Jack All

Out at dawn into a howling north-easterly. At the ISBG hide at Lower Moors a Kingfisher dropped in while the Purple Heron showed well in flight. Redwing zipped overhead, hopefully the vanguard of some easterly rares.

Kingfisher in poor early light

 

No sign of the Bluethroat at the Project Pool, but there was a cracking Jack Snipe out in the open. A Water Rail showed well as it ran across the pool.

 

Jack Snipe

Water Rail

 

After the full English I met the lads at the Garrison where we briefly had a Yellow-browed Warbler and a few Goldcrest. Redwing continued to stream over with 8 Fieldfare and 20+ Skylark. A Merlin shot past, chasing migrants along the shore.

 

A casualty of the winds was a migrant first winter Water Rail that we picked up from the path. I hope that it recovered.

Water Rail (hand model available for hire)

 

Back to Lower Moors gave 2 Jack Snipe plus Clouded Yellow and Small Tortoiseshell.

 

At Old Town churchyard the Red-breasted Flycatcher showed briefly and a huge Prickly Stick Insect was in the graveyard. Large White was new for the trip list.

 





Red-breasted Flycatcher

 

Prickly Stick Insect

 

A wander up to Carreg Dhu gardens gave us a Firecrest with a few Goldcrest while House Martin hawked insects overhead.

Firecrest

 

We need some new birds