tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24243525234394496802024-03-14T07:46:39.622-07:00Bill Aspin's Birding Blog 2Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.comBlogger192125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-10374878915794022642011-06-28T14:40:00.000-07:002011-06-28T14:45:57.136-07:00<div>A lack of recent posts is due to me becoming sick and tired of the length of time it was taking to organise and post blog entries due to glitches in the blogger software beyond my control. </div><div><br /></div><div>Therefore, I have created a new blog: <a href="http://babbthree.blogspot.com/">http://babbthree.blogspot.com/</a></div>Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-7781451544188296242011-05-30T09:34:00.000-07:002011-06-17T09:34:16.175-07:00Bearded Seal: Finstown, Orkney - 28th May 2011.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmy33dxiJyWNpSxO7nG8T1dEPOQ9y_n2WeCCskoy7_7Iz2-tWcM19qjlAS0Mv6vntvHO6NKmV07M_QrnTN-ubR985OZ0TqseGGQkA5wcMAdBQvoqGm_5HuRF4GC1zH9nB4Dc7obw-Ia8/s1600/Bearded+Seal+Finstown+Orkney+28th+May+2011.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmy33dxiJyWNpSxO7nG8T1dEPOQ9y_n2WeCCskoy7_7Iz2-tWcM19qjlAS0Mv6vntvHO6NKmV07M_QrnTN-ubR985OZ0TqseGGQkA5wcMAdBQvoqGm_5HuRF4GC1zH9nB4Dc7obw-Ia8/s400/Bearded+Seal+Finstown+Orkney+28th+May+2011.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619226962621621826" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JTgfICKekVfQI6GgM9k2LB4w1KkujR3qcHKNQ7QMV1p8Yij8XZy5sxI79CDY6tOFjfZCgyykouStoydhCEg1MBP0qwYdmVPjbfPZkpxdTsc01z2SepwTm5CdnRWAOLge5f2Zxi9vEDM/s1600/Bearded+Seal+Finstown+Orkney+28th+May+2011+b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JTgfICKekVfQI6GgM9k2LB4w1KkujR3qcHKNQ7QMV1p8Yij8XZy5sxI79CDY6tOFjfZCgyykouStoydhCEg1MBP0qwYdmVPjbfPZkpxdTsc01z2SepwTm5CdnRWAOLge5f2Zxi9vEDM/s400/Bearded+Seal+Finstown+Orkney+28th+May+2011+b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619226972834661730" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64zN7WHZy_IPMYqzitHm8HRAIQbB0yXv6nctHEjZyb8orWf8OXerfkE7d1616mKwunQOIdLNZPR1ZYKapoisq8UYLbWz_tiRIdTLkJMtn5ZW6h-PohUSLsxc2QXSwFx7jCHKKfDQ8NBs/s1600/Bearded+Seal+Finstown+Orkney+28th+May+2011+c.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 372px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi64zN7WHZy_IPMYqzitHm8HRAIQbB0yXv6nctHEjZyb8orWf8OXerfkE7d1616mKwunQOIdLNZPR1ZYKapoisq8UYLbWz_tiRIdTLkJMtn5ZW6h-PohUSLsxc2QXSwFx7jCHKKfDQ8NBs/s400/Bearded+Seal+Finstown+Orkney+28th+May+2011+c.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619226971054415330" /></a>Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-65818911927749761432011-05-22T09:06:00.000-07:002011-05-22T13:22:55.197-07:00Local birding, Lancs : Brockholes NR LWT - 17th-22nd May 2011.I have put c50hrs of effort in at the local patch during the past week in much anticipated weather conditions of fresh westerly sector winds, with cloud and some rain, resulting in some some excellent wader passage recorded through the site as well as some other nice bonus birds.<br /><br /><div align="left">Wader totals:</div><br />Wood Sandpiper: At least 1 bird. There was a two day gap between sightings. I have video footage of 'both' and intend to grill them to see if I can note any plumage differences.<br /><br />Little Stint: 1.<br /><br />Turnstone: 19 recorded through the site 16th-22nd, inc a record flock of 15.<br /><br />Sanderling: 19 recorded through during the period, inc a record flock of 8, and a flock of 6. The previous best spring total was 21 birds between 13th May and 5th June 2000. Looks as though, given enough coverage, this total will be broken in spring 2011.<br /><br />Dunlin: 66 recorded flying east-west through the site. With variable numbers of grounded birds recorded, number is likely to be closer if not exceeding c100. Highest grounded count being 20 on the evening of 18th May.<br /><br />Ringed Plover: 68 recorded flying east-west on 16th-17th. With variable numbers of grounded birds, number definately exceeds 100 through the site 16th-22nd.<br /><br />Grey Plover: A first-summer type evening of 18th May (the only decent bird I failed to connect with).<br /><br />Knot: 3, grey first-summer type birds.<br /><br />Whimbrel: Several records totalling c15 birds moving through the site and departing north during the day, contrary to birds dropping in from NE and back out when feeding/roosting in area.<br /><br />Arctic Tern: 5 birds through.<br /><br />Common Tern: 4 birds through.<br /><br />Osprey: 2 sightings: 1 on 17th (see previous blog entry) and one on 21st May.<br /><br />Blue-headed Wagtail: Male on 16th-17th May (see previous blog entry). This would apear to be the first definate record for the site, though there have been 1+ female types thought to be flava in the past.<br /><br />Additionally: Occasional Hobby sightings and a regular imm Peregrine.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuuGHa7QRcjrWcXapUrDzqxtGC8RuKRxY3H1T0Fx5Swrj-R0XpCVJM4marmlytuz32RCDn6jE0tYnUo-8kDbecw6m5pVpKRqJmXFhG1abglg6D3FFvBcLxnL-A0x_27XLuDAc7b_NHaw/s1600/Wood+Sand+Brockholes+NR+LWT+20th+May+2011+c.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 274px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609603604052094018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpuuGHa7QRcjrWcXapUrDzqxtGC8RuKRxY3H1T0Fx5Swrj-R0XpCVJM4marmlytuz32RCDn6jE0tYnUo-8kDbecw6m5pVpKRqJmXFhG1abglg6D3FFvBcLxnL-A0x_27XLuDAc7b_NHaw/s400/Wood+Sand+Brockholes+NR+LWT+20th+May+2011+c.jpg" /><br /><p align="center"></a>Above & below: Wood Sandpiper - 20th May 2011. Always a great species to record on the patch, particularly in spring, this is one of perhaps two different birds this week.<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWkwBb4KmkkmN36LyaciZWvuXl6DhEyNcw09V_bSjr0VThZ6ZFYuceScMCjmsa5WrEY5Hpv2eazX95psUoVLvA1epueu4BH9W4EOTf1bffQu5wGzx5ZSiTz-pDGL9pEEruqs-2zKvJJU/s1600/Wood+Sand+Brockholes+NR+LWT+20th+May+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609602714725584514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWkwBb4KmkkmN36LyaciZWvuXl6DhEyNcw09V_bSjr0VThZ6ZFYuceScMCjmsa5WrEY5Hpv2eazX95psUoVLvA1epueu4BH9W4EOTf1bffQu5wGzx5ZSiTz-pDGL9pEEruqs-2zKvJJU/s400/Wood+Sand+Brockholes+NR+LWT+20th+May+2011.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lk5D9y8bgTYfEjvx7Om8nE90UrCKFtzGSzYiBfmJ5LlbwM-AezvxEh_qxAhcQFKTmK3qJFwK_PfYaNjZH1GE25Y5r-6fIUolSIMz8SeSfPFexLYIT7fWVg7uADaOKjXhNLfO89TTvFw/s1600/Little+Stint+Brockholes+NR+LWT+20th+May+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609603367884459394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lk5D9y8bgTYfEjvx7Om8nE90UrCKFtzGSzYiBfmJ5LlbwM-AezvxEh_qxAhcQFKTmK3qJFwK_PfYaNjZH1GE25Y5r-6fIUolSIMz8SeSfPFexLYIT7fWVg7uADaOKjXhNLfO89TTvFw/s400/Little+Stint+Brockholes+NR+LWT+20th+May+2011+b.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7S5xOY-U7x-FN0GUWX9sos1eRgsbmXMm9ITUsDZpNUzcTfK50q3-XatfcEE_xVOjbEPhGlnRhtC5uGsOX7fr-Ax_qAXFRChWGhJEO4ADJYpanPTttkxoWwvTHvWypSIDvwFmqy0wexHs/s1600/Little+Stint+Brokholes+NR+LWT+20th+May+2011+a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609602699513185874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7S5xOY-U7x-FN0GUWX9sos1eRgsbmXMm9ITUsDZpNUzcTfK50q3-XatfcEE_xVOjbEPhGlnRhtC5uGsOX7fr-Ax_qAXFRChWGhJEO4ADJYpanPTttkxoWwvTHvWypSIDvwFmqy0wexHs/s400/Little+Stint+Brokholes+NR+LWT+20th+May+2011+a.jpg" /><br /><p align="center"></a>Above & below: Little Stint - 20th May 2011. Only the 3rd spring record in the period 1999 - 22nd May 2011, following one on 7th-8th May 1999 and 2 on 14th May 2000.<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWp1e1zuLRH6eP_9HIKgirHSF3_ANknm-7ND25YnfDYaAwK2OosNHF4AHQbRofaJJvTjgka7PHu4qaKiPMmtzwdXL7ZHmrvMNNrjdFr908XTsR44WfDuZmHXrQ37surburNySXpaNZWeY/s1600/Little+Stint+Brockholes+NR+LWT+20th+May+2011+c.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609602691520464962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWp1e1zuLRH6eP_9HIKgirHSF3_ANknm-7ND25YnfDYaAwK2OosNHF4AHQbRofaJJvTjgka7PHu4qaKiPMmtzwdXL7ZHmrvMNNrjdFr908XTsR44WfDuZmHXrQ37surburNySXpaNZWeY/s400/Little+Stint+Brockholes+NR+LWT+20th+May+2011+c.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4EVcqotr9IfLqu3pbTgVpNAiSCpHslC8JvC-i-Wz24KHZ-FF03qAU816ZLcaQgcXh0LGXDRpnuszae8-KCGyvQjP2Wy2JPsNV2uZ4j4SDm6PgmvpDlDVg62t9Wgpa9IoorbOIFO9Occ/s1600/Knot+Brockholes+NR+LWT+17th+May+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609595002105346818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4EVcqotr9IfLqu3pbTgVpNAiSCpHslC8JvC-i-Wz24KHZ-FF03qAU816ZLcaQgcXh0LGXDRpnuszae8-KCGyvQjP2Wy2JPsNV2uZ4j4SDm6PgmvpDlDVg62t9Wgpa9IoorbOIFO9Occ/s400/Knot+Brockholes+NR+LWT+17th+May+2011.jpg" /></a>Above: Knot - 17th May 2011. </div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieE2Ryhyvffl80uxClp0sYnYtZ2upX4bFgQX7GAuDmJ_gQbSoHPM_6N-RYhjJsJhXRaAUs-yd3NNeL2GXVMgxfxw-jL63dxwBI3axVO0xn5nq2bitbCjXVgMuONNrj7gCq9Dzp2v4s_2o/s1600/Sanderling+x8+Brockholes+NR+LWT+17th+May+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 163px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609594979969861650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieE2Ryhyvffl80uxClp0sYnYtZ2upX4bFgQX7GAuDmJ_gQbSoHPM_6N-RYhjJsJhXRaAUs-yd3NNeL2GXVMgxfxw-jL63dxwBI3axVO0xn5nq2bitbCjXVgMuONNrj7gCq9Dzp2v4s_2o/s400/Sanderling+x8+Brockholes+NR+LWT+17th+May+2011.jpg" /></a>Above & below : Flock of 8 Sanderling - 17th May 2011. This is the largest single flock to be recorded onsite to date, Aug 1998-22nd May 2011. The previous site record flocks being 6 on 26th May 2000 and 6 on 24th May 2004. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Visa0e8kB3vo2yK_fFOqFQzuKFQQvwhFyGYc3zlOaADxoeEG7DgZARKpPW3-fBJq9RM69WNHC3LHNfy-WzvFZY_9IoyKKcseQbVMJDxs3dzHGMQq_mFAvO8PpD_tFziP81hyKb8YKmQ/s1600/Sanderlings+6+of+8+Brockholes+Nature+Reserve+LWT+17th+May+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 132px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609594974878664002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Visa0e8kB3vo2yK_fFOqFQzuKFQQvwhFyGYc3zlOaADxoeEG7DgZARKpPW3-fBJq9RM69WNHC3LHNfy-WzvFZY_9IoyKKcseQbVMJDxs3dzHGMQq_mFAvO8PpD_tFziP81hyKb8YKmQ/s400/Sanderlings+6+of+8+Brockholes+Nature+Reserve+LWT+17th+May+2011.jpg" /></a><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609594969259313394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhQiNWRV0RISDJl4foc3ZQFwLkrzN1Cro2bM14XA8ZfXZ1Fkz6fw1iYn61TAQGM-DXSbBClqUAtOhVhk3ZaZHqG3sr1qoesDogYgDUNC1sTO1KJf4B2wbUfZHaBdgn2sgo6vywR32DVI/s400/Turnstone+Brockholes+NR+LWT+15th+May+2011.jpg" /><br /><p align="center">Above: Sum plum male Turnstone - 17th May 2011. 19 birds have been recorded between 16th- including a recrd breaking flock of 15 on 16th May 2011. The previous record site flock being 9 (with three Sanderling) on 27th May 2000.<br /><br /></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 360px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 388px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609602191422553698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDF06lsuXO6IR2NeBJY7U806l917uhFLHUCYqqxL5nl7jifsISAdpL6cT-i9eo_J2abTSZwtyF7BOcJGId0UlG6nb3ea_1HamQkxbJMHuHKRs7UZwRhjqGnyJmDOU-xdgQ952gV5Ia9f4/s400/Peregrine+imm+Brockholes+18th+May+2011.jpg" /><br /><p align="center">Above: imm Peregrine.</p>Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-64268868753947168402011-05-16T15:03:00.000-07:002011-05-16T16:04:20.328-07:00Local birding: Brockholes Nature Reserve LWT, Lancs - 16th May 2011.11.5hrs of effort on the local patch in an f4+ westerly and virtually constant heavy drizzle throughout with steadier rainfall thrown in for good measure yielded some good results.
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<br />Firstly, no sooner had I parked in the Reserve car park and opened the boot lid, I glanced around to see a large bird with brown upperparts and a clearly interesting jizz with the naked eye, flying low over the screen planting on the SE compound bund.... A low flying Osprey!
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<br />All too quickly, the Osprey continued downriver towards the M6 roadbridge. I slammed the boot shut, cranked up the Chariot and shot down the Reserve access road hitting 50mph in an attempt to head the bird off at the entrance for a record shot. Thankfully no LWT staff were onsite to witness the manic drive/slow me down.
<br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYA2O9svozurWGz4SeROlESFx9NEFXMU5o_uY8cqo74G3ly6KaaCzhCWOrthq-skvHw9bTyy_ObRfCu21uJFK4OsDY1-c8gFTkNEBeh5vptdL30pZoiquDcqDN_g92TSw4BtZzi-BrI0/s1600/Osprey+Brockholes+NR+LWT+16th+May+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 244px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607438808594318514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYYA2O9svozurWGz4SeROlESFx9NEFXMU5o_uY8cqo74G3ly6KaaCzhCWOrthq-skvHw9bTyy_ObRfCu21uJFK4OsDY1-c8gFTkNEBeh5vptdL30pZoiquDcqDN_g92TSw4BtZzi-BrI0/s400/Osprey+Brockholes+NR+LWT+16th+May+2011.jpg" /></a>The Osprey stopped just short of the entrance and began to fish briefly before heading back upstream, allowing me time to get the record shot. Time of sighting was 07:10-07:19. What a great start to the session.</p>The Wood Sandpiper remained from the previous evening, allowing me to improve slightly on the record videograb of the previous night, and was still present when I left the site at 18:20.</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioa8wlmzaocw70yoLyyWUjgBfRyju2IPMEobSAdLpAO9akEQbvDbw3e9JcYaPOmhTH0BIzDRfx9eFobvXEuwFkzuOxNLcQmkHzWyIj5XXEBRP97eUKnmuKoiYEwU2WD0Tjl0PM93wbYOk/s1600/Wood+Sandpiper+Brockholes+NR+LWT+16th+May+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607438562057318466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioa8wlmzaocw70yoLyyWUjgBfRyju2IPMEobSAdLpAO9akEQbvDbw3e9JcYaPOmhTH0BIzDRfx9eFobvXEuwFkzuOxNLcQmkHzWyIj5XXEBRP97eUKnmuKoiYEwU2WD0Tjl0PM93wbYOk/s400/Wood+Sandpiper+Brockholes+NR+LWT+16th+May+2011.jpg" /></a> An Arctic Tern appeared briefly on No1 Pit at 08:06, followed by yesterday's poorly seen interesting flava Wagtail which proved to be a male Blue-headed.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYpRfZhqamX-GbH7jKnR5K_o0WVZsX8N_oj5hN0qvNrGLZrhUKYjN_3nE5SbFDawzDaWAWDsycUeE3k-HgBw8SV0hgtC8e7t8-beoLjDyJNuijWTLSwUFejZR6wzMJZ45h9xFd21RDdk/s1600/Blue+headed+Wagtail+Brockholes+NR+LWT+16th+May+2011+a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 194px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607438701302831522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYpRfZhqamX-GbH7jKnR5K_o0WVZsX8N_oj5hN0qvNrGLZrhUKYjN_3nE5SbFDawzDaWAWDsycUeE3k-HgBw8SV0hgtC8e7t8-beoLjDyJNuijWTLSwUFejZR6wzMJZ45h9xFd21RDdk/s400/Blue+headed+Wagtail+Brockholes+NR+LWT+16th+May+2011+a.jpg" /></a>
<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr45NM5aVYC2B7lJtex7K52sRvUK0u_zjJi9VPzoIAKgaAvZOAd_RDkqCCgQHwwsVGOS5Y7gc0SBaePZ0wbQl5MPerjQZfg6D4vBf6NQiMCqa3neWwRVPy9hzozCQPKx-3PtaSEGxNEQQ/s1600/Blue+headed+Wagtail+Brockholes+NR+LWT+16th+May+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 245px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607438697213975906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr45NM5aVYC2B7lJtex7K52sRvUK0u_zjJi9VPzoIAKgaAvZOAd_RDkqCCgQHwwsVGOS5Y7gc0SBaePZ0wbQl5MPerjQZfg6D4vBf6NQiMCqa3neWwRVPy9hzozCQPKx-3PtaSEGxNEQQ/s400/Blue+headed+Wagtail+Brockholes+NR+LWT+16th+May+2011+b.jpg" /></a> At 09:20, a gargantuan flock of 15 Turnstone dropped into No1 Pit from the east, but only remained for six minutes, 09:20-09:26 and most inconsiderately flew off seconds before I could digiscope them. This flock significantly betters the previous largest flock to be recorded onsite, 9 on 27th May 2000.
