Next stop was Brookers for another look at RP's latest feathered find Fergal the Fudge Duck. Walkin' down to the now almost completely frozen lake we spotted The Not So Blurred Birder toting his super new NIKKI NAKKI 5oo slr and pointing it menacingly at the ground as he muttered something about iso's and f stops under his breath. After a hefty new year handshake we put the birdin' world to rights while enjoying crackin' views of Fergal and the female Scaup. Then limpin' out of the trees appeared jolly old RP apparently struggling with a spot of gout after enjoyin' the festivities a little to well. After a quick natter with the lad, the Mad One and moi headed for The Weaver Hills in search of a Red Kite that as been around since the beginning of December. On route to the weaves we picked up 10 Ravens feedin' around the free range chicken sheds and also bumped into a tired lookin' Brian and Lynn Carthy who'd been drivin' round for nearly three weeks after ringing me for directions to Brookers when we were smashin' the staffs Mandarin record, Sorry folks.
Almost as soon as we left the motor on the top of the weavers, a blizzard set in and we beat a hasty retreat back down the hill for a brew. The only birds of note were seven Common Gulls, typical cold weather birds around here.
Any days local birdin' as to include at least one visit to Utch, so that was where we headed next. As we reached the main pit all the geese erupted into a "boilin' mass of avian froth"! "What's put them up"? We asked ourselves, and then we spotted him standing on top of one of the grass banks, camera in hand enjoying the spectacle. It was none other than old "Flush" himself! Despite this we still bagged a GBBG. I only saw one at Utch all last year!
Next stop was Stalag 17 for the Green-winged Teal, Smew and GND. A stop at the feedin' station gave us two year ticks, Marsh Tit and a rather hirsute Richard Berry .Easy peasy. lemon squeazy. With in five minutes of settin' up the 'scope we were on the 'Teal as it slept on the ice among it's eurasian cousins in Tad Bay. Not the best views but good enough to send Malc into a Beth Tweddle, gold medal winnin', style somersault of celebration. It was a lifer for the lad, topman. After bravin' another blizzard we(the Cheesedale Amigos) hit Blithe Bay for the redhead Smew. Once again we hit bullseye almost straight away as the Smew fed to the right of the hide , and then flew round before disappearin' behind the willows. All that was left was the diver but despite a lengthy five minute search of the deeps there was no sign of what can be a difficult species to connect with particually if they are feeding.
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Cannock tomorrow, for Caspo hopefully
Have a good un.
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