Clowbridge Resevoir, Lancashire - 27.9.18
Typical I'm down in southern Spain which is proving to be a little disappointing bird wise and back in the UK there's some mega views of a Grey Phalarope at Crosby Marina, hopefully it will stick around until my return on Wednesday.
Grey Phalarope, or Red Phalarope, named after it's winter grey plumage colour, and you've probably guessed red in summer it's less know name. A small wader about the size of a Song Thrush breeds in the Artic Tundra and spending it's winter entirely in the Atlantic Ocean off the coasts of west and eastern Africa. During autumn small numbers of these birds get storm driven onto the coast of the west side of the UK sometimes inland where there's water present.
Now back home it appears the phalarope at Crosby departed on Tuesday so I'm a little disappointed given the reported very close views, but looking on the internet another Grey Phalarope has turned up this time at Clowbridge Reservoir which is less than ten miles from the house. Usually moorland reservoirs are featureless with large expanses of water never one of my favourite venues, but it's a great day with warm sunny intervals so I decide to go for it.
Parking at the north end l head off down the track to the res and along to where the bird was seen yesterday, there's already a birder there and I stop for a chat, he must have been a mind reader and says..."I've not see it" We have a quick chat and I sit down on the wall scanning the small bay, a couple of wagtails are feeding amongst the white froth that's been whipped up by the wind along the waters edge, then I spot a wader not much bigger than the wagtails......got it !...I call to the other birder, he says thanks "thats the benefit of having more eyes looking".
The phalarope is feeding up and down the small bay, with only me and the other birder present I make my way down to the waters edge and wait for the bird to return fro the far side of the bay, at times it's too close and I constantly have to move back. It's always a cluttered shot but occasionally the phalarope ventures into the water giving the opportunity for an alternative shot.
My camera memory card is now full and as I turn around to change the card there now must be ten birders present so I 'm please to have had the three hours earlier all to my self. Returning to the bank I see and chat with CB who lives locally and was the original finder.
Not wanting to disturb the bird for other birders viewing I remain on the bank and chat when the phalarope takes to the water eventually taking flight to the other side of the reservoir. Now with so many birder present I decide to call time on the session happy that I made the effort to arrive early and the time spent alone with the Grey Phalarope, a bird that should be enjoying sunshine off the African coast
Click image to view...
Grey Phalarope (winter) or some times - Red Phalarope (summer)
Grey Phalarope, or Red Phalarope, named after it's winter grey plumage colour, and you've probably guessed red in summer it's less know name. A small wader about the size of a Song Thrush breeds in the Artic Tundra and spending it's winter entirely in the Atlantic Ocean off the coasts of west and eastern Africa. During autumn small numbers of these birds get storm driven onto the coast of the west side of the UK sometimes inland where there's water present.
Now back home it appears the phalarope at Crosby departed on Tuesday so I'm a little disappointed given the reported very close views, but looking on the internet another Grey Phalarope has turned up this time at Clowbridge Reservoir which is less than ten miles from the house. Usually moorland reservoirs are featureless with large expanses of water never one of my favourite venues, but it's a great day with warm sunny intervals so I decide to go for it.
Parking at the north end l head off down the track to the res and along to where the bird was seen yesterday, there's already a birder there and I stop for a chat, he must have been a mind reader and says..."I've not see it" We have a quick chat and I sit down on the wall scanning the small bay, a couple of wagtails are feeding amongst the white froth that's been whipped up by the wind along the waters edge, then I spot a wader not much bigger than the wagtails......got it !...I call to the other birder, he says thanks "thats the benefit of having more eyes looking".
The phalarope is feeding up and down the small bay, with only me and the other birder present I make my way down to the waters edge and wait for the bird to return fro the far side of the bay, at times it's too close and I constantly have to move back. It's always a cluttered shot but occasionally the phalarope ventures into the water giving the opportunity for an alternative shot.
My camera memory card is now full and as I turn around to change the card there now must be ten birders present so I 'm please to have had the three hours earlier all to my self. Returning to the bank I see and chat with CB who lives locally and was the original finder.
Not wanting to disturb the bird for other birders viewing I remain on the bank and chat when the phalarope takes to the water eventually taking flight to the other side of the reservoir. Now with so many birder present I decide to call time on the session happy that I made the effort to arrive early and the time spent alone with the Grey Phalarope, a bird that should be enjoying sunshine off the African coast
Click image to view...
Grey Phalarope (winter) or some times - Red Phalarope (summer)
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