<br />
<br /><div>At 12:04, following a Coffee in the Visitor Village, a return to No1 Pit revealed 2 grey, 2cy Knot had arrived and were resting on the eastern end of the island. Both flew west at 12:48. A pair of Common Tern briefly circumnavigated No1 Pit at 12:21.
<br />
<br /><div>No new arrivals were noted thereafter until a single Sanderling dropped in onto No1 Pit at 15:27, and a single Whimbrel on Meadow Lake at 18:28. I did have two sightings of a Hobby during the day.
<br />
<br /><div>Following my departure home at 18:30, Nick Green arrived onsite to continue observations and was rewarded with a flock of 11 Dunlin 'in' onto No1 Pit and also a second Sanderling. At least 18 Dunlin and 10+ Ringed Plover were onsite mid-evening. An excellent day on the patch.</div>Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-29693034856914814192011-05-15T14:21:00.000-07:002011-05-15T14:35:59.566-07:00Local birding: Wood Sandpiper, Brockholes Nature Reserve LWT - 15th May 2011.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQUFt1h4xFs2gWOIHOH9SdufbIHPjOsu0EYxJMDwi9w5BEAIOSTUqffC7BhOx8-WUKJDZe4NOL_yXrJQ4ROrla29IrMT28FhvJiDhN4pQhX0UfC-rLnRByTFxX9dbR_5PZdR8LpAS7hM/s1600/Wood+Sandpiper+Brockholes+NR+LWT+Lancs+15th+May+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607056767143354146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQUFt1h4xFs2gWOIHOH9SdufbIHPjOsu0EYxJMDwi9w5BEAIOSTUqffC7BhOx8-WUKJDZe4NOL_yXrJQ4ROrla29IrMT28FhvJiDhN4pQhX0UfC-rLnRByTFxX9dbR_5PZdR8LpAS7hM/s400/Wood+Sandpiper+Brockholes+NR+LWT+Lancs+15th+May+2011.jpg" /></a> The f4 westerlies with cloud and rain produced some nice birds on the local patch today with the first Turnstone of the spring (2 birds) seen in the morning and a splendid Wood Sandpiper (above) early evening in foul weather which eventually resulted in 'rained-up' optics. Also, a Flava Wagtail was seen very briefly in the evening was thought most likely to be Blue-headed, but not confirmed.Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-47856157447492349872011-05-12T10:58:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:45:26.592-07:00Local birding: Grasshopper Warbler - Brockholes NR LWT - 11th May 2011.An absolutely brilliant 'Gropper' on the local patch.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEmTykn1LMetcwXtgT4zn6dJ68vKBMS_-oVN-dpHK-Mz78Oy_p4MDksg7J7bEKA2BPH_sCv-4QcZQfF9GSMg6AVthNJXnbtnJlEzt-M_XgFuOlbSsyGOq3ASoE8gphFXMueKUuTDhb54/s1600/Grasshopper+Warbler+Brockholes+NR+LWT+10th+May+2011+%25282%2529.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605901653522265634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEmTykn1LMetcwXtgT4zn6dJ68vKBMS_-oVN-dpHK-Mz78Oy_p4MDksg7J7bEKA2BPH_sCv-4QcZQfF9GSMg6AVthNJXnbtnJlEzt-M_XgFuOlbSsyGOq3ASoE8gphFXMueKUuTDhb54/s400/Grasshopper+Warbler+Brockholes+NR+LWT+10th+May+2011+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2khf4DGvmCFr_irboMJBNhc8wpoa3AkACQ5VTFTw4DlG2kILYkvPfpouqqzio_w1REXiIH020fP_ZkPCz7T4Ec3WQqNHUECeKWJrH8xqxxwLEGrbdsgRhUOLej1P-rEKZ_OjbLyk0AOs/s1600/Grasshopper+Warbler+Brockholes+NR+LWT+10th+May+2011+a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605901652926482770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2khf4DGvmCFr_irboMJBNhc8wpoa3AkACQ5VTFTw4DlG2kILYkvPfpouqqzio_w1REXiIH020fP_ZkPCz7T4Ec3WQqNHUECeKWJrH8xqxxwLEGrbdsgRhUOLej1P-rEKZ_OjbLyk0AOs/s400/Grasshopper+Warbler+Brockholes+NR+LWT+10th+May+2011+a.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfOOmlSg6Xgqrwqs0toboecVPdjcGd9Km08D02tZDxchffgefM3UIw1QXbu8N6f0l4nPesDEski2iFnAB5_EiH-dDld9OUonW2AHoGFJYrf4WuBMpmz6lCTz6R01ISluoO33OGouh9ZA/s1600/Grasshopper+Warbler+Brockholes+NR+LWT+10th+May+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605901649190014114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLfOOmlSg6Xgqrwqs0toboecVPdjcGd9Km08D02tZDxchffgefM3UIw1QXbu8N6f0l4nPesDEski2iFnAB5_EiH-dDld9OUonW2AHoGFJYrf4WuBMpmz6lCTz6R01ISluoO33OGouh9ZA/s400/Grasshopper+Warbler+Brockholes+NR+LWT+10th+May+2011.jpg" /></a>Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-52445582941449138662011-05-12T10:18:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:45:26.558-07:00A few offshore migrants: April 2011.<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLfFMvLfSEpFrxPLG7Y_so1MVRf2BF3rMPjT9b4CTDSBI3MKuML_MUmFRLmq30rQoe7LZH98CkJsZ1KdGb8ngtmx_j5X3MBWHGuIOcj-rEUJJiMFYRH9yjykEukQ_eIWWIRfeq4VRl98/s1600/Marsh+Harrier+16th+April+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 337px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605886920531390018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLfFMvLfSEpFrxPLG7Y_so1MVRf2BF3rMPjT9b4CTDSBI3MKuML_MUmFRLmq30rQoe7LZH98CkJsZ1KdGb8ngtmx_j5X3MBWHGuIOcj-rEUJJiMFYRH9yjykEukQ_eIWWIRfeq4VRl98/s400/Marsh+Harrier+16th+April+2011.jpg" /></a>Above: Male Marsh Harrier - 8 miles offshore.</div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyt5NB_Cjk09QFS3F_YwaX5ozBlQGgLkgDN_orHZTpUlUZsKym6uo3sZ4yS1pvpFx8rc7YGzu-o6q1eiTbkSbQQSqPc7s_ZjKG9CrO05gg_KbOEVgaexZxBzRXgvClQ2P4OtpJe8ekig/s1600/Yellow+Wagtail+17th+April+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605886833053891314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyt5NB_Cjk09QFS3F_YwaX5ozBlQGgLkgDN_orHZTpUlUZsKym6uo3sZ4yS1pvpFx8rc7YGzu-o6q1eiTbkSbQQSqPc7s_ZjKG9CrO05gg_KbOEVgaexZxBzRXgvClQ2P4OtpJe8ekig/s400/Yellow+Wagtail+17th+April+2011+b.jpg" /></a>Above & below: female Yellow Wagtail - c15 miles offshore.</p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oFQhj0yQSrtT53w2XpoR0oAJuVeqUhndarFbBeTig1MPwrnSRw9vGeCaVPxpQtZQCtpm1kMilM9xmt5HowPUKmqs64XElEKSPrl2h49ZeLu3kOkE752HwpXFq8t-hm3mroOPBAVJeNg/s1600/Yellow+Wagtail+17th+April+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605886834632440306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oFQhj0yQSrtT53w2XpoR0oAJuVeqUhndarFbBeTig1MPwrnSRw9vGeCaVPxpQtZQCtpm1kMilM9xmt5HowPUKmqs64XElEKSPrl2h49ZeLu3kOkE752HwpXFq8t-hm3mroOPBAVJeNg/s400/Yellow+Wagtail+17th+April+2011.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodKCitdN1qmBSbWV193QNbjLQI6EzFThGKiTfs_caZJMYfWHPuGZ3029l2Q1YbotEfM-PeExHqXt9zZE8DBOobWWTh4vtCjmBOLMenvaSD4ERK5fnsMhCWTQ33XdjOxave6TD5NBOy3s/s1600/Robin+17th+April+2011+a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605886828438046498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodKCitdN1qmBSbWV193QNbjLQI6EzFThGKiTfs_caZJMYfWHPuGZ3029l2Q1YbotEfM-PeExHqXt9zZE8DBOobWWTh4vtCjmBOLMenvaSD4ERK5fnsMhCWTQ33XdjOxave6TD5NBOy3s/s400/Robin+17th+April+2011+a.jpg" /></a>Above & below: 'Continental' Robin - 20 miles offshore. At 11:32AM this bird took off high NE, next stop Scandinavia. The best Robin I ever did see!</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpeprxoq1OtmOAqwMral5dgD4wXkB0Zq2dNYQVcs3KSSgi400lGtIWd5vdhvZ0kxCPpxMu2dn23U0KEbZcYvjgvHzAWISaOiNMjOurIIXmLdWFCSC-jrwgx6V3jPBm9gSEaesO9OPxAg/s1600/Robin+17th+April+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605886829274347666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpeprxoq1OtmOAqwMral5dgD4wXkB0Zq2dNYQVcs3KSSgi400lGtIWd5vdhvZ0kxCPpxMu2dn23U0KEbZcYvjgvHzAWISaOiNMjOurIIXmLdWFCSC-jrwgx6V3jPBm9gSEaesO9OPxAg/s400/Robin+17th+April+2011+b.jpg" /></a><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 95px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605886824978083362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuaa-DgwUUd21LeUzoRgJI9RcbuwqKBgruPxcOjTJTThnsjC5iRUVZBmOu_pwFEWopJkDVMixsbmhyphenhyphenL2jhiQLMwDWOoeVwqg3LiycloGbWUgO3R77dAF0DeWxkJKnOvs-lS1rAqnJM3s/s400/Harbour+Porpoise+17th+April+2011.jpg" /><p align="center">Above: Harbour Porpoise.</p>Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-84739946436987286452011-04-14T04:36:00.000-07:002011-04-18T23:39:27.076-07:00Local birding, Lancs: Brockholes NR LWT: 6th-12th April 2011.<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswq6dHrCrnXCIDQDb_jxOqG0ZPJUHBXAG1_L6wfQeXcNrpSjHSZYuZKNq26WDrgwcoOo_QFuwRdlq0lMfmc8JmAoGzRBVRbq6Y9k-CxrD6AmpRGmcq4v2F3QwmYJ6Qgx3uIHwAfAKlig/s1600/Iceland+Gull+Brockholes+Nature+Reserve+LWT+12th+April+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595467009418019698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgswq6dHrCrnXCIDQDb_jxOqG0ZPJUHBXAG1_L6wfQeXcNrpSjHSZYuZKNq26WDrgwcoOo_QFuwRdlq0lMfmc8JmAoGzRBVRbq6Y9k-CxrD6AmpRGmcq4v2F3QwmYJ6Qgx3uIHwAfAKlig/s400/Iceland+Gull+Brockholes+Nature+Reserve+LWT+12th+April+2011+b.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH884BSfuEkVtE-ECE5zUg-uj8LYFYk5-d4m5ROewPcye2vBq0f3xY-Y8dZcMuO2Les76KZdYwU0a3I2jjnQ8gYPqliOCDh8iz2_q8tbDr-6VHaoZIjbePqrPodXTAqRUlV42KFafsGRg/s1600/Iceland+Gull+Brockholes+NR+LWT+12th+Apr+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 305px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595467004819658002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH884BSfuEkVtE-ECE5zUg-uj8LYFYk5-d4m5ROewPcye2vBq0f3xY-Y8dZcMuO2Les76KZdYwU0a3I2jjnQ8gYPqliOCDh8iz2_q8tbDr-6VHaoZIjbePqrPodXTAqRUlV42KFafsGRg/s400/Iceland+Gull+Brockholes+NR+LWT+12th+Apr+2011.jpg" /></a>Above & below: 2cy Iceland Gull - Brockholes NR LWT - 12th April 2011. Found on 'Chain Gang Tuesday' by Volunteer's Tony Parnell, Pete Bainbridge & Robin Shenton as they were working on screen building by one of the new hides on No1 Pit. The bird is the first site record and was only present for c1hr around midday before heading west with the small flock of Lesser Black-backed Gulls it had arrived with. Thanks to the newly revived Brockholes text group, a clinical twitch saw Myself, Tony Disley, Zac Hinchcliffe and Cllr. John F. Wright all sucessfully connect with it before it departed.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEETuxBwF7-7OHPyYqYOpt9kj-XwGpHro43cd1PvjEhMI3ULjrbb9L_ntgFiA8RvLx7gOHtRpKvDaRAKLkQMQ-q21Piu_YvI4989HpxHNcWjPvD_i5BZoip1F_RPOT3QFw2isacfcvhuc/s1600/Iceland+Gull+Brockholes+NR+LWT+12th+April+2011+d.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 292px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595467002389005538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEETuxBwF7-7OHPyYqYOpt9kj-XwGpHro43cd1PvjEhMI3ULjrbb9L_ntgFiA8RvLx7gOHtRpKvDaRAKLkQMQ-q21Piu_YvI4989HpxHNcWjPvD_i5BZoip1F_RPOT3QFw2isacfcvhuc/s400/Iceland+Gull+Brockholes+NR+LWT+12th+April+2011+d.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1sPUfh9kblp3WGPG4yz7K6T4YHjG8q_1Wxv_En8vOGzMnYaVIeuEhDfYwQwy0kir6XHeCg65FRCWqo2-RQlqYl4n9DgU4g3ZZtgBDF_z7MkPJhx_JmuPDXD3E07HLbW6QM0kENoUOReI/s1600/Blackwits+Brockholes+BR+LWT+11th+April+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 155px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595403827210327666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1sPUfh9kblp3WGPG4yz7K6T4YHjG8q_1Wxv_En8vOGzMnYaVIeuEhDfYwQwy0kir6XHeCg65FRCWqo2-RQlqYl4n9DgU4g3ZZtgBDF_z7MkPJhx_JmuPDXD3E07HLbW6QM0kENoUOReI/s400/Blackwits+Brockholes+BR+LWT+11th+April+2011+b.jpg" /></a> Above & below: A few flocks of icelandic Black-tailed Godwits have been recorded passing through the site in the past week presumably on cross country migration, largest flock size 29 on 12th April. </div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUdXeGR9xGLpPaafIEQVsbmQNzBT0ZFyg-UZbkvzYNi6yEONVkXObXqpxKuZh92_XMU8ni1O8l5q8k0x6jOCZL6djo90pi8eNsXv9vn_oCc4qy0Qd8j3E0pIcFjylnQ3GpnTVLfQa5k4/s1600/Blackwits+Brockholes+NR+LWT++11th+April+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 380px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595403820791599154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUdXeGR9xGLpPaafIEQVsbmQNzBT0ZFyg-UZbkvzYNi6yEONVkXObXqpxKuZh92_XMU8ni1O8l5q8k0x6jOCZL6djo90pi8eNsXv9vn_oCc4qy0Qd8j3E0pIcFjylnQ3GpnTVLfQa5k4/s400/Blackwits+Brockholes+NR+LWT++11th+April+2011.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyzvK7L6i9vIUsMMLn1ix9lcScfQ5xPw62gC9_88_YE2PI5nUk59rFzs2I4pHf6HQuNtT5xXi7lpcGLWPsyvvcHTbNUJlC98ac68nR5hPmz8JSqKrH3v-LooRt6MxtHblzeoKDh2ycXs/s1600/Med+Gull+Brockholes+NR+LWT+11th+April+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 347px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595403813730796274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyzvK7L6i9vIUsMMLn1ix9lcScfQ5xPw62gC9_88_YE2PI5nUk59rFzs2I4pHf6HQuNtT5xXi7lpcGLWPsyvvcHTbNUJlC98ac68nR5hPmz8JSqKrH3v-LooRt6MxtHblzeoKDh2ycXs/s400/Med+Gull+Brockholes+NR+LWT+11th+April+2011+b.jpg" /></a> Above & below: A pair of Med Gull dropped in on 12th. It looks as though five different birds have been recorded in recent weeks, including a silver 'BTO-type' ringed adult.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 296px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595403811946602930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaw49_ZkxXRMAZD97dVoZTqbjSdIA4TWMfR1if0wqeDMxku2ntOqockxuKf9JyYgAoSlX0ApsNKP_Zz_Lqcj4D7xJ12jcH-9sFQ02BQ2shfsQlxCKlD4PEXoNuPb5hC_WfLP015NvYK4o/s400/Med+Gull+Brockholes+NR+LWT+11th+April+2011.jpg" /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHx41auDMOAa4wD_soaBD0gaSmy56_eFF9xzjYAd3BB6dOI9usEAxsqytn0fZnZiFQ6E4Dbai7tbLr57Y_T1PY0RPDnbnTwddHhun5HhXsGvuJnxIhwWmgB239eZDgPYKQPYGKLY1-oWI/s1600/Kestrel+Brockholes+8th+April+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 276px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595402707069870226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHx41auDMOAa4wD_soaBD0gaSmy56_eFF9xzjYAd3BB6dOI9usEAxsqytn0fZnZiFQ6E4Dbai7tbLr57Y_T1PY0RPDnbnTwddHhun5HhXsGvuJnxIhwWmgB239eZDgPYKQPYGKLY1-oWI/s400/Kestrel+Brockholes+8th+April+2011.jpg" /></a>Above: Kestrel. </div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAp7ownZisaSSf-yoxbbCnUWypQwuPKlOltJgIZPVhX0U6VoFlB_9s7YPx84qkhgW794VLpbCY_kZldMIzSLnIfCc9lt27uh8HaYSKiSpbKYJH8GDxeQD-7aRQcRI_WS03_6CIZvnNf8/s1600/Tree+Sparrows+Brockholes+8th+April+2011+a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 352px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595402703472204962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAp7ownZisaSSf-yoxbbCnUWypQwuPKlOltJgIZPVhX0U6VoFlB_9s7YPx84qkhgW794VLpbCY_kZldMIzSLnIfCc9lt27uh8HaYSKiSpbKYJH8GDxeQD-7aRQcRI_WS03_6CIZvnNf8/s400/Tree+Sparrows+Brockholes+8th+April+2011+a.jpg" /></a> Above & below: Good to see Tree Sparrows making use of the 'Totem Pole' nest boxes. