Gettin' Otter!

WHBP very quiet tonight from a birding perspective BUT an otter ran across the path that runs to the west of the copse north of the sub-station.  It ran west to east.  Superb!

Drop In

Spent a pleasant 30 minutes at Arcot yesterday afternoon in between appointments.  Fourteen Coot, 3 Mute Swans joined by a further 5 before I left, a Tuftie, 5 Pochard, 2 Wigeon, a nice Great Crested Grebe and very noisy goose that I presume was a Greylag/Farmyard hybrid.  There was ten or so BHG and CG, and a dark 'Herring Gull' bathing itself in the centre of the lake.  It appeared to have a red eye ring and I got a bit excited about a YLG Lifer but could I get a good look at the leg colour?  No.  And then it lifted off, and flew off NE never to return.

Tonight's WHBP stroll did not locate any SEOs (perhaps they are holidaying with the Hawfinches!). Eleven Oystercatcher, Lapwings, the Shelduck pair, several Mallard duos and a plethora of Teal were on the water, but away from it, flat as 'owt, more's the pity!

Scores

Like Man U always winning, once again, today's predictable score is that the Hulne Park Hawfinches beat the Liverbirder's Lifers.  The weather was, as usual, freezin', the LLs remained resolute in the face of avian adversity but after 90 minutes, HPH won the day!

Birding - it's a game of two halves.

Well I never (oh, come on, you must have done!).  It was Sir Brucie Forsyth who said you don't get anything for a pair (All: Not in this game!) but he was clearly not referring to the the 'art' of ornithology.  Sun up, temperature down but rising, and off with Le Mut for the usual trip at 07:10 today. 

34 species later (beat the previous record by 4), home with a little more of a smile than tea time yesterday. 

Highlights?  Pairs of Grey Partridge (east copse), Shelduck, Mute Swan, Mallard and Oystercatcher on/near the Flash, Woodies and Collared Doves (numerous) and Magpies and Crows (again, all over). 

Also noted: Gulls - GBB/LBB/H/C/BH - Teal, Curlew, Pheasant, Grey Heron, Lapwing, Kestrel, Buzzard, Tits - G/B/LT, Finches - Go/Ch/Gr, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Starling, Blackbird, Robin, Song Thrush and Wren. 

The poor Buzzard was mobbed frequently by either the Kestrel, the Crows or two of the three LBBGs.