Above : 1stw Red-necked Grebe, Fairhaven Lake, Lytham St. Annes, Lancs, 21st Jan 2011.
Below: Ring-necked Parakeet. One of six at Lytham Crematorium late afternoon.
Pam decided she wanted to go for a walk somewhere, so I suggested Fairhaven Lake. The route from Blackburn saw us drive right past Preston Dock, site of the long-staying juv Iceland Gull. A quick pull-in onto the car park by the McDonalds at 14:50 produced instant results, the Iceland was on the water below the car park. Moments later a Eurofighter from nearby BAE Warton flushed everything sending the Iceland over to the other side of the dock, so no token record shot for the blog. Fingers crossed this bird decides to return to overwinter here in the years to come.
Onwards to Fairhaven Lake where the Red-necked Grebe was instantly located, actively feeding in the centre of the lake at the eastern end. The low winter sun was a nightmare, but eventually the Grebe came in close enough for a few record shots for the blog. Several skeins of Pink-footed Geese were moving between the estuary and sites north of Lytham, with more skeins overflying our route back to Preston on their way to roost on the Ribble.
With fog rolling in, a quick nip into Lytham Crematorium produced 6 Ring-necked Parakeets at dusk.