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFLdmJ11x6WX5mgc2Uh3gAMzVyvzRskTbJKb_RB8DUj7TyQ7V7kqPvUF7cTgVa5cQ_s1O-U4Wq5PezeyoRAhjsQnE1PlraQau5jKwBSC5tPG5My_IImnNPmePgtqupG9c7jsiX6cMDFg/s1600/Tree+Sparrows+Brockholes+8th+April+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 164px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595402703407188978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFLdmJ11x6WX5mgc2Uh3gAMzVyvzRskTbJKb_RB8DUj7TyQ7V7kqPvUF7cTgVa5cQ_s1O-U4Wq5PezeyoRAhjsQnE1PlraQau5jKwBSC5tPG5My_IImnNPmePgtqupG9c7jsiX6cMDFg/s400/Tree+Sparrows+Brockholes+8th+April+2011.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OEM5vH39gciJ6IQTQahrxyEAUFz1SkwDCNnprJfueH5Aj48rvkPcuPRTiz5yfW-A5n03MboVZsP-xT_OMujzH1p8AHN1kj14EnLTEC1ctRxbYJP-oIvmmpapRi0Z4ZS5W8nuIFjPgns/s1600/WCA+Ricky+Hoyle+Brockholes+NR+LWT+12th+April+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595402210512022930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OEM5vH39gciJ6IQTQahrxyEAUFz1SkwDCNnprJfueH5Aj48rvkPcuPRTiz5yfW-A5n03MboVZsP-xT_OMujzH1p8AHN1kj14EnLTEC1ctRxbYJP-oIvmmpapRi0Z4ZS5W8nuIFjPgns/s400/WCA+Ricky+Hoyle+Brockholes+NR+LWT+12th+April+2011.jpg" /></a> Above: Bolton legend Ricky Hoyle (right), 12th April 2011. Haven't seen him for years!</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">Other patch highlights following good coverage by several observers include: 2 Osprey (I have put in 30hrs so far and not connected with one yet!), Yellow Wagtail (always notable nowadays), at least 2 Greenshank, small numbers of Dunlin and a maximum day count of 12 LRP. Whilst the first Whimbrel of the year should be imminent! </div></div></div></div></div></div>Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-23498912793798476732011-04-05T08:58:00.000-07:002011-04-05T09:21:29.296-07:00Local birding, Lancs: Avocets - 5th April 2011.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTmhV8hU7VgQqbsaWb4AQJf9ktZIjw0XCyECdgEl4deD80f58aT5darK9TwZOJuHsPFGqZfXtvaRpOh7PDJhUlA7YfBFLao8Pc0ImQXVzAiNHTW2YeX6jyGoSl-qn8RcCkT_zjXBAJPA/s1600/Avocet+x2+Grimsargh+Reeservoirs%252C+Lancs+5th+April+2011+a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 93px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592130325191468706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuTmhV8hU7VgQqbsaWb4AQJf9ktZIjw0XCyECdgEl4deD80f58aT5darK9TwZOJuHsPFGqZfXtvaRpOh7PDJhUlA7YfBFLao8Pc0ImQXVzAiNHTW2YeX6jyGoSl-qn8RcCkT_zjXBAJPA/s400/Avocet+x2+Grimsargh+Reeservoirs%252C+Lancs+5th+April+2011+a.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrfTVXmWq3eccMMBC70i38VtjSJCxm8eFGXOdXpuOObDglZE8qEeNhLDfcAqzUq-Hwrt1YTlwNKCOsMIVD7sGJx6m3z1GBjsPpmEXmwk-mh9Q3MbN80zE_7U1fGyismTRfZFSFm3wg4Q/s1600/Avocets+x2+Grimsargh+Reservoirs+Lancs+5th+April+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 106px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592130328304972482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrfTVXmWq3eccMMBC70i38VtjSJCxm8eFGXOdXpuOObDglZE8qEeNhLDfcAqzUq-Hwrt1YTlwNKCOsMIVD7sGJx6m3z1GBjsPpmEXmwk-mh9Q3MbN80zE_7U1fGyismTRfZFSFm3wg4Q/s400/Avocets+x2+Grimsargh+Reservoirs+Lancs+5th+April+2011+b.jpg" /></a> These two Avocets were initially found by Pete Bainbridge at the local patch, Brockholes NR LWT, on No1 Pit at 09:00 and represent the third site record, totalling seven individuals, since the first, long overdue record in 2009. At 10:34 they flew high and were lost to view over onsite trees before I had chance to obtain a record shot, but were relocated at 13:30 a few miles to the north of the site at Grimsargh Reservoirs nr Longridge. There they were still present 15:37 at least when I acquired the record shots above.Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-49844422067701121752011-03-31T12:33:00.000-07:002011-03-31T12:48:59.340-07:00Lancs: Iceland Gull & Kittiwake - 31st March 2011.<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplzfhtJntYNL07uYaeRBBsedfaCpvrnT4KvttSmLShs2DvjDdjdJiSWc1WvLtNj_PADGyIs39IAX_uhf0tDsFm-BVzgGRayRYgpfEexleSZU4vV87877LXEzZLAoe92EjbA6z2ZnvUDw/s1600/Iceland+Gull+2CY+Preston+Docks+Lancs+31st+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 332px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590329646973917330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplzfhtJntYNL07uYaeRBBsedfaCpvrnT4KvttSmLShs2DvjDdjdJiSWc1WvLtNj_PADGyIs39IAX_uhf0tDsFm-BVzgGRayRYgpfEexleSZU4vV87877LXEzZLAoe92EjbA6z2ZnvUDw/s400/Iceland+Gull+2CY+Preston+Docks+Lancs+31st+March+2011.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSISeWAsPu9lugChQBkvDgzKcD-izEPnSm0kEEKSd6LEY5swFl5upjvvU5SpmuZquWl70zt5nea7Qzlf6-GM0I3y5t1633HRbL5O2UI93Dcl9bEUQJjWVHm0e-sjsKRCPS9kmy7fQN3s/s1600/Iceland+Gull+2CY+Preston+Docks+Lancs+31st+March+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 354px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590329646683883074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSISeWAsPu9lugChQBkvDgzKcD-izEPnSm0kEEKSd6LEY5swFl5upjvvU5SpmuZquWl70zt5nea7Qzlf6-GM0I3y5t1633HRbL5O2UI93Dcl9bEUQJjWVHm0e-sjsKRCPS9kmy7fQN3s/s400/Iceland+Gull+2CY+Preston+Docks+Lancs+31st+March+2011+b.jpg" /></a>Above: 2cy Iceland Gull</div><br /><div align="center">Below: Ad Kittiwake</div><br /><div align="center">Preston Docks, Lancs - 31st March 2011. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTKhhi3tlZaQ5BA3Bpb-KztrobHNlKy7MWUx66vMlnFRIjve6Q4mXWEw9hBVDw97moAXGVay_r9qCnxrNNeXdhHDS7HPHYC28NCjG_zywkwOuWmkFG-G_rUqX7gDI1hBUnFZqNnIgxyI/s1600/Kittiwake+AD+Preston+Docks+Lancs+31st+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590329640210958082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTKhhi3tlZaQ5BA3Bpb-KztrobHNlKy7MWUx66vMlnFRIjve6Q4mXWEw9hBVDw97moAXGVay_r9qCnxrNNeXdhHDS7HPHYC28NCjG_zywkwOuWmkFG-G_rUqX7gDI1hBUnFZqNnIgxyI/s400/Kittiwake+AD+Preston+Docks+Lancs+31st+March+2011.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoBNw0_QSuKs4eopLfJFUmUtMhv8btMNyY4qrhy180_9hsk4sTz192_ahF-AHvStvnNxr3V-SXTWWIJZs8R_Uszz4lJKDHNeRw48YQ-_UtPRwRKWb4mGb0XjkPw-fPh4LGkuaxBZYHBc/s1600/Kittiwake+AD+Preston+Docks+Lancs+31st+March+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 222px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590329637273464066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoBNw0_QSuKs4eopLfJFUmUtMhv8btMNyY4qrhy180_9hsk4sTz192_ahF-AHvStvnNxr3V-SXTWWIJZs8R_Uszz4lJKDHNeRw48YQ-_UtPRwRKWb4mGb0XjkPw-fPh4LGkuaxBZYHBc/s400/Kittiwake+AD+Preston+Docks+Lancs+31st+March+2011+b.jpg" /></a> 1.5hrs at Brockholes NR LWT mid-late morning provided me with a yeartick in the form of 2 Swallow and also my first 2 White Wagtail of 2011. At least 50 Sand Martin were in the area, 5 LRP and 3 Ringed Plover, 14 Curlew, 2 Redshank and a Snipe, but nothing obviously brought in by the strong SW wind during my visit. <br /><br />During the afternoon, a trip into Preston with my Wife provided an opportunity to call in at Preston Docks beforehand. The long-staying Juv Iceland Gull was immediately obvious upon arrival at 13:45 and a bonus bird in the form of a Kittiwake, a species I was hoping for at Brockholes earlier in the day, was also present.Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-26508809841313899832011-03-30T10:00:00.001-07:002011-03-31T01:32:49.293-07:00Western Isles inc. Mull - 27th-29th March 2011.<p align="center"><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyULu0v_gXyvcRCmy28mMwEn_RTpTa0DlP1E1I1bJ4q5tN_D8yFtHjpbmXwm-c_ltVw0Hhkqs0g6jRabBBcGQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VZaQF5Ggxme_eeZv4NjUQpycY6OM-1lYZ-UJzWNZnqWdReJ5s4DLnDX8qS1xUmgFvORUzOXqLOhyuii-LDwQy76atxEoPp-1j4YLGX_hKDaUyKtNwAfw6h_mFufVULfaVIPJo_njScg/s1600/Pied+billed+Grebe+Salen+Bay+Mull+29th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589954286954319778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VZaQF5Ggxme_eeZv4NjUQpycY6OM-1lYZ-UJzWNZnqWdReJ5s4DLnDX8qS1xUmgFvORUzOXqLOhyuii-LDwQy76atxEoPp-1j4YLGX_hKDaUyKtNwAfw6h_mFufVULfaVIPJo_njScg/s400/Pied+billed+Grebe+Salen+Bay+Mull+29th+March+2011.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz79MFftKlmE1DAzX_56z4LLV_NXCwl8t7XiQZvW7JbChDRUwIRwkBmkgRW0qPhipz_zF5jqVqETOQZMzoM8KJUmMNfSlbEPkKl6PiuZTF2CBQxDlb88S0RDxdui4xKlKe_g-i2O68XIs/s1600/Pied-billed+Grebe+Salen+Bay+Mull+29th+March+2011+a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589954274707870194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz79MFftKlmE1DAzX_56z4LLV_NXCwl8t7XiQZvW7JbChDRUwIRwkBmkgRW0qPhipz_zF5jqVqETOQZMzoM8KJUmMNfSlbEPkKl6PiuZTF2CBQxDlb88S0RDxdui4xKlKe_g-i2O68XIs/s400/Pied-billed+Grebe+Salen+Bay+Mull+29th+March+2011+a.jpg" /></a> Above & below: Pied-billed Grebe, Salen Bay, Mull. Three videograbs of this excellent but elusive and frustratingly mobile bird taken at 350x magnification. <br /><div align="center"></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kG5ddpxcsEQDX1c0Udghy7EG0Q1pbXv3kUOHHaTDzbyeAUTTU2FNxrFTdZV8aYFZatKjMO9IZIrlG9vUOrHGJP_hYU8TS5bPRkvIok2pOZqVgDWlr05Wm0lfZ9KU30u6vgCvr1oi7MQ/s1600/Pied-billed+Grebe+Salen+Bay+Mull+29th+March+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589954271200277122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kG5ddpxcsEQDX1c0Udghy7EG0Q1pbXv3kUOHHaTDzbyeAUTTU2FNxrFTdZV8aYFZatKjMO9IZIrlG9vUOrHGJP_hYU8TS5bPRkvIok2pOZqVgDWlr05Wm0lfZ9KU30u6vgCvr1oi7MQ/s400/Pied-billed+Grebe+Salen+Bay+Mull+29th+March+2011+b.jpg" /></a> <br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-MpdSop8s83N3AWVyi2ygWlRlBaBTIOLtcQ9PQOK60VKHsOHTbsR4-3i3HFSmgO0np3zUjd84oQLcmxMTmrxqusFrDDw4N2OJYZoOrnNk1a_Uwb6EetpqltdVaayBBLpnAQp0ONkK_w/s1600/Basking+Shark+28th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 126px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589954065707460482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-MpdSop8s83N3AWVyi2ygWlRlBaBTIOLtcQ9PQOK60VKHsOHTbsR4-3i3HFSmgO0np3zUjd84oQLcmxMTmrxqusFrDDw4N2OJYZoOrnNk1a_Uwb6EetpqltdVaayBBLpnAQp0ONkK_w/s400/Basking+Shark+28th+March+2011.jpg" /></a> Above: Basking Shark, 28th March 2011. The first Scottish record this year and only the third in UK and Irish waters so far in 2011. Common Dolphin also seen.</div><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Away from Mull, I was fortunate to be involved with the finding of two more White-billed Divers. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM59VyO9BHp2p6GysD8tBwMM3Oj13WUkRQ2kmkl6Jw9S-iXWcEjvzw5UoUVOpl1-qgHVkUKyMqiz-Hn6AovsvMoHaPIIfB_LSOfO_GQkeQeZufs4njFS9-vwukRUS32AscGINAn4Hq3A/s1600/WBD+%2528bird+1%2529+27th+March+2011+W.C.+%2528Bill%2529+Aspin+a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 373px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 192px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589953905598859826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM59VyO9BHp2p6GysD8tBwMM3Oj13WUkRQ2kmkl6Jw9S-iXWcEjvzw5UoUVOpl1-qgHVkUKyMqiz-Hn6AovsvMoHaPIIfB_LSOfO_GQkeQeZufs4njFS9-vwukRUS32AscGINAn4Hq3A/s400/WBD+%2528bird+1%2529+27th+March+2011+W.C.+%2528Bill%2529+Aspin+a.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNaBbiiOS48d5bdnVzK6BcUKDNZn6oOhUjibUvZ2Jf-E8RbPCyqIkf-wPOlP_vAj1de1gJDUBZdwKePvn1FOYXAzmyna8hYV0ou-scfZvkKa3rhKD7PRXJkUcIP_eVEwHqflSYkOgS2w/s1600/WBD+%2528bird+1%2529+27th+March+2011+W.C.+%2528Bill%2529+Aspin+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 175px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589953901716630866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNaBbiiOS48d5bdnVzK6BcUKDNZn6oOhUjibUvZ2Jf-E8RbPCyqIkf-wPOlP_vAj1de1gJDUBZdwKePvn1FOYXAzmyna8hYV0ou-scfZvkKa3rhKD7PRXJkUcIP_eVEwHqflSYkOgS2w/s400/WBD+%2528bird+1%2529+27th+March+2011+W.C.+%2528Bill%2529+Aspin+b.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjF22_4cMRlrbSq_OddAtPeWd0fK7C-aZ06s8yZOmxNBq0usVnTylBbK1vmOHVZidlFXbSKXoblZVcJSbUkCafn9hRM8OJYAGSJDKlooykXi27ojDisFTqIuaOQL3YX7yDPzda7LClKWw/s1600/WBD+%2528bird+1%2529+27th+March+2011+W.C.+%2528Bill%2529+Aspin+c.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 383px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 179px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589953893820656562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjF22_4cMRlrbSq_OddAtPeWd0fK7C-aZ06s8yZOmxNBq0usVnTylBbK1vmOHVZidlFXbSKXoblZVcJSbUkCafn9hRM8OJYAGSJDKlooykXi27ojDisFTqIuaOQL3YX7yDPzda7LClKWw/s400/WBD+%2528bird+1%2529+27th+March+2011+W.C.+%2528Bill%2529+Aspin+c.jpg" /></a> <br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0qWiddMdUUyG8w39sHNEfZ26nib7NLpkhm_xaLrmoUzi-N9k_Rp2ET4A4eBvlsFx8lmx12Jti6ql4KMw2ezVSUR7M6WGoUD_Of9WG_M2wzOGkLL2vgwpibydSGxDwZtqjexklKZgacg/s1600/WBD+%2528bird+1%2529+27th+March+2011+W.C.+%2528Bill%2529+Aspin+d.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 158px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589953889414002930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0qWiddMdUUyG8w39sHNEfZ26nib7NLpkhm_xaLrmoUzi-N9k_Rp2ET4A4eBvlsFx8lmx12Jti6ql4KMw2ezVSUR7M6WGoUD_Of9WG_M2wzOGkLL2vgwpibydSGxDwZtqjexklKZgacg/s400/WBD+%2528bird+1%2529+27th+March+2011+W.C.+%2528Bill%2529+Aspin+d.jpg" /></a> Above: The first WBD - 27th March 2011.</div><br /><div align="center">Below: The second WBD - 28th March 2011.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hgAblQ8-1fJ0ERLt5j-GPzokSKttB2f8T8DJHkzaXeI_e2jnCE5wmq7BTAC6kDccMizFtxHG2kIdKuJOnSBozu4_adUrxBahaM2c66xfr7tK0vUJtO2XbCALbG_X-su5YAIq__F413w/s1600/WBD+%2528bird+2%2529+28th+March+2011+W.C.+%2528Bil%2529+Aspin+c.