Sunday 10/1/2010
Utch 0805-0905
Bitterly cold again today with this easterly wind making it feel even colder. All three pits still frozen apart from the "garden pond" in the main pit. The imm' male Scaup still present and the only other bird of note was an adult Peregrine standing on the ice snackin' on a Starling! One sorry lookin' Redwing showed to within six feet as it tried to shelter among the weeds by the footpath, poor sod's probably brown bread now.
So few birds at Utch meant i was on the road to Cannock and Kingswood Lakeside just after nine.
Kingswood Lakeside 0945-1145
I spent the next couple of hours at this great spot for watchin' gulls, a fishin' lake right next door to a rubbish tip! Brilliant! The views are certainly as good as those you get at Stubbers a few miles up the road. No sign of any Caspian gulls but i did manage a trio of YLG's, 2 ad's and a 2nd winter bird. It's just a pity it's a sixty mile round trip otherwise i'd be there every day.
After a quick brew in the car it was time to head back to Utch to check the "pond".
Utch 1240-1320
Nothin' new on the "pond" but the young male Scaup was right out on the ice, well away from the other ducks and not lookin' to chipper.
Then a text message from the Weston Coyney Branch of CBA told me that the Water Rail and Jack Snipe were still showing well below the outlet on Park Hall Lake. Tempted by good views of what can be two difficult species to see i hit the A50 and headed for the smoke.
Park Hall Lake 1400-20
Park Hall Lake is what could be a great little local patch and would probably turn up far more than it does if it was watched regularly. Today it held the usual suspects Canadas, Tufties and various hybrid Mallard type thingies. As soon as i set foot on the bridge that runs over the outlet, out shot the 'Rail and off down the stream never to be seen again. No sign of the 'Snipe despite extensive searchin' for at least ten minutes.Then another text message, this time from the Teanford Branch of CBA with news of what is still officially a Cheesdale Mega!
Hales Hall Pool 1440-1510
Now yesterday i mentioned i'd been at Hales Hall Pool lookin' for Water Rails, well so had someone else and guess what the message said? Yes you guessed it, "WATER RAIL @ Hales Hall"!! A quick text back to the sorcerers apprentice told me that the 'Rail had crossed the new footbridge and a stakeout had already started. Back in the car and onto the A50, ten minutes later i spun into the brand new £250,000 carpark and quickly parked up the old punto. RP the finder of the rail was waitin' patiently on the bridge and beaming from ear to ear. "Cheesedale tick for me" he said "yes,yes ok where is it "? i asked " in there" he said as he pointed at the snow covered tussocks and reeds. A quick check from the north shore turned up a Snipe but no sign of the rail. Then as if by magic, just like Mr Benn, up popped Mad Malc and ten minutes later so did the rail as it flew across the stream that runs into the pool!! Another couple of glimpses as it fed among the reeds meant we all went home happy, especially RP and Malc it was a Cheesdale Lifer for them!!!
Have a good un folks.
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