End of Autumn

So, that's it. autumn is over and so is the autumn migration. I cant complain. Its been one of the best autumns I've had in ages (bird wise anyway - on a football front its been pretty painful watching the latics). I had a fantastic time in October at Bempton and Spurn, ticking off six lifers I think. And, although it never feels as good back on the western side of the country, I have managed to add a couple more life, site and year ticks to my various lists. Long-tailed Duck and Red-throated Diver at Pennington Flash were long overdue site ticks, the former was also a year tick, and a Scaup a couple of weeks ago was also a year tick.

Sadly nowhere is really getting that many good birds at the moment, so I've been out and about trying to find my own stuff. Unfortunately with no success. Last week I went out to the Wirral and, despite a stunning but cold sunrise, the entire Wirral was fog bound with visibility down to a couple of hundred metres at best, as you can see below.

I did enjoy watching the few waders that were close in though, particularly the Sanderling and Turnstones. I tried to phonescope the former with limited success - they just will not stand still.

 

Other than that, I've been spending time at Pennington Flash. Just a few hours on a Saturday morning. The birding has been slow, but its been great to catch up with some of the regulars, most of whom I don't see very often these days except in Horrock's Hide. This Saturday it was at least enlivened by the still present Long-tailed Duck and three Scaup (picture below), plus good numbers of other wildfowl, including what is probably my favourite 'freshwater' diving duck, the Goldeneye.

 

 

Again I spent a bit of time phonescoping. The above images aren't great, but they're better than the ones I took a few months ago, so I'm getting there. Just need to keep practicing.