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 167px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589953605481599666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hgAblQ8-1fJ0ERLt5j-GPzokSKttB2f8T8DJHkzaXeI_e2jnCE5wmq7BTAC6kDccMizFtxHG2kIdKuJOnSBozu4_adUrxBahaM2c66xfr7tK0vUJtO2XbCALbG_X-su5YAIq__F413w/s400/WBD+%2528bird+2%2529+28th+March+2011+W.C.+%2528Bil%2529+Aspin+c.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmp6NKpzQY2Hm6hZnDylesHFKy5LtL31llBSpAFg7N7iyvTDPhu_Tj5sioaWDKb0WF7u_YcKjb6OlREdDSZoc6MLuybRWhsIosA2wkGXYk1H8gtcE31wWQt_zIaS1QzpL3aQ8JH9rRu5A/s1600/WBD+%2528bird+2%2529+28th+March+2011+W.C.+%2528Bill%2529+Aspin+a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 212px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589953599674973938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmp6NKpzQY2Hm6hZnDylesHFKy5LtL31llBSpAFg7N7iyvTDPhu_Tj5sioaWDKb0WF7u_YcKjb6OlREdDSZoc6MLuybRWhsIosA2wkGXYk1H8gtcE31wWQt_zIaS1QzpL3aQ8JH9rRu5A/s400/WBD+%2528bird+2%2529+28th+March+2011+W.C.+%2528Bill%2529+Aspin+a.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyH2Cw1xrOE32z8xLIaeEfdmmMbEtxtEEXs9Qxg7dzLcBOvrf6ehKYfS_jpFgUprQmgx-aIRyFQvum3X9c0xnAaQTHFccyV3T-_IHHkN34X53OdBs5XRcNIF1IzzwxxrIVjq5-YxaJME/s1600/WBD+%2528bird+2%2529+28th+March+2011+W.C.+%2528Bill%2529+Aspin+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 175px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589953413334511922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyH2Cw1xrOE32z8xLIaeEfdmmMbEtxtEEXs9Qxg7dzLcBOvrf6ehKYfS_jpFgUprQmgx-aIRyFQvum3X9c0xnAaQTHFccyV3T-_IHHkN34X53OdBs5XRcNIF1IzzwxxrIVjq5-YxaJME/s400/WBD+%2528bird+2%2529+28th+March+2011+W.C.+%2528Bill%2529+Aspin+b.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KrR-y4ma0KQMMYJOUSrNysE8UaT3sK6MhkG3zfGfBFYW0y0sOPO6uY6QD0yMwGoZfxjOm3ynPZ1c9ijRS9TIjhODtLngNSUk4IPRUbqm7psZKaPS9rD2njdBeNc4dci-dKc667elPM4/s1600/WBD+%2528bird+2%2529+28th+March+2011+W.C.+%2528Bill%2529+Aspin+d.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 192px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589953411640786690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KrR-y4ma0KQMMYJOUSrNysE8UaT3sK6MhkG3zfGfBFYW0y0sOPO6uY6QD0yMwGoZfxjOm3ynPZ1c9ijRS9TIjhODtLngNSUk4IPRUbqm7psZKaPS9rD2njdBeNc4dci-dKc667elPM4/s400/WBD+%2528bird+2%2529+28th+March+2011+W.C.+%2528Bill%2529+Aspin+d.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHULM47Q532aGlMFBI9IxFpyr8osYovg-VQjC7ifG39KggsaQOVIEnj0iKLIZn7ZwYmZ8c2wG-ieW2DXyTA1oFdLgcj1A4PCJ5zzlbAdzPRQ1ee-8aipqOTKnfuaN3Ldbh5R0ixdwbjE/s1600/WBD+%2528bird+2%2529+28th+March+2011+W.C.+%2528Bill%2529+Aspin+e.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 197px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589953401472581762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHULM47Q532aGlMFBI9IxFpyr8osYovg-VQjC7ifG39KggsaQOVIEnj0iKLIZn7ZwYmZ8c2wG-ieW2DXyTA1oFdLgcj1A4PCJ5zzlbAdzPRQ1ee-8aipqOTKnfuaN3Ldbh5R0ixdwbjE/s400/WBD+%2528bird+2%2529+28th+March+2011+W.C.+%2528Bill%2529+Aspin+e.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IrijjAC1yXAbOLD6mm6rcPj38FGkWMnvh-79UDI7IjLlvu34EvdSYzbjTFdsi8DZS6nIswxaqf21Mt4M4diH6MrlrdNFMyROe-ehNHr7deuEprOO0jUyjmwchD_TH_enqte2YNZSHHQ/s1600/WBD+%2528bird+2%2529+28th+March+2011+W.C.+%2528Bill%2529+Aspin+f.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 187px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589953397549656130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IrijjAC1yXAbOLD6mm6rcPj38FGkWMnvh-79UDI7IjLlvu34EvdSYzbjTFdsi8DZS6nIswxaqf21Mt4M4diH6MrlrdNFMyROe-ehNHr7deuEprOO0jUyjmwchD_TH_enqte2YNZSHHQ/s400/WBD+%2528bird+2%2529+28th+March+2011+W.C.+%2528Bill%2529+Aspin+f.jpg" /></a> <br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGUmopjzRTBmNr4V706yLUOZC9qWhPv1v5dCsZOIKMC4zskiApm0PX5YVF94Td9H3f7XSTUEZJhEfvNC8lmts24I-UuPqlyf06pt9hJEQaUcj-kZqn9ICzubzLneQNALU6ZViUZJsBb8/s1600/WBD+%2528bird+2%2529+28th+March+2011+W.C.+%2528Bill%2529+Aspin+g.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 174px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589953395198246658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGUmopjzRTBmNr4V706yLUOZC9qWhPv1v5dCsZOIKMC4zskiApm0PX5YVF94Td9H3f7XSTUEZJhEfvNC8lmts24I-UuPqlyf06pt9hJEQaUcj-kZqn9ICzubzLneQNALU6ZViUZJsBb8/s400/WBD+%2528bird+2%2529+28th+March+2011+W.C.+%2528Bill%2529+Aspin+g.jpg" /></a> Below: Great Northern Diver. A few hundred seen. One birder on Mull counted 69 in Loch Na Keal alone. How many thousands must winter off the coast of Britain and Ireland? 17, mainly summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe were seen in Loch Na Keal and a Red-necked Grebe which I saw at the beginning of March was still present very distantly in Laggan Bay, Loch Tuath. Wheatears were clearly well in with several around the shoreline of Loch Na Keal</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pNqKJp0BZZ1hARo-fuC7UfB7de3p22puHtfIuS8k6BAR1_ZdM11-ZpWOw4DyBPUJ6vVbErgqyHZEFI5T4xrRVfZM2fza4CWmeKAAkO4M5sdxJzWdH-QrbLT6vzitC_Xy3n8R5UmfnyA/s1600/GND+28th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 201px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589953078051261778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8pNqKJp0BZZ1hARo-fuC7UfB7de3p22puHtfIuS8k6BAR1_ZdM11-ZpWOw4DyBPUJ6vVbErgqyHZEFI5T4xrRVfZM2fza4CWmeKAAkO4M5sdxJzWdH-QrbLT6vzitC_Xy3n8R5UmfnyA/s400/GND+28th+March+2011.jpg" /></a> <br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNuoLEifzYmGXuB5fbdyEQMQOeifr7cJ4rlGtw0uJKw8tuRQ5yk3Raddqw8ZknnMzVfBwcVEgY-Ib4tbzk9q5QcpXOItO-hI1NHblbFL0mEz_vGmduzDFzSLv6i7inIo92a3t33Jfzsk/s1600/Razorbill+%2526+Guillemot+29th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 190px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589952931775268898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNuoLEifzYmGXuB5fbdyEQMQOeifr7cJ4rlGtw0uJKw8tuRQ5yk3Raddqw8ZknnMzVfBwcVEgY-Ib4tbzk9q5QcpXOItO-hI1NHblbFL0mEz_vGmduzDFzSLv6i7inIo92a3t33Jfzsk/s400/Razorbill+%2526+Guillemot+29th+March+2011.jpg" /></a> Above: Three Razorbill & a single Guillemot. </div><br /><div align="center"></div>On Mull, a pair of Peregrine are delighting birders and tourists alike at Tobermory Harbour. For those familiar with Tobermory, the birds perch on the Church by the waterfront shops, allowing brilliant views and photos in between hunting sorties, terrorising the Feral Pigeon population as they chase their intended prey low over the buildings. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jhQX2uFkM4FMYyWF3gRwpJlbJOyW4V-r7SZCYpS-g8CGt_jMCZUJZYFnlB0STA4PUpalvhIM4NHW0NrW3a2r5bnmPaGyK3-1KdMrwVpk8CIcn73KTuCDzrrF154UhKG6kgCdtJSQToE/s1600/Peregrine+Tobermory+Mull+29th+March+2011+a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 313px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589952792932548386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jhQX2uFkM4FMYyWF3gRwpJlbJOyW4V-r7SZCYpS-g8CGt_jMCZUJZYFnlB0STA4PUpalvhIM4NHW0NrW3a2r5bnmPaGyK3-1KdMrwVpk8CIcn73KTuCDzrrF154UhKG6kgCdtJSQToE/s400/Peregrine+Tobermory+Mull+29th+March+2011+a.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiednj_4slgqNMFeFVhA2eziiRlJSg2RlRV8qi9a67rMWPbGmV-Nc9JhFbYOh7QjkG19dfch4l77oMpMKbp_ndqbQPSAI6caVkrzNU4X4ho1qVSVPTmYB2QomIllrMrUFLsOi8Fh05odrE/s1600/Peregrine+Tobermory+Mull+29th+March+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 393px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589952697962618242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiednj_4slgqNMFeFVhA2eziiRlJSg2RlRV8qi9a67rMWPbGmV-Nc9JhFbYOh7QjkG19dfch4l77oMpMKbp_ndqbQPSAI6caVkrzNU4X4ho1qVSVPTmYB2QomIllrMrUFLsOi8Fh05odrE/s400/Peregrine+Tobermory+Mull+29th+March+2011+b.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nzb60PDcUyso7gR-ZatI2vqutApxoOZOk5ONwWvnp_8IPqrBkjcULVxLawkr7sD8PXjAT9gGR8ZHyhfKffrEJzHEQ52ya-_NtRRGfRuTOu49gyx6RCPfvYTLOqH5Zq1MpGl6CGlkh8E/s1600/Peregrine+Tobermory+Mull+29th+March+2011+c.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 323px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589952588312547794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nzb60PDcUyso7gR-ZatI2vqutApxoOZOk5ONwWvnp_8IPqrBkjcULVxLawkr7sD8PXjAT9gGR8ZHyhfKffrEJzHEQ52ya-_NtRRGfRuTOu49gyx6RCPfvYTLOqH5Zq1MpGl6CGlkh8E/s400/Peregrine+Tobermory+Mull+29th+March+2011+c.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnVRGuj2a0vDbwrsNEkksNZim9lu2AtqT0d9bLZXBMzhCbfaVZ_DnK8TB2Wa1jn9FFmpBRQ02d0PdX8lgFatDjBkoCDY-wT3fFGA7rWM1Azexg6ydbF7V4ik8pDTy1xTUy7V-OxUF2rA/s1600/Peregrine+flight+Tobermory+Mull+29th+March+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 308px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589952443845709042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnVRGuj2a0vDbwrsNEkksNZim9lu2AtqT0d9bLZXBMzhCbfaVZ_DnK8TB2Wa1jn9FFmpBRQ02d0PdX8lgFatDjBkoCDY-wT3fFGA7rWM1Azexg6ydbF7V4ik8pDTy1xTUy7V-OxUF2rA/s400/Peregrine+flight+Tobermory+Mull+29th+March+2011+b.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0fX0W2uaJbVTSXDHCRcJOQfxT9RARSwHfIprGBLCsO4_XjvSu9cn9kNNUjRdt4KGRK4i5uaAEEv28aKOw5mbVvFzwox_DxrYJow1lkHYKZmpjUGaW8Vbm7446NCHRnNsG90an4JzZLs/s1600/Peregrine+flight+Tobermory+Mull+29th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 361px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589952438820230530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0fX0W2uaJbVTSXDHCRcJOQfxT9RARSwHfIprGBLCsO4_XjvSu9cn9kNNUjRdt4KGRK4i5uaAEEv28aKOw5mbVvFzwox_DxrYJow1lkHYKZmpjUGaW8Vbm7446NCHRnNsG90an4JzZLs/s400/Peregrine+flight+Tobermory+Mull+29th+March+2011.jpg" /></a> <br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoZZWAbe4cDCjE5SWuiWOKW2q0w7O_TG24zzeskkKINH70_PHjRNOr4MpwFjMXdoTmPmIk6ZpCLoVq4h4i_2L4XOLXGST6v4RqT89JAFF16OQDgbniYLUUvUu-Q58mAvNiChoEF4JXcY/s1600/Buzzard+Mull+29th+March+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 274px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589919782638223762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoZZWAbe4cDCjE5SWuiWOKW2q0w7O_TG24zzeskkKINH70_PHjRNOr4MpwFjMXdoTmPmIk6ZpCLoVq4h4i_2L4XOLXGST6v4RqT89JAFF16OQDgbniYLUUvUu-Q58mAvNiChoEF4JXcY/s400/Buzzard+Mull+29th+March+2011+b.jpg" /></a> Above & below: Common Buzzard.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEqgDhLMU-plMkr-QGNnwG1tGmJOlnuY4BiXgJjDy7UCHXVnii347ARcC5CFgCalrXM6bP-hJR4wNtk0U6XgpkLvEfFaedAedXGkhY3mgnk1G_LNkXzjwhDT5DDiP3Ltzn3aRPfYWMk8/s1600/Buzzard+Mull+29th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 264px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589919782754292018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEqgDhLMU-plMkr-QGNnwG1tGmJOlnuY4BiXgJjDy7UCHXVnii347ARcC5CFgCalrXM6bP-hJR4wNtk0U6XgpkLvEfFaedAedXGkhY3mgnk1G_LNkXzjwhDT5DDiP3Ltzn3aRPfYWMk8/s400/Buzzard+Mull+29th+March+2011.jpg" /></a> <br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rRTG0IN2KoGs9q8_fMTGJoPEQAIB9Xi9iex-S2hBDaK697NvOB0y4Fq-6KRRrslqZp0zebFvO-qJVXP32Zr4lQkbiKGeB_zJ71OS9KLu7aIePjiLuIhX2mBWWxAoh6s9kVCoYP9V_vI/s1600/Golden+Eagle+Loch+Na+Keal+Mull+29th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 275px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589919615111147666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rRTG0IN2KoGs9q8_fMTGJoPEQAIB9Xi9iex-S2hBDaK697NvOB0y4Fq-6KRRrslqZp0zebFvO-qJVXP32Zr4lQkbiKGeB_zJ71OS9KLu7aIePjiLuIhX2mBWWxAoh6s9kVCoYP9V_vI/s400/Golden+Eagle+Loch+Na+Keal+Mull+29th+March+2011.jpg" /></a>Above: Golden Eagle, Loch Na Keal, Mull. A couple 0f White-tailed Eagles were seen on a distant nest at another location. </div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIRGfpc5xdaJhyphenhyphen1tMqxAH1ZbrtRBAaAdeu1LQappM6Y6RKpp7zz020GvNdkZc0pYFc4s0Mpbs7uJfDEXYhrzd6VScxwW20j53fS71FdDM5a7t_k8lRAQNpln2VcgT6uwsX5B9ZQlt2o4/s1600/Otter+Salen+Bay+Mull+29th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589948853336635618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvIRGfpc5xdaJhyphenhyphen1tMqxAH1ZbrtRBAaAdeu1LQappM6Y6RKpp7zz020GvNdkZc0pYFc4s0Mpbs7uJfDEXYhrzd6VScxwW20j53fS71FdDM5a7t_k8lRAQNpln2VcgT6uwsX5B9ZQlt2o4/s400/Otter+Salen+Bay+Mull+29th+March+2011.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEYpEnnN4YChHmTYOsUmlAIDABYPLzbkpHZbQUeNhjIJrTTyjDgmJkVzZvc-H6-jR-SPRPKvXG0-xdQrS_a4jbDVK66r9uuLsRwSXyNP4rzUR-OBIRcq8d8WgRqIe3J7rv8ukAxRral8/s1600/Otter+Salen+Bay+Mull+29th+March+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 225px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589919605457772898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEYpEnnN4YChHmTYOsUmlAIDABYPLzbkpHZbQUeNhjIJrTTyjDgmJkVzZvc-H6-jR-SPRPKvXG0-xdQrS_a4jbDVK66r9uuLsRwSXyNP4rzUR-OBIRcq8d8WgRqIe3J7rv8ukAxRral8/s400/Otter+Salen+Bay+Mull+29th+March+2011+b.jpg" /></a>Above: One of two Otter stubbornly remaining on the blind side of a rock. Four Otter seen at different locations on 29th. Mull truly is the Otter capital of Britain! </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbg3ga_lyfpM0ROYWEWQK5HbJveuhFWepxQMZRP93FXFKG1LeywGWzbvoqkNy9bu_RX3RrJPxI8Tnf0aYiAxepOlkSKhUWEhDqnVy8J-2__IBwdB13d0vhUwgobyVgiAi-SygR5ZBUDg/s1600/Rock+Pipit+Mull+29th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 330px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589919212306288322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbg3ga_lyfpM0ROYWEWQK5HbJveuhFWepxQMZRP93FXFKG1LeywGWzbvoqkNy9bu_RX3RrJPxI8Tnf0aYiAxepOlkSKhUWEhDqnVy8J-2__IBwdB13d0vhUwgobyVgiAi-SygR5ZBUDg/s400/Rock+Pipit+Mull+29th+March+2011.jpg" /></a> Above: Rock Pipit.</div>Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-69668414024187757892011-03-25T07:27:00.000-07:002011-03-25T08:09:00.458-07:00Lancs: Lesser Scaup, Marshside RSPB - 22nd March 2011.A good days birding on the south Ribble Marshes was largely spent in the Marshside area watching the 2cy drake Lesser Scaup on the 'Junction Pool'. Unfortunately it was mostly into the sun viewing as the skies were blue and a heathaze was evident. A good Lesser Scaup, better in 'the flesh' than some images viewed over the weekend, suggesting a potentially anomalous rear-headshape. Only my 3rd ever, all have been drakes.