.15. Birdlog
The Woodcock is considered “sport” by shooters but in reality shooters have to stalk them out of hiding or use dogs to flush them from the dense cover they conceal themselves in. Birders don’t have those aids to hand (fortunately), so fieldcraft is needed and a big dollop of luck is really what you require if you want to see one on the marsh. One was seen today at a location that we’ll keep under wraps but it provided a handy year tick for the marshes yearly total.
Present in the same area were 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker and presumably prospecting for a nest site. A grey coloured Chiffchaff in the buckthorn bushes below the southern banks of No.6 tank recalled the ‘Eastern’ Chiffchaff present on Runcorn Hill at the end of last year.
The wild swan herd was again on Ince Marshes.
Observer: Frank Duff.
Image of Runcorn Hill ‘Eastern’ Chiffchaff by Andy Humphreys for illustration purposes only and not actual bird.