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZZrlTCLmkLeyYhB8HIKf9ymJugjmH32WDkXE8ao1fzz-esE3Zw2ZZAGuDMYTAWzjMqbALRIyXeRmY9FeTrT0m1UuTstI8Gg7vGmEr0JX3FGKdh0w3fAFAy_FRIyg61lAgM60Y87iL9A/s1600/Lesser+Scaup+1stw+drake+Marshside+Lancs+22md+March+2011a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 244px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588026872478936066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZZrlTCLmkLeyYhB8HIKf9ymJugjmH32WDkXE8ao1fzz-esE3Zw2ZZAGuDMYTAWzjMqbALRIyXeRmY9FeTrT0m1UuTstI8Gg7vGmEr0JX3FGKdh0w3fAFAy_FRIyg61lAgM60Y87iL9A/s400/Lesser+Scaup+1stw+drake+Marshside+Lancs+22md+March+2011a.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpoawSDei4GMju5acL6hWo3r47Rlp-k9Rrblx8GKldzosfAARkPKCsAcvy0UbTzbZ1Ic_dyww8feJAPmxgLHe3YSHi1R5RT-f6GwmkdYAQNbIUQZ77JftZtMB5NUj_bWzF0dIHoopAzE/s1600/Lesser+Scaup+1stw+drake+Marshside+Lancs+22nd+March+2011b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 211px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588026868464160642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWpoawSDei4GMju5acL6hWo3r47Rlp-k9Rrblx8GKldzosfAARkPKCsAcvy0UbTzbZ1Ic_dyww8feJAPmxgLHe3YSHi1R5RT-f6GwmkdYAQNbIUQZ77JftZtMB5NUj_bWzF0dIHoopAzE/s400/Lesser+Scaup+1stw+drake+Marshside+Lancs+22nd+March+2011b.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center">Above & below: 2cy drake Lesser Scaup, Marshside RSPB, Lancs - 22nd March 2011.</div><div align="center">Below: About to dive, change in headshape.<br /></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZOItKMVqpA7PTTEYcwltPkih0LC2o2AXcSoKCSCqtb-HriXfeeWfFkJ5MFpQqb3618zWrAZ68tkSoDxtEURgU95I9nrVB78zJGpvwNGsy-DMfyI7JmZJqmBRSqSzhR9puO_9kOgzFLw/s1600/Lesser+Scaup+pre+dive+Marshside+22nd+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 174px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588026867519471074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZOItKMVqpA7PTTEYcwltPkih0LC2o2AXcSoKCSCqtb-HriXfeeWfFkJ5MFpQqb3618zWrAZ68tkSoDxtEURgU95I9nrVB78zJGpvwNGsy-DMfyI7JmZJqmBRSqSzhR9puO_9kOgzFLw/s400/Lesser+Scaup+pre+dive+Marshside+22nd+March+2011.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4cMFqp4DvRvsWV66iNqjhZAIuCBtsoocu_ngTewX_wuC7Wr9QPX45HCH0913iks7SavaYtHdVqpjjtq8Bc1y12HCAlbFf2hASSwdp__imb-J3qckfa9K7uh2zWh4nv4OEdkGKkh5Y-s/s1600/Lesser+Scaup+%2526+Tufted+Marshside+22nd+March+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 141px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588026864791138962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4cMFqp4DvRvsWV66iNqjhZAIuCBtsoocu_ngTewX_wuC7Wr9QPX45HCH0913iks7SavaYtHdVqpjjtq8Bc1y12HCAlbFf2hASSwdp__imb-J3qckfa9K7uh2zWh4nv4OEdkGKkh5Y-s/s400/Lesser+Scaup+%2526+Tufted+Marshside+22nd+March+2011+b.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20mbXhZf7ER9ioliWjaHOMM1L4FkTzGVW-rkBtiXszm1zlZJRXgfr6RMGEoWzwfD6f6AvXlkvys3qO4D10rxlfu2Ibpi5F-_-iZfmOukZnJjkWyjgawCy29b4ceqGTqTX3iIrmQfge3M/s1600/Lesser+Scaup+Marshside+RSPB+Lancs+22nd+March+2011+hauled+out.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 258px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588031957588542594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20mbXhZf7ER9ioliWjaHOMM1L4FkTzGVW-rkBtiXszm1zlZJRXgfr6RMGEoWzwfD6f6AvXlkvys3qO4D10rxlfu2Ibpi5F-_-iZfmOukZnJjkWyjgawCy29b4ceqGTqTX3iIrmQfge3M/s400/Lesser+Scaup+Marshside+RSPB+Lancs+22nd+March+2011+hauled+out.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAu4bXFHs3pGV4kbBubN6VVQ3HQu5Vs443l3sNi-HuoLrU1yVRs3pSbZtxK9rjD6pSUj6L-lRhVZxUylMr5X-An92GC_Zg4LLrEddrw0dBGiYw5TQJmFL2dYFVTBgChQg3-ciAi9kEZo/s1600/Lesser+Scaup+1stw+drake+Marshside+RSPB+Lancs+22nd+March+2011+roost+profile.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588032312647503794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAu4bXFHs3pGV4kbBubN6VVQ3HQu5Vs443l3sNi-HuoLrU1yVRs3pSbZtxK9rjD6pSUj6L-lRhVZxUylMr5X-An92GC_Zg4LLrEddrw0dBGiYw5TQJmFL2dYFVTBgChQg3-ciAi9kEZo/s400/Lesser+Scaup+1stw+drake+Marshside+RSPB+Lancs+22nd+March+2011+roost+profile.jpg" /></a><br />A male Wheatear at the former Sand Works was a yeartick, several hundred Black-tailed Godwit and a flock of c350 Golden Plover were present, superb views of Avocets from Sandgrounders, 2 Little Egret, a f/imm Merlin on the Outer Marsh, 2 distant Hirundine sp. heading north over the Ribble were probably Sand Martin.</div><br /><div align="left">Views of the Pink-footed Goose flock on Crossens Inner Marsh were simply superb from the inland perimetre of the reserve. 2x1stw Eurasian White-fronted Geese, 1stw Pale-bellied Brent and a single Barnacle Goose were amongst the flock.<br /></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHgmJCe5-bxVIQuvjjwRbXdoxWR5DzokX3Tb1-2khDY5diwbBIw3M5eF77B2jhkBJwHY_NjkCGqCak64YpmGJXxZXxmR5RWFL6ptWEvm5rPZRmewkOvbapLpKEvtfT50zRi_Sm5G7Ums/s1600/Eurasian+Whitefront+1stw+Marshside+22nd+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588025477744963378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHgmJCe5-bxVIQuvjjwRbXdoxWR5DzokX3Tb1-2khDY5diwbBIw3M5eF77B2jhkBJwHY_NjkCGqCak64YpmGJXxZXxmR5RWFL6ptWEvm5rPZRmewkOvbapLpKEvtfT50zRi_Sm5G7Ums/s400/Eurasian+Whitefront+1stw+Marshside+22nd+March+2011.jpg" /></a><br />Above: 1stw Eurasian White-fronted Goose</div><div align="center">Below: 1stw Pale-bellied Brent Goose<br />Crossens Inner Marsh, Marshside RSPB, Lancs - 22nd March 2011.<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpGacpoOzfwM8fwb5Bmax4NPjlqW6Y4TI-Sli7N-iH0uicIJPDVDQC4pbvToYBUQNbe5Od6NQzAr0TGngptE1mCQNjCm1_69VB-3AJreuIFAufo9N5aJMwu343MjGZg2JH2wZ2tdYiU0/s1600/Pale+Bellied+Brent+Marshside+22nd+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588025473191143474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpGacpoOzfwM8fwb5Bmax4NPjlqW6Y4TI-Sli7N-iH0uicIJPDVDQC4pbvToYBUQNbe5Od6NQzAr0TGngptE1mCQNjCm1_69VB-3AJreuIFAufo9N5aJMwu343MjGZg2JH2wZ2tdYiU0/s400/Pale+Bellied+Brent+Marshside+22nd+March+2011.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVq-naYG-FDWaDKNfAuNp-xfKTvBsmgXxza_6F1Ox5AAGnggLw8tYUDYDnNlzjE5BsRnnhl471JQqmwFqSXn9lBCjpkDcpW5P7y3PMcAZC-eHS22tuXWf9_j6buj1ewEUOrEq3gbCtc8/s1600/Avocet+Marshside+22nd+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 188px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588025471227031602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVq-naYG-FDWaDKNfAuNp-xfKTvBsmgXxza_6F1Ox5AAGnggLw8tYUDYDnNlzjE5BsRnnhl471JQqmwFqSXn9lBCjpkDcpW5P7y3PMcAZC-eHS22tuXWf9_j6buj1ewEUOrEq3gbCtc8/s400/Avocet+Marshside+22nd+March+2011.jpg" /></a> Above: Avocet from Sandgrounders Hide, Marshside RSPB, Lancs - 22nd March 2011.<br /><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Finally, 1.5hrs of solitude at Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB produced highlights of c30 Avocet, f/imm Merlin, Grey Plover and 5 Grey Partridge.</div></div>Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-924840829401100452011-03-21T13:30:00.001-07:002011-03-21T13:51:28.306-07:00Local birding, Lancs: Whooper Swans, Med Gulls - 16th-21st March 2011.<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtY71XxQqgkH-QCuY2IoI7d6ccg_2315s5kY30D539na-relFz8_zzMYEwXrdhlzaYTFL5fypcaCDkQuUmtDJbPEZE7EAGk8bOKWuehPij8Kx8_RN9V1zT6qbtFWVJa_Rw7REN-KUUlI/s1600/Whooper+Swan+x16+Brockholes+NR+LWT+21st+March+2011+WC+Aspin+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 68px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586634611777474546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtY71XxQqgkH-QCuY2IoI7d6ccg_2315s5kY30D539na-relFz8_zzMYEwXrdhlzaYTFL5fypcaCDkQuUmtDJbPEZE7EAGk8bOKWuehPij8Kx8_RN9V1zT6qbtFWVJa_Rw7REN-KUUlI/s400/Whooper+Swan+x16+Brockholes+NR+LWT+21st+March+2011+WC+Aspin+b.jpg" /></a> Above & below: 16 adult Whooper Swan - Brockholes Nature Reserve LWT - 21st March 2011.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcCvgn-ApQAD5y4vz_FP-JsSudMDRBo7oh1LZmL3_bUwXrmn6TCGOyVnexim1WXQr-7cvcjbIv8Pg7TlzHKK8t8OmJSEFOFG97OumpL0JGiuNbLtplXW1FfnVWiCd4OIbyZJpbmZVWlE/s1600/Whooper+Swan+x16+Brockholes+NR+LWT+21st+March+2011+WC+Aspin.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586634603858519234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcCvgn-ApQAD5y4vz_FP-JsSudMDRBo7oh1LZmL3_bUwXrmn6TCGOyVnexim1WXQr-7cvcjbIv8Pg7TlzHKK8t8OmJSEFOFG97OumpL0JGiuNbLtplXW1FfnVWiCd4OIbyZJpbmZVWlE/s400/Whooper+Swan+x16+Brockholes+NR+LWT+21st+March+2011+WC+Aspin.jpg" /></a> 3 LRP and 4 Chiffchaff represented the summer migrants during a visit to Brockholes on the 21st.<br /></div><div align="left"><br />Fishmoor Res Gull roost held a record count of 6 Med Gull (5ad consisting of two pairs and a single, and a 2CY) on the 16th. 17th: 5 Meds (4ad consisting of 1pr and two single, and the 2CY) and I could only find a pair of adults tonight, 21st.<br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgF1g35-G9zL3s99w8sYgxSW2LLKh_jiP-nio79D8RWGQ02Mn9Ggob208pJGp1ynpf0aVhoOAB7TkYQ0VxKwXGbu1Kpox-szaO2O3VogLNm2SoPPiEv7HrTYOMgcvYxdqK9y63o609m0/s1600/Med+Gull+Witton+Country+Park+Blackburn+Lancs+16th+March+2011+a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 165px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586633994749134690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgF1g35-G9zL3s99w8sYgxSW2LLKh_jiP-nio79D8RWGQ02Mn9Ggob208pJGp1ynpf0aVhoOAB7TkYQ0VxKwXGbu1Kpox-szaO2O3VogLNm2SoPPiEv7HrTYOMgcvYxdqK9y63o609m0/s400/Med+Gull+Witton+Country+Park+Blackburn+Lancs+16th+March+2011+a.jpg" /></a> Above & below: Ad Med Gull - Pleasington Playing Fields, Witton Country Park, Blackburn - 16th March 2011. I make no apologies for more photos of one of my favourite species! Haven't seen it since the 17th....<br /></div><div align="left"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yYiPhno6pho5vUdWRenxTgqpEapkNj6YLEOFp7jPCC6oEUsGl5O-NNrtIwy8djwWKMIWTAtutNDlFNyeOAO3CqSDdByYU1cdRuwipkfvvM-SWutODJwo6XNB4ImDnk-ej_DYbupaXqg/s1600/Med+Gull+Witton+Country+Park+Blackburn+Lancs+21st+March+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 321px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586633986962160722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3yYiPhno6pho5vUdWRenxTgqpEapkNj6YLEOFp7jPCC6oEUsGl5O-NNrtIwy8djwWKMIWTAtutNDlFNyeOAO3CqSDdByYU1cdRuwipkfvvM-SWutODJwo6XNB4ImDnk-ej_DYbupaXqg/s400/Med+Gull+Witton+Country+Park+Blackburn+Lancs+21st+March+2011+b.jpg" /></a>.... and suffice to say i've seen no Hawfinch in Pleasington Old Hall Wood! </div>Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-55391626338364951572011-03-18T13:15:00.001-07:002011-03-18T15:19:46.215-07:00Spotted Crake, Marshside RSPB, Lancs - 18th March 2011.Whilst at Fishmoor Res this evening (2ad Med Gull roosted), I received a second hand report of a Spotted Crake seen at Marshside RSPB today (18th) and have spent this evening chasing up the record. The bird was found by Simon Paul to the left of Sandgrounders Hide, in Simon's words, "Where the Water Rail is often seen". Seen at 15:30, for two minutes.<br /><br />As you can see Simon obtained an excellent photo of it. What a good find. Well done Simon.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3L1jmjIaDU3Zavi-NknUGYaRMdmv9fjIy03all-tYy489RN4fvIT_7ttd1KVBCXDNWWZQfUm9mISzTiCdO8yLZXuhfU3n-py0-OHmhdmFwC7t7sE80HL_wq_Id8B_SeYNY9tUNAygP8c/s1600/Spotted+Crake+Marshside+Lancs+18th+March+2011+Finder+%2526+Photo%252C+Simon+Paul.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585516402745177666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3L1jmjIaDU3Zavi-NknUGYaRMdmv9fjIy03all-tYy489RN4fvIT_7ttd1KVBCXDNWWZQfUm9mISzTiCdO8yLZXuhfU3n-py0-OHmhdmFwC7t7sE80HL_wq_Id8B_SeYNY9tUNAygP8c/s400/Spotted+Crake+Marshside+Lancs+18th+March+2011+Finder+%2526+Photo%252C+Simon+Paul.jpg" /></a> Above: Spotted Crake - Marshside RSPB, Lancs, - 18th March 2011 (Photo: Simon Paul).</div>Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-1275866503071087762011-03-15T12:21:00.003-07:002011-03-15T12:55:41.848-07:00Local birding, Lancs: LRP, Sand Martins, Iceland & Med Gulls - 15th March 2011.<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-nj2PFvhgOoVEFQjN6DnBG9-AI-FIvVvhfAvGS8u02Ei1ZM-ftLExo1cUjIMwnWcz5HJb3E1rlr8JNj5dRBQ6k3YvhWAZK-7AkPF1QPpEJDu_wainSlAn_9kzLHNxDuxPdG6tx_-734/s1600/LRP+Brockholes+NR+LWT+15th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584389379222128818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-nj2PFvhgOoVEFQjN6DnBG9-AI-FIvVvhfAvGS8u02Ei1ZM-ftLExo1cUjIMwnWcz5HJb3E1rlr8JNj5dRBQ6k3YvhWAZK-7AkPF1QPpEJDu_wainSlAn_9kzLHNxDuxPdG6tx_-734/s400/LRP+Brockholes+NR+LWT+15th+March+2011.jpg" /></a> Above: LRP.</div><div align="center">Below: Pair of Med Gull</div><div align="center">Brockholes NR LWT - 15th March 2011.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjosg2HsTLJkooTsyE49UGTAyZ9PrOFcPBALy_q6eKSwLMVXS1Ns7em5_1AS7Ka9_bYKNZaE3aWPHDUJ_27PAKdZk3N50NmO0PQdeXLlx9FqyAkrWVZ1CJzg-nP66NW5TeDdgDvSOHnH8/s1600/Med+Gull+ad+pair+Brockholes+NR+LWT+15th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584389374420834498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjosg2HsTLJkooTsyE49UGTAyZ9PrOFcPBALy_q6eKSwLMVXS1Ns7em5_1AS7Ka9_bYKNZaE3aWPHDUJ_27PAKdZk3N50NmO0PQdeXLlx9FqyAkrWVZ1CJzg-nP66NW5TeDdgDvSOHnH8/s400/Med+Gull+ad+pair+Brockholes+NR+LWT+15th+March+2011.jpg" /></a> The day started as in recent weeks, Pleasington Playing Fields and Pleasington Old Hall Wood, with no sign of the Med Gull for the second successive visit and another blank for Hawfinch. Up to four Bullfinch, 2 pair, are regular in the walled garden at POHW, but how i yearn for the days in the 1980's and early 1990's when there was a reasonble chance of connecting with the 'big woodland duo' of Hawfinch and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker here. Yellowhammer, another sadly lost local species, also used to breed immediately to the south of the wood in the 80's as well.<br /><br />Following this, Brockholes NR LWT yielded two year ticks in the form of 12 Sand Martin & a Little Ringed Plover on No1 Pit. This flock of Sand Martin seemingly moved on after an hour or so. A pair of adult summer Med Gull dropped in onto No1 Pit from 11:30-11:54.<br /><br />As an aside, Given the number of pairs of Med Gull breeding in the county nowadays, I was astonished to learn recently that Lincolnshire still awaits its first confirmed breeding record!<br /><br />Visibility at the Fishmoor Res Gull roost was very poor this evening and was a case of 'white-winger or bust'. Fortunately, the 2cy Iceland Gull was present upon my arrival at 17:45 and one adult summer Med Gull was located.Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-63831240562834869662011-03-14T12:58:00.000-07:002011-03-14T13:58:23.402-07:00Local birding, Lancs: Iceland Gull, Fishmoor Res, Blackburn - 14th March 2011.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUNBZwPQKrWbLBnRWwlgKJDS3abpIJ0LXJwCogwiV_qOjVhTeig4BV-h37vb2HFE8loluWJlF-GwqVNLs74ge1dqr_Er8DhgVIxhgTfD97ZGd_drNJcHwvR9EG8ntSHOjwnKwzPOI5YQ/s1600/Iceland+Gull+2CY+Fishmoor+Res+Blackburn+Lancs+14th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 261px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584029773381091330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUNBZwPQKrWbLBnRWwlgKJDS3abpIJ0LXJwCogwiV_qOjVhTeig4BV-h37vb2HFE8loluWJlF-GwqVNLs74ge1dqr_Er8DhgVIxhgTfD97ZGd_drNJcHwvR9EG8ntSHOjwnKwzPOI5YQ/s400/Iceland+Gull+2CY+Fishmoor+Res+Blackburn+Lancs+14th+March+2011.jpg" /></a>A nice juv Iceland Gull roosted tonight from 18:00 as did 3 superb ad sum Med Gulls.<br /><br />Prior to this, an hour at Brockholes NR LWT late afternoon revealed the continued presence of at least 3 Ringed Plover squabbling territorially on No1 Pit Island, 54 Oystercatcher, 3 Redshank, 13 Lapwing, 18 Goldeneye and 13 Teal amongst the other usual suspects. The same green (B) darvic ringed Greylag Goose as recorded last spring, ringed at MMWWT in I think winter 2008 (will check), is present again amongst up to 14 Greylags.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgov2p0C2JwncNUE-8ZJPkPQl0_5W_xTtohUJUrZribblASbsTlt8uGJ6VnV5Cj0e4U_Ou_kw1R-scNSe9_abByR-oreOp4nCzddf-orwH2dN3nRfIu04lYfUnsmK8dn8XeWXGDPy_Jj1I/s1600/Greylag+green+darvic+ringed+%2527B%2527+Brockholes+NR+LWT+14th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 303px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584037740789523266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgov2p0C2JwncNUE-8ZJPkPQl0_5W_xTtohUJUrZribblASbsTlt8uGJ6VnV5Cj0e4U_Ou_kw1R-scNSe9_abByR-oreOp4nCzddf-orwH2dN3nRfIu04lYfUnsmK8dn8XeWXGDPy_Jj1I/s400/Greylag+green+darvic+ringed+%2527B%2527+Brockholes+NR+LWT+14th+March+2011.jpg" /></a>Earlier in the day, there was no sign of the ad Med Gull on Pleasington Playing Fields in the hour that i gave it mid-morning. Predicatably there was no sign of any Hawfinch at Pleasington Old Hall Wood in my 7th recent attempt to try and confirm whether they still exist in this part of Lancs. If I were to succeed in the coming weeks, the event would undoubtedly rank equal first with any other top ornithlogical highlight of 2011, no matter what that may turn out to be come the year end?<br /><br />If you are on Facebook and want to stay in touch with what is being seen at Brockholes and hopefully inform others of what you have seen, then 'like' the new 'Brockholes Bird And Wildlife News' Facebook page via this link: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Brockholes-Nature-Reserve-Lancs-Bird-Wildlife-News/179765618733795?sk=info">http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Brockholes-Nature-Reserve-Lancs-Bird-Wildlife-News/179765618733795?sk=info</a>Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-53527091628635470152011-03-13T03:14:00.000-07:002011-03-13T03:18:54.102-07:00Local birding, Blackburn, Lancs: Med Head - 13th March 2011.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HGxYA6g2LjiDpzrBSTGYyZj0KhHsiVolwz476qf5SV16kmrASxmdc_o0LvQ1z9RvjJqXdG3vkZUsYiLSJ9sjvCZ8qC96d4XGxGuPIj4llGYTGiFdNR5ysO3IeCDagqdcEWhLBNA4NTM/s1600/Med+Head+Witton+Park+Blackburn+Lancs+13th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 247px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583506289595706114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HGxYA6g2LjiDpzrBSTGYyZj0KhHsiVolwz476qf5SV16kmrASxmdc_o0LvQ1z9RvjJqXdG3vkZUsYiLSJ9sjvCZ8qC96d4XGxGuPIj4llGYTGiFdNR5ysO3IeCDagqdcEWhLBNA4NTM/s400/Med+Head+Witton+Park+Blackburn+Lancs+13th+March+2011.jpg" /></a><br />The local Med Gull still present this morning on Pleasington Playing Fields, but i totally screwed up my photos by leaving the exposure compensation on yesterdays settings! Anyway, a heavily cropped one of the head just to show the lovely markings around the eye.Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-78601950907104540732011-03-09T11:34:00.000-08:002011-03-09T11:44:24.614-08:00Brockholes Nature Reserve LWT, Lancs: Barwit & FDxPO hybrid - 9th March 2011.Fresh westerlies in March usually produce the goods on the local patch. This Bar-tailed Godwit was present on No1 Pit from at least 10:00-12:45 at least.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYeQBziutfnrVXz1r_3da3aTF0grahYQLdXuRtgbHtBXKE1v-mhsttNGEi7n_6NdKOf7wN3qB3SsHiJw1Gx-tSMvUKeldcqtRjOgbq02o1YDoDi854GNvtjQceiO7XMjse6UtDnhXKUYA/s1600/Bar+tailed+Godwit+Brockholes+NR+LWT+9th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582166839578919346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYeQBziutfnrVXz1r_3da3aTF0grahYQLdXuRtgbHtBXKE1v-mhsttNGEi7n_6NdKOf7wN3qB3SsHiJw1Gx-tSMvUKeldcqtRjOgbq02o1YDoDi854GNvtjQceiO7XMjse6UtDnhXKUYA/s400/Bar+tailed+Godwit+Brockholes+NR+LWT+9th+March+2011.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHg3nLsoTGKp9_Dy_p9onflUEi6O99klWUSKRySlWCPyZeRkH8xbwhx2Dv2OpGcozGc3c02njvbojRAvDDvn7leUocqurRVfQ7LiN_QKkKkYXZf_LFjiow8gZUaYscYE78s-CW4Wu1y8Q/s1600/FDxPO+hybrid+Brockholes+NR+LWT+9th+March+2011+a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 230px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582166834162775090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHg3nLsoTGKp9_Dy_p9onflUEi6O99klWUSKRySlWCPyZeRkH8xbwhx2Dv2OpGcozGc3c02njvbojRAvDDvn7leUocqurRVfQ7LiN_QKkKkYXZf_LFjiow8gZUaYscYE78s-CW4Wu1y8Q/s400/FDxPO+hybrid+Brockholes+NR+LWT+9th+March+2011+a.jpg" /></a>Above & below: Female Ferruginous x Pochard hybrid on No2 Pit, 9th March 2011.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJvD3Jmp07rYSqc5cHQIclInqWih0HcR52eLIAIi2I3NY9VQszMMZYkhASX3IA2DHDetkc0fhjg_VAaf2mA1mLpauy9mrmb5olRo_7iPJwuV8aKK18oHsYUxPgvSSdaD8xRBaKypHueY/s1600/FDxPO+hybrid+Brockholes+NR+LWT+9th+March+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 215px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582166818378029090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJvD3Jmp07rYSqc5cHQIclInqWih0HcR52eLIAIi2I3NY9VQszMMZYkhASX3IA2DHDetkc0fhjg_VAaf2mA1mLpauy9mrmb5olRo_7iPJwuV8aKK18oHsYUxPgvSSdaD8xRBaKypHueY/s400/FDxPO+hybrid+Brockholes+NR+LWT+9th+March+2011+b.jpg" /></a></div></div>Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-43411413343666725522011-03-08T15:44:00.001-08:002011-03-08T15:51:58.448-08:00Local birding, Lancs: Med Gull - 8th March 2011.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhjcwU36aHtCl5AH97XoVI-oKTlT_9ui2bqNHzWqqyjK424y6CgvzK-myEpJkeTDBi-Rj1jNVrvlWb8owONqz9uVLOuUu3CnvdcX6I3jq1LH_M-6QKBujPxlWKcO5P22VbMbPhTx7aBo/s1600/Med+Gull+ad+Witton+Country+Park+Blackburn+Lancs+8th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 305px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581859380074587650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhjcwU36aHtCl5AH97XoVI-oKTlT_9ui2bqNHzWqqyjK424y6CgvzK-myEpJkeTDBi-Rj1jNVrvlWb8owONqz9uVLOuUu3CnvdcX6I3jq1LH_M-6QKBujPxlWKcO5P22VbMbPhTx7aBo/s400/Med+Gull+ad+Witton+Country+Park+Blackburn+Lancs+8th+March+2011.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21LbUnDbjpg45TXJ2qDYxbATVJQR5nC5YoBvR0KDXGYYzjHkuVFqIVuARPbB_nEUmzQOUrlz24sqrhxwQOmWJiyzJrRCyn2ttNYjy_Vko4BzLs50E0qPP1dZXOS_mqoJhITE_CeS4ebM/s1600/Med+Gull+ad+Witton+Country+Park+Blackburn+Lancs+8th+March+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 302px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581859377455034578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21LbUnDbjpg45TXJ2qDYxbATVJQR5nC5YoBvR0KDXGYYzjHkuVFqIVuARPbB_nEUmzQOUrlz24sqrhxwQOmWJiyzJrRCyn2ttNYjy_Vko4BzLs50E0qPP1dZXOS_mqoJhITE_CeS4ebM/s400/Med+Gull+ad+Witton+Country+Park+Blackburn+Lancs+8th+March+2011+b.jpg" /></a> The same adult Med Gull continues to frequent Pleasington Playing Fields, Tower Road, Blackburn. This was followed by another fruitless hour praying for a Hawfinch to appear in Pleasington Old Hall Wood.</div><div></div><div>Up to three ad Med Gulls are being seen daily at Brockholes Nature Reserve LWT amongst c600 Black-headed Gulls. A Dunlin was on No1 Pit during the morning and 3 Ringed Plover included a mating pair on No1 Pit Island.</div>Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-8020756496353971532011-03-08T15:43:00.001-08:002011-03-10T09:03:49.251-08:00Isle of Mull, Scotland: 6th-7th March 2011.I have found it increasingly shocking that as a UK birder of nigh on thirty years, I have never made the effort to visit so many of the Scottish islands. So, at the grand age of 43, I have decided to address this beginning with a short visit to Mull.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjczX-Dir0g6lzlYtt5Qx6M922lG9NGfzxqQlj4UAH5KY_zljQC_Vjl2pA-mhOxZqc6H0lpXawkIaivmJociFqQe6yPeKWVAd3TgLf0tmYBslEE0h_qAvebCCzWOOfUuy9HduR1G5Saxc/s1600/Red-necked+Grebe+Laggan+Bay+Mull+6th+March+2011+WC+Aspin+a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582473354501454210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjczX-Dir0g6lzlYtt5Qx6M922lG9NGfzxqQlj4UAH5KY_zljQC_Vjl2pA-mhOxZqc6H0lpXawkIaivmJociFqQe6yPeKWVAd3TgLf0tmYBslEE0h_qAvebCCzWOOfUuy9HduR1G5Saxc/s400/Red-necked+Grebe+Laggan+Bay+Mull+6th+March+2011+WC+Aspin+a.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyHr0JQIwEiyY08nG-Mu76poqKg9FwgjYeGLQU8T9OgQCqJrXUpnUnpldg9511VKxfCLyscdz2SyPgW1Ixln-_-IfRn1aZuFsgYD5b4OXBajMc8pxDLxsvnzo90tjDbaxWPyl3iekIzw/s1600/Red-necked+Grebe+Laggan+Bay+Mull+6th+March+2011+WC+Aspin+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582473346349266098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyHr0JQIwEiyY08nG-Mu76poqKg9FwgjYeGLQU8T9OgQCqJrXUpnUnpldg9511VKxfCLyscdz2SyPgW1Ixln-_-IfRn1aZuFsgYD5b4OXBajMc8pxDLxsvnzo90tjDbaxWPyl3iekIzw/s400/Red-necked+Grebe+Laggan+Bay+Mull+6th+March+2011+WC+Aspin+b.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHB5Kjr5NIHNCYGbhW9prHwE9VZdUHj0GZDNjUFoMEtSXyVdjeKXJggQTDC37iR3YGPgl1TOHMtmkkBnVWXLb-ap2LMXH6Shb7yan86ioywFBzXgGTsNX7vptGgHK4iojSKflQj0scyA8/s1600/Red-necked+Grebe+Laggan+Bay+Mull+6th+March+2011+WC+Aspin+c.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582473342372417602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHB5Kjr5NIHNCYGbhW9prHwE9VZdUHj0GZDNjUFoMEtSXyVdjeKXJggQTDC37iR3YGPgl1TOHMtmkkBnVWXLb-ap2LMXH6Shb7yan86ioywFBzXgGTsNX7vptGgHK4iojSKflQj0scyA8/s400/Red-necked+Grebe+Laggan+Bay+Mull+6th+March+2011+WC+Aspin+c.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ra6cQuaShXeaBYWfC4HJypk5pqXS-SK2F4T36hvm8xyg4AQ5wUxposkHTGxYidBGT2DPW62wHOi6aaD4JwOE3LO8uJphGZ3zMi4XZ3zc4fT6MA3AfBn3qZJAqYZg6qaDb1gif7FPWtc/s1600/Red-necked+Grebe+Laggan+Bay+Mull+6th+March+2011+WC+Aspin+d.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582473339850771682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ra6cQuaShXeaBYWfC4HJypk5pqXS-SK2F4T36hvm8xyg4AQ5wUxposkHTGxYidBGT2DPW62wHOi6aaD4JwOE3LO8uJphGZ3zMi4XZ3zc4fT6MA3AfBn3qZJAqYZg6qaDb1gif7FPWtc/s400/Red-necked+Grebe+Laggan+Bay+Mull+6th+March+2011+WC+Aspin+d.jpg" /></a> Above: Red-necked Grebe, Sgeirean a' Phortaire, Laggan Bay, Loch Tuath - 6th March 2011. This was bird of the day in a Mull context, an Argyll description species. Always extremely distant, my ancient, trusty Camcorder managed to secure an identifiable record image.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-Fm8uObm9RF6AR19cdOGU85AKwgsYSkr1LY489P1sRrXaFSxXhQdE5tLDaVPGEmDCr_d3cTgAIPa7Phh8CyqGDMOUD-9wfam6Ll_dQfbiWHdkjXRwKnNxGJ9soH7QII5ad7IFEvxRQU/s1600/GND+Loch+Na+Keal+Mull+6th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 211px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582473016293583426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-Fm8uObm9RF6AR19cdOGU85AKwgsYSkr1LY489P1sRrXaFSxXhQdE5tLDaVPGEmDCr_d3cTgAIPa7Phh8CyqGDMOUD-9wfam6Ll_dQfbiWHdkjXRwKnNxGJ9soH7QII5ad7IFEvxRQU/s400/GND+Loch+Na+Keal+Mull+6th+March+2011.jpg" /></a>Above & below: Great Northern Divers. The days total was what I regarded as a modest 30 in the waters of Loch Tuath, Loch Na Keal and Loch Scridain. Given the sheer size of the likes of Loch Tuath, this total was presumably the tip of the iceberg. 4 Red-throated Diver also seen: 1 Calgary, 1 Loch Na Keal, 2 Loch Scridain.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzKerFzY270ekqAnCrr8QfZHbF8rV6CbjZiQ_O0UEjrY6dgOGUgds3AA40eWyRIvK6fWbFfdCQnDR4YnZJ9HPJa4sM9_w3q-Qo6JkZZh5DOPh7FsHoJDS4kLmaezSShzLgA7sevB3dNo/s1600/GNDx3+Loch+Na+Keal+Mull+6th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 120px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582473001161256034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzKerFzY270ekqAnCrr8QfZHbF8rV6CbjZiQ_O0UEjrY6dgOGUgds3AA40eWyRIvK6fWbFfdCQnDR4YnZJ9HPJa4sM9_w3q-Qo6JkZZh5DOPh7FsHoJDS4kLmaezSShzLgA7sevB3dNo/s400/GNDx3+Loch+Na+Keal+Mull+6th+March+2011.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOj6HL2jcFbCozBxSlK1sOzJ7H20QUReDrwpfKXXk4-P6mXzVZh0z4wWk12OlAUUX7aE4ixB4fK96CnBxpNuyIv4X0Pivl4Q5Rc1Yc3amEJnNPir4YCetSEnDrL2IurroYzsv5Wr4BlI/s1600/White-tailed+Eagles+Mull+Argyll+6th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582472843661802930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsOj6HL2jcFbCozBxSlK1sOzJ7H20QUReDrwpfKXXk4-P6mXzVZh0z4wWk12OlAUUX7aE4ixB4fK96CnBxpNuyIv4X0Pivl4Q5Rc1Yc3amEJnNPir4YCetSEnDrL2IurroYzsv5Wr4BlI/s400/White-tailed+Eagles+Mull+Argyll+6th+March+2011.jpg" /></a> The weather deteriorated for the larger Raptors from midday. It would be a crime to visit Mull and not post any Eagle shots, no matter how poor they are. Above: 2 White-tailed Eagle, Below: Golden Eagle, one of three seen during the day.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuOIke3_Ni_O2QiUWyBlbk3DBq4etRnjQj_TEu4A8EIb4XxbrwZ1UA7cFdfE6lUfuJgzoZkbVqs7pOL5w4fWQVX3-xuucYV2YiEjKXeASerSvxXJ4n59qH-D89Z_pc228bEsiLcljOJ4/s1600/Golden+Eagle+Mull+Argyll+6th+March+2011+a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 362px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 302px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582472629340251090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuOIke3_Ni_O2QiUWyBlbk3DBq4etRnjQj_TEu4A8EIb4XxbrwZ1UA7cFdfE6lUfuJgzoZkbVqs7pOL5w4fWQVX3-xuucYV2YiEjKXeASerSvxXJ4n59qH-D89Z_pc228bEsiLcljOJ4/s400/Golden+Eagle+Mull+Argyll+6th+March+2011+a.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36ml-dTmIDV80q_Fgl7wfV1HgF6liY2o6G4OzV8UyKP3Bit1Alz4-WYAcYm9caMkCqneSOyNxX7KJdobgG0pC8yxuAFhkoAmVjxIcLbW1xqXoZ1pgnxttd7-XOMQvh5kxptaQa06PG6Q/s1600/Golden+Eagle+Mull+Argyll+6th+March+2011+c.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 270px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582471904946028658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36ml-dTmIDV80q_Fgl7wfV1HgF6liY2o6G4OzV8UyKP3Bit1Alz4-WYAcYm9caMkCqneSOyNxX7KJdobgG0pC8yxuAFhkoAmVjxIcLbW1xqXoZ1pgnxttd7-XOMQvh5kxptaQa06PG6Q/s400/Golden+Eagle+Mull+Argyll+6th+March+2011+c.jpg" /></a> Much scanning of shoreline eventually produced an Otter. This one showed brilliantly at Loch Beg mid-late afternoon, in albeit poor light and weather.<br /></div><div align="left"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJ4W0YFLbwq7TCLjXM9QZ7G86lubxCFwc8tl6k_4iPyIHYPiDDN_VGG4RYCzirX5dKdZm9seiZFsU6E5VPNzAszCJJIPaA6nGccpf01sRwkLaiWCj7n2xX7mkHcqzbd49PKYniNeBzQY/s1600/Otter+Loch+Beg+Mull+Argyll+6th+March+2011+c.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582471508643399490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJ4W0YFLbwq7TCLjXM9QZ7G86lubxCFwc8tl6k_4iPyIHYPiDDN_VGG4RYCzirX5dKdZm9seiZFsU6E5VPNzAszCJJIPaA6nGccpf01sRwkLaiWCj7n2xX7mkHcqzbd49PKYniNeBzQY/s400/Otter+Loch+Beg+Mull+Argyll+6th+March+2011+c.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUsUxAt42sh-xhCvLQCUhTp8yZqTfE3jNgViOrpJTyebD7eJvvM4NGx49hVzlv7OxK_9Frj9XNfEZhStTT-VnBerIf3KDqnf908hPWS_eHpITAcaK-ysMHtRoN9v44lPIPbBDgOcl2cM/s1600/Otter+Loch+Beg+Mull+Argyll+6th+March+2011+d.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 140px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582471505751307122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUsUxAt42sh-xhCvLQCUhTp8yZqTfE3jNgViOrpJTyebD7eJvvM4NGx49hVzlv7OxK_9Frj9XNfEZhStTT-VnBerIf3KDqnf908hPWS_eHpITAcaK-ysMHtRoN9v44lPIPbBDgOcl2cM/s400/Otter+Loch+Beg+Mull+Argyll+6th+March+2011+d.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBORmjXeZt37KgNgqmRMwJKX1rNYR9sAeQbcDa73Re1dJX8c-4vW4fGp7Q7utF6_3caZzXIMo5retrWLsOMA0lPLz5DHwsbJhundg7LdLTmTmNqdenmH1TG4CsIU_b9twh3MFzg4OJToI/s1600/Otter+Loch+Beg+Mull+Argyll+6th+March+2011+e.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 269px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582471500901266850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBORmjXeZt37KgNgqmRMwJKX1rNYR9sAeQbcDa73Re1dJX8c-4vW4fGp7Q7utF6_3caZzXIMo5retrWLsOMA0lPLz5DHwsbJhundg7LdLTmTmNqdenmH1TG4CsIU_b9twh3MFzg4OJToI/s400/Otter+Loch+Beg+Mull+Argyll+6th+March+2011+e.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMne_Jc9k3WhavE_Unzws722aNl6YnaUReYcBu0cqXDgZZeB_6ZaiJmjxNbOgNBjsrQPdvCITE2jPFcUMIQ0EvBNPaP1gae5pcx75Iq60T0KM4CgP0RoanMuguW920MBt1g6CfXsKcV4/s1600/Otter+teeth+Loch+Beg+Mull+Argyll+6th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 354px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582471493502740018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMne_Jc9k3WhavE_Unzws722aNl6YnaUReYcBu0cqXDgZZeB_6ZaiJmjxNbOgNBjsrQPdvCITE2jPFcUMIQ0EvBNPaP1gae5pcx75Iq60T0KM4CgP0RoanMuguW920MBt1g6CfXsKcV4/s400/Otter+teeth+Loch+Beg+Mull+Argyll+6th+March+2011.jpg" /></a> Above: An impressive set of teeth!</div><br /><div align="center">Below: The Otter location at Loch Beg.<br /></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAksRftuIOVOAI1UdI56VQFDnncaB0Qq7Lmmx-uWJ9XzAHQiB3JvosnvptsBvFG4ArhSmpvF4TgFe9S3lLbYUihlhRFkvNAhyiImddMoa1cVeAXepiFTF8yqOm2fpRBkKLGJy3KY07cU/s1600/Otter+site+Loch+Beg+Mull+Argyll+6th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582471496526672914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAksRftuIOVOAI1UdI56VQFDnncaB0Qq7Lmmx-uWJ9XzAHQiB3JvosnvptsBvFG4ArhSmpvF4TgFe9S3lLbYUihlhRFkvNAhyiImddMoa1cVeAXepiFTF8yqOm2fpRBkKLGJy3KY07cU/s400/Otter+site+Loch+Beg+Mull+Argyll+6th+March+2011.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1IsG6QN7Yort07gfnaCC9Dmq4VTPK5FZ0U6ljC4p7m0SoNlF8t83sb26NrslcTa4Xz85rwPFYK-jLwVt9NCTVz1dpQGvCS5lu0I04VXNakmBal3wq47NakWYPuuEvZCnjUr0_Z3Qqtk/s1600/Bill+Loch+Na+Keal+Mull+6th+March+2011+a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582470146733758018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1IsG6QN7Yort07gfnaCC9Dmq4VTPK5FZ0U6ljC4p7m0SoNlF8t83sb26NrslcTa4Xz85rwPFYK-jLwVt9NCTVz1dpQGvCS5lu0I04VXNakmBal3wq47NakWYPuuEvZCnjUr0_Z3Qqtk/s400/Bill+Loch+Na+Keal+Mull+6th+March+2011+a.jpg" /></a> Above & below: A few views of Loch Na Keal.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLtihz8zlYmDtBLz4Dloya9j7XAPNjQ8S6xQySsSvJHYRSaRhMA-TMHBPklhkDwq8nbpoJYPWHBk4q0hdKEiwbl1FZIIIEIjKOe3Ppvlb5HG45dewWNBO7AJfXpz6f6_yozVFO1rAYWCY/s1600/Loch+Na+Keal+%2528outer%2529+Mull+Argyll+6th+March+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582470134764090578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLtihz8zlYmDtBLz4Dloya9j7XAPNjQ8S6xQySsSvJHYRSaRhMA-TMHBPklhkDwq8nbpoJYPWHBk4q0hdKEiwbl1FZIIIEIjKOe3Ppvlb5HG45dewWNBO7AJfXpz6f6_yozVFO1rAYWCY/s400/Loch+Na+Keal+%2528outer%2529+Mull+Argyll+6th+March+2011+b.jpg" /></a><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmu9utZjoYY-Cv_pmfaMafVV0SvUZgUnoE5PgUfpbxvW8dfkmeI_qXn6u_oejzG7WpnHQ3uy-0O9H3oOB0FdrZFJYMfU7AbQ3XbgQWnvkmkupmDucXQ8dAAm7GIvHSQZ2fPc7dgyE7KKY/s1600/Loch+Na+Keal+%2528outer%2529+Mull+Argyll+6th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582470136203510754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmu9utZjoYY-Cv_pmfaMafVV0SvUZgUnoE5PgUfpbxvW8dfkmeI_qXn6u_oejzG7WpnHQ3uy-0O9H3oOB0FdrZFJYMfU7AbQ3XbgQWnvkmkupmDucXQ8dAAm7GIvHSQZ2fPc7dgyE7KKY/s400/Loch+Na+Keal+%2528outer%2529+Mull+Argyll+6th+March+2011.jpg" /></a> <div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPScBYHmbzHEIHDqniiVpZx4yVRjLCwbc_z8zEXfb8JBLTBTUM6gB-xIutLs_6nsk4eybN7adwFY4TQE5EqcQ-O0imHbBU0CyJjjnhq22vD0IW8KIutAoeye0AOVsju6YswygLygM1i0M/s1600/Memorial+Loch+Tuath+6th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582493525363277026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPScBYHmbzHEIHDqniiVpZx4yVRjLCwbc_z8zEXfb8JBLTBTUM6gB-xIutLs_6nsk4eybN7adwFY4TQE5EqcQ-O0imHbBU0CyJjjnhq22vD0IW8KIutAoeye0AOVsju6YswygLygM1i0M/s400/Memorial+Loch+Tuath+6th+March+2011.jpg" /></a>Above: A moving Memorial at a wonderful viewpoint overlooking part of Loch Tuath to a Woman named Susan Cameron, who tragically died during the 2003 Mull Rally.<br /><br />Below: The three lochs of Loch Sguabain, Loch an Eilean & Loch Airde Glais. Gone 17:30, I had long given up on another Eagle in failing light and poor weather when an adult White-tailed appeared over the road and headed down this Glen presumably to roost.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DV-pH2UKT2NKqBnEQmt7R91ItjKfzBVU5FNxa8kQkrUooh2K9SNhBClZT9ZdD26QHbIplXrinb5uLJp54WKOKz5FBIKqZUdFPd_A5iA2nwj2xHvzW8jqeYB27XVA5uJGTbpXSzwHhnY/s1600/Three+Lochs+Mull+6th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582469204155725602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DV-pH2UKT2NKqBnEQmt7R91ItjKfzBVU5FNxa8kQkrUooh2K9SNhBClZT9ZdD26QHbIplXrinb5uLJp54WKOKz5FBIKqZUdFPd_A5iA2nwj2xHvzW8jqeYB27XVA5uJGTbpXSzwHhnY/s400/Three+Lochs+Mull+6th+March+2011.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Additonal selected sightings:</div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Achnadrish: 2 female Crossbill, inc 1 hat was perched on the road, but flew before I could bring the DSLR into play.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Loch Na Keal: 2 Slavonian Grebe, Peregrine.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Ballygown Bay, Loch Tuath: Greenshank.</div><br /><div></div><div align="center">Below: Back on the mainland the next morning, up to 20 Black Guillemots gave tremendously close views in Oban. Delightful, beautiful birds!<br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktc_rTkO8lg44YSQ9N-hZspfsyGjbV-xJFAUUwZ3Ea1hXYaNKQHnUwEcwaeUsaBnU5GRZ-DBx0nOUID9EET7MA48ie-hGEnUDBlFsDW3EcIk-Dphn3qFdYmIa9HvATUS7vV_IDNHyiVk/s1600/Black+Guillemot+Oban+Argyll+7th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582470589561170722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktc_rTkO8lg44YSQ9N-hZspfsyGjbV-xJFAUUwZ3Ea1hXYaNKQHnUwEcwaeUsaBnU5GRZ-DBx0nOUID9EET7MA48ie-hGEnUDBlFsDW3EcIk-Dphn3qFdYmIa9HvATUS7vV_IDNHyiVk/s400/Black+Guillemot+Oban+Argyll+7th+March+2011.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweW4S3fh7k2MIpBl_pxH7OZOhrBni3tTaE7WHdjnYuzFaCCrorib0_gxhBPzSKP5N-T6YhcRKL0xKGjKZDVcq5Z_hILFf3pmhOT3anjOOMnKzfYags5922Tfao8usbu1CPL0Bz2i5iQw/s1600/Black+Guillemots+flight+Oban+Argyll+7th+March+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582470585209748898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweW4S3fh7k2MIpBl_pxH7OZOhrBni3tTaE7WHdjnYuzFaCCrorib0_gxhBPzSKP5N-T6YhcRKL0xKGjKZDVcq5Z_hILFf3pmhOT3anjOOMnKzfYags5922Tfao8usbu1CPL0Bz2i5iQw/s400/Black+Guillemots+flight+Oban+Argyll+7th+March+2011+b.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJI3ZWv73BjK1eKoYczTWZvyEjXhYJhx1w08KUB-POumQ34Qzgo7wUGWN81VCidHRW7LS6TsgAs-xlCK58MICt8VYNrFq6gxuEIPozWrjTlgY0n_gyJFwpt-PS-a3LwSzGzgcp5CiG3t0/s1600/Black+Guillemots+flight+Oban+Argyll+7th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582470574655257218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJI3ZWv73BjK1eKoYczTWZvyEjXhYJhx1w08KUB-POumQ34Qzgo7wUGWN81VCidHRW7LS6TsgAs-xlCK58MICt8VYNrFq6gxuEIPozWrjTlgY0n_gyJFwpt-PS-a3LwSzGzgcp5CiG3t0/s400/Black+Guillemots+flight+Oban+Argyll+7th+March+2011.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EuX4__GbhIjPUizbaNu-M8T3T5ibA8gijRmF_KNkZ16E40iOX7SqQedHhlJMbChT7FDC3dOuEkomHjTMNJS_9cE66fA-xjM1uk-_ccw1P4DmuRpNp_FCHANsDy6tNFk5tQ058wvcREs/s1600/Black+Guillemots+Oban+Argyll+7th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 251px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582470575731396386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EuX4__GbhIjPUizbaNu-M8T3T5ibA8gijRmF_KNkZ16E40iOX7SqQedHhlJMbChT7FDC3dOuEkomHjTMNJS_9cE66fA-xjM1uk-_ccw1P4DmuRpNp_FCHANsDy6tNFk5tQ058wvcREs/s400/Black+Guillemots+Oban+Argyll+7th+March+2011.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYk_pwpKvavA1WDN68u4m9-uRDhuHlDokzypf40YYLuGq7HfL8sONEPasA-1Brz5-Ru0WkUMdhbkkLgMcdV1dKh9liPeRB7bD38fJiriXu7QzSVTSXp45wSRdmxES601VYX65x0yJRp0/s1600/Black+Guillemots+Oban+Argyll+backdrop+7th+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582470574229964594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYk_pwpKvavA1WDN68u4m9-uRDhuHlDokzypf40YYLuGq7HfL8sONEPasA-1Brz5-Ru0WkUMdhbkkLgMcdV1dKh9liPeRB7bD38fJiriXu7QzSVTSXp45wSRdmxES601VYX65x0yJRp0/s400/Black+Guillemots+Oban+Argyll+backdrop+7th+March+2011.jpg" /></a></div><div align="left">It's easy to see why so many people fall under the spell of Mull. A tremendous place both for wildlife and scenery. Having only begun to scratch the surface of the island's wildlife, i'll certainly be revisiting.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-35814987463482416512011-03-02T11:36:00.000-08:002011-03-02T11:56:38.910-08:00Local birding, Lancs: 1st-2nd March 2011<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxzp4Clnmp8Zw_ySSiC_ibiCvz7SqrOafwgBzOFxF3Ja-40sYJ39Nb8nPZBp-WjlVqcVL5pDrc8vmeE6GauxV7zoqPegCeb-NUCcvmtzAYHzg-FWM_PFNXU-Ad76CywCoKODbXmAl4-wM/s1600/Med+ad+Pleasington+Playing+Fields+Blackburn+Lancs+2nd+March+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 199px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579572197079033378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxzp4Clnmp8Zw_ySSiC_ibiCvz7SqrOafwgBzOFxF3Ja-40sYJ39Nb8nPZBp-WjlVqcVL5pDrc8vmeE6GauxV7zoqPegCeb-NUCcvmtzAYHzg-FWM_PFNXU-Ad76CywCoKODbXmAl4-wM/s400/Med+ad+Pleasington+Playing+Fields+Blackburn+Lancs+2nd+March+2011.jpg" /></a> The same adult Med Gull has been present at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pleasington</span> Playing Fields, Blackburn, for the past two mornings. Disturbance by dogwalkers and other Human traffic is absolutely off the scale at this site!! Yesterday at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Brockholes</span> NR <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">LWT</span>, adult Med Gull, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ferruginous</span> x <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Pochard</span> hybrid, and a couple of Ringed Plover which appear to be on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">territory</span> on No1 Pit island. Nothing of note seen in the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fishmoor</span> Res Gull roost this evening.Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-62699281669485354772011-02-28T12:14:00.000-08:002011-02-28T23:42:07.830-08:00Local birding, Lancs: Iceland Gull, Med Gulls & FDxPO hybrid - 28th Feb 2011.<div>Nine hours pottering about locally started with an hour at Pleasington Old Hall Wood to see if Hawfinch still exist? No pain, no gain! Predictably no joy but I shall keep trying for the next month or two when possible. Following a fruitless first scan of the Black-headed Gull flock on Pleasington Playing Fields on the drive-in, a second check of Gulls present on the way back out along Tower Road was rewarded with three adult Mediterranean Gull. Always wanted to see a Med here, on the first ever local patch, Witton Country Park, where birding began for me back in the late 1970's!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVTIQm-PKNLW-vTqXqifx4LRb6zoEiqQIJHlPFJ4JubtepdQbR45oMz3min1Aucl4XtpHAXoaEkR8okqyo9QlMgvCNYpZqbUaAWE2FfRD2jtf46sI9NvjCjmsyMoFrbiodF99djpBaDU/s1600/Med+ad+Pleasington+Playing+Fields+Blackburn+28th+Feb+2011+c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 146px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVTIQm-PKNLW-vTqXqifx4LRb6zoEiqQIJHlPFJ4JubtepdQbR45oMz3min1Aucl4XtpHAXoaEkR8okqyo9QlMgvCNYpZqbUaAWE2FfRD2jtf46sI9NvjCjmsyMoFrbiodF99djpBaDU/s400/Med+ad+Pleasington+Playing+Fields+Blackburn+28th+Feb+2011+c.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578839668884634706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissCIxcbPiYljqfx_jfieSr622EuRyB2sMvbgz_jFjRZRwabcskxQbh8M56UZFHT0YO0w4114pt1qObS4cJ_xqD2pBhzBz6Rye4LDpjkQOfmeeX1oLKIaMjD5rJzREAUoEd51pxNoz0q8/s1600/Med+ad+Pleasington+Playing+Fields+Blackburn+Lancs+28th+Feb+2011+b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 208px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissCIxcbPiYljqfx_jfieSr622EuRyB2sMvbgz_jFjRZRwabcskxQbh8M56UZFHT0YO0w4114pt1qObS4cJ_xqD2pBhzBz6Rye4LDpjkQOfmeeX1oLKIaMjD5rJzREAUoEd51pxNoz0q8/s400/Med+ad+Pleasington+Playing+Fields+Blackburn+Lancs+28th+Feb+2011+b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578839660962541458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WHim8yYS4O83PdT5a38VMwyEWwmp_PbCcS9UELF8A_QOhliwnr7WMqHse5wC-31RKy0U1tpfLsQmmdLjZoJoMucOWg7mE1QZ7g8gbUFpGvcvJyva5gvVOReDTvlR6lXEcyIG9qxzTB4/s1600/Med+Gull+ad+Pleasington+Playing+Fields+Blackburn+Lancs+28th+Feb+2011+c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WHim8yYS4O83PdT5a38VMwyEWwmp_PbCcS9UELF8A_QOhliwnr7WMqHse5wC-31RKy0U1tpfLsQmmdLjZoJoMucOWg7mE1QZ7g8gbUFpGvcvJyva5gvVOReDTvlR6lXEcyIG9qxzTB4/s400/Med+Gull+ad+Pleasington+Playing+Fields+Blackburn+Lancs+28th+Feb+2011+c.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578839651485623794" /></a>Mass disturbance by multiple dog walkers saw the Gull flock disperse<div><br /></div><div>Next stop was the local patch of the past 13 years, Brockholes Nature Reserve LWT for the next 4.5hrs. Three Med Gull were present on No1 Pit upon arrival, 4 Ringed Plover on No1 Pit island and the female Ferruginous x Pochard hybrid made a reappearance.<br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYo9Lw9ubqx4sjrxGzqSGsQRnh5b9UrL53EdfZmQnOQMUC5hvXrmaLN9Muj_2HBr5Gxiy60t3zgC2u_mdJHYfEety8QMNZujQ3gw9vS6nRfhlrwpAQzXPn8qXbVdqgFKzHHJAlqSRCYSA/s1600/Med-Gull-x-2ad-A%252BB-Brockhol.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYo9Lw9ubqx4sjrxGzqSGsQRnh5b9UrL53EdfZmQnOQMUC5hvXrmaLN9Muj_2HBr5Gxiy60t3zgC2u_mdJHYfEety8QMNZujQ3gw9vS6nRfhlrwpAQzXPn8qXbVdqgFKzHHJAlqSRCYSA/s400/Med-Gull-x-2ad-A%252BB-Brockhol.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578837902175331618" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHJyuaXKmcAx2UhTBNZvQ_L0Gd-rK__2rbTK0oNkF5ghN0HrlN1nGsAiJA7PswsjMIni7cUclkxy5ZDoq_4qmKV8DCpVp0BLfgjrL26QCSFggRfU2BwE9fGqhsziHMZJ2jRKy2NredSg/s1600/Med-Gull-x-2ad-Brockholes-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHJyuaXKmcAx2UhTBNZvQ_L0Gd-rK__2rbTK0oNkF5ghN0HrlN1nGsAiJA7PswsjMIni7cUclkxy5ZDoq_4qmKV8DCpVp0BLfgjrL26QCSFggRfU2BwE9fGqhsziHMZJ2jRKy2NredSg/s400/Med-Gull-x-2ad-Brockholes-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578837895352144418" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Above: 3 Med Gull.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Below: FDxPO hybrid</div><div style="text-align: center;">Brockholes NR LWT</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoN0H-NHKgFCkiPyjd4dep0m0JpXHlsMV41FpxBXzMj20CY1xdOv9NQRpRfGJ3C0o8J8G3h4_vj2z4T9dhGBbKyU0vGhx2HIZHjPjWFxPQ3wjuonrOPxlOYHz8tF626tTytOIfTW2BM8U/s1600/FDxPO-hybrid-b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoN0H-NHKgFCkiPyjd4dep0m0JpXHlsMV41FpxBXzMj20CY1xdOv9NQRpRfGJ3C0o8J8G3h4_vj2z4T9dhGBbKyU0vGhx2HIZHjPjWFxPQ3wjuonrOPxlOYHz8tF626tTytOIfTW2BM8U/s400/FDxPO-hybrid-b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578837332775119874" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuvx8K4tFcOkdE_YBT75CWirmVT0-Vh1tjnIfuPCtPc_Fu0T-8iMdINqkMsPUarMSTkNN22SDSdsSh3a1QTBuSybn-c4z1U2Z2YYcPB1ftjwx77wDlOq0HbASFM1HPWu1LxY_4RoqfTs/s1600/FDxPO-hybrid-Brockholes-28t.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 143px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuvx8K4tFcOkdE_YBT75CWirmVT0-Vh1tjnIfuPCtPc_Fu0T-8iMdINqkMsPUarMSTkNN22SDSdsSh3a1QTBuSybn-c4z1U2Z2YYcPB1ftjwx77wDlOq0HbASFM1HPWu1LxY_4RoqfTs/s400/FDxPO-hybrid-Brockholes-28t.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578837315560336066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhix__B9jGppzv6SzQ-LnRQh4WZUAc1jTLDTOSxeUPiPrGZco0J9LpT4aF9kQCh01tYou7liXF0xkIsd3aZ2GBJi4FPkjqxczaeIDT8hMWMrGFe7wABRD2HGWNqzUtSORtTxv7nymfwEMU/s1600/FDxPO-hybrid-c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhix__B9jGppzv6SzQ-LnRQh4WZUAc1jTLDTOSxeUPiPrGZco0J9LpT4aF9kQCh01tYou7liXF0xkIsd3aZ2GBJi4FPkjqxczaeIDT8hMWMrGFe7wABRD2HGWNqzUtSORtTxv7nymfwEMU/s400/FDxPO-hybrid-c.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578837313394285410" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwxl75nLsQHSLSmjkuKc1FVpwcpYzcncKxLSAHXb7pyT869-YQd1f7wRmdnHWIXvOHzMAVI2g3XkwXBSN2nFD0JpWfA8gnFi25Hsa9rsbB10NGoJNmMlyffGFBdmwLDOzqc1JsuVZkUM/s1600/FDxPO-hybrid-d.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwxl75nLsQHSLSmjkuKc1FVpwcpYzcncKxLSAHXb7pyT869-YQd1f7wRmdnHWIXvOHzMAVI2g3XkwXBSN2nFD0JpWfA8gnFi25Hsa9rsbB10NGoJNmMlyffGFBdmwLDOzqc1JsuVZkUM/s400/FDxPO-hybrid-d.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578837303555151298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-FmBvML9ne7V5_IFjsRGZRlkSxp1hRe1oIPkHdrbeRL9bSR-HxfbwubSjZYxNN3299tyqhRnNgSE4s-P5PECDW-7B9xOddupW9pnAy-WizeyINPP7KXsEM0YjgDG8f4XnDI4wQP-0cM/s1600/FDxPO-hybrid-e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-FmBvML9ne7V5_IFjsRGZRlkSxp1hRe1oIPkHdrbeRL9bSR-HxfbwubSjZYxNN3299tyqhRnNgSE4s-P5PECDW-7B9xOddupW9pnAy-WizeyINPP7KXsEM0YjgDG8f4XnDI4wQP-0cM/s400/FDxPO-hybrid-e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578837299066086994" /></a>Next was a drive over Belmont and Entwhistle for an unsuccessful check of some Clearfell wth fantasies of finding a Great Grey Shrike, a species I am long overdue to find in East Lancs!</div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, the Fishmoor Res Gull roost came up trumps with an Iceland Gull in at 17:52, which looked to be a 2CY, but by this time the light had almost gone completely. With up to six Meds seen locally today, I couldn't find any at Fishmoor, although one must have roosted surely!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUGmJDLTw2UisKvwtIsYnwop9_laBXFih9lO0UOVeSyJpQhL-9phFtiAbnHzXiNuu-zTncDVTDEDyfHaYKKIIqMaGzu5fb4MMxu9wrQY5Ieeja8oFAKCACIxQ2quZHSeQWVYnGRDPqoI/s1600/Iceland-2CY-Fishmoor-Res-La.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUGmJDLTw2UisKvwtIsYnwop9_laBXFih9lO0UOVeSyJpQhL-9phFtiAbnHzXiNuu-zTncDVTDEDyfHaYKKIIqMaGzu5fb4MMxu9wrQY5Ieeja8oFAKCACIxQ2quZHSeQWVYnGRDPqoI/s400/Iceland-2CY-Fishmoor-Res-La.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578836893073636386" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Above: Iceland Gull (arrowed!).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9EKm3KySerkoVFb0-ogMc1Za5zLScQ7dF9VK23rUQnrlObHem7HO0XDgS4gM03q2-TiUqBJIZgrhqnPVZNAelXdeYFNnGZK5FiAr7YQctUF3j9fxMBmJtSSqpPc9AoHilhe3i41qnfY/s1600/Roe-Deer-buck-Brockholes-28.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9EKm3KySerkoVFb0-ogMc1Za5zLScQ7dF9VK23rUQnrlObHem7HO0XDgS4gM03q2-TiUqBJIZgrhqnPVZNAelXdeYFNnGZK5FiAr7YQctUF3j9fxMBmJtSSqpPc9AoHilhe3i41qnfY/s400/Roe-Deer-buck-Brockholes-28.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578837553871569954" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Roe Deer - Above: Brockholes. Below: Pleasington Crematorium.</div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8r02i5X-hIve9IiKs5n_KdVDia75vEKjg00W_UDmdJEeVzJEQ_jvRLKPVAHfbTHjg7SqLEOHH1Ayb-WxudwAJuORyP6SFEv44w_HPK1zq7504qPM1akR3bicY3HQZ_Ml_ikUnZDofBAo/s1600/Roe+Deer+Pleasington+Crem+Lancs+28th+Feb+2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8r02i5X-hIve9IiKs5n_KdVDia75vEKjg00W_UDmdJEeVzJEQ_jvRLKPVAHfbTHjg7SqLEOHH1Ayb-WxudwAJuORyP6SFEv44w_HPK1zq7504qPM1akR3bicY3HQZ_Ml_ikUnZDofBAo/s400/Roe+Deer+Pleasington+Crem+Lancs+28th+Feb+2011.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578839316895575986" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSm85F98UntTs2MEaHjJqLNfucBHxZohTh9FrmIp2m7LHHayzgIClaRsMjn4i8g291U9ol5V9fyAslo2Jt3a3DIxVlLsiu9hv6OT6w1noI8iOTb69Nj6yFIKj21hQnQMcb5apRIPyZZY/s1600/BHG-Brockholes-28th-Feb-201.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 290px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSm85F98UntTs2MEaHjJqLNfucBHxZohTh9FrmIp2m7LHHayzgIClaRsMjn4i8g291U9ol5V9fyAslo2Jt3a3DIxVlLsiu9hv6OT6w1noI8iOTb69Nj6yFIKj21hQnQMcb5apRIPyZZY/s400/BHG-Brockholes-28th-Feb-201.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578838162133932274" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Above and below: I have lazily relied on automatic DSLR settings for far too long and have started practising with exposure compensation on birds in flight against lead-grey skies with the newly acquired 7D.... With the Osprey passage only four or so weeks away, I've got to get my act together for when one flies through in similar conditions. Work in practice!</div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6DhRquZWDDqK_BzHG0iglX8V7zxMJQATa1yOS5dwDnZEcIeZpdfh1uR8-IDBzf1sQAlI-l0Iyi3lV5eLdyVg4aFK5OpG7aNR4m62a6R1lYv72EvVAi5dqrSlZkffRaAW41MoZnLfOP4/s1600/Sparrowhawk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 344px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6DhRquZWDDqK_BzHG0iglX8V7zxMJQATa1yOS5dwDnZEcIeZpdfh1uR8-IDBzf1sQAlI-l0Iyi3lV5eLdyVg4aFK5OpG7aNR4m62a6R1lYv72EvVAi5dqrSlZkffRaAW41MoZnLfOP4/s400/Sparrowhawk.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578838157484122882" /></a></div></div>Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-73166002965672925502011-02-01T13:49:00.000-08:002011-02-01T14:05:17.689-08:00Local birding, Lancs: Iceland Gulls - 1st Feb 2011.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWiDA1hEemMvcDIrfu1qYjbkU-LB7k7uKb9637N0CwzFHCCWPyfbEuQM9mf70hcRvszyY-n53ZQGplOOLpAdamsf_JjYgHAhNWCh6kzW0uiWRPunkLtBhm22Z-zbtjpaNT1G_C_BkKR8/s1600/Iceland+Gull+juv+Rishton+Res+Lancs+1st+Feb+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568842017107148978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWiDA1hEemMvcDIrfu1qYjbkU-LB7k7uKb9637N0CwzFHCCWPyfbEuQM9mf70hcRvszyY-n53ZQGplOOLpAdamsf_JjYgHAhNWCh6kzW0uiWRPunkLtBhm22Z-zbtjpaNT1G_C_BkKR8/s400/Iceland+Gull+juv+Rishton+Res+Lancs+1st+Feb+2011.jpg" /></a> One juvenile Iceland Gull was present at Rishton Res upon my arrival just before c14:50, stood on the western bank amongst other Gulls. Just after 15:00, a second Iceland appeared on the water. With terrible sunlight in the face at the promenade and a south-westerly meaning all the Gulls were back-on, I had to run around the dam to get better light in order to age this second individual which proved to be another juv. Both were present for only ten minutes, with the second bird lingering until 15:45.<br /><br />Presumably both returned to Whinney Hill Tip as they didn't come into roost at Fishmoor Res until 16:56 and 17:16 respectively.<br /><br />The above poor record shot of the second individual is handheld to the 30xw eyepiece. A few days ago, for the first time in several months I dusted down the 30xW eyepiece for the Kowa 883 (I usually leave the zoom on), which I inadvertently left attached to the scope. As a result, I forgot the zoom at home and my digiscoping adapter only fits the zoom. The effort involved to obtain even the record shot above handheld bordered on the farcical! - As a result, i'm considering biting the bullet and purchasing the ridiculously overpriced Kowa DA-4 and DA-10 adapter so both eyepieces are covered!Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-43640914513061355382011-01-31T12:22:00.001-08:002011-01-31T13:37:56.350-08:00Local birding: Common Redpolls & Iceland Gull - 31st Jan 2011.<div align="left">Quality local birds began firstly with a call from Dave Bickerton who kindly invited me over to his garden at Petre Crescent, Rishton, where He and Mark Breaks had caught two Common (Mealy) Redpoll during a ringing session in DB's back garden (referred to hereafter as Rishton Bird Obs - RBO).<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQzUMgR0QIggWPp26VT_4cU5k8-uaPBZZszzYJ3hYayODheBYj0BLhDSu_49uU6iSWbCFhOtZlqMl59KDag4fo-MpfBOP20R6x5o4AlYn-mXuJ_OZGShVgntS0x3fyNj23npFqrXkAiM/s1600/Common+Redpolls+x2+1stw+males+64+Petre+Crescent+Rishton+Lancs+31st+Jan+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 347px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568450439038696162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQzUMgR0QIggWPp26VT_4cU5k8-uaPBZZszzYJ3hYayODheBYj0BLhDSu_49uU6iSWbCFhOtZlqMl59KDag4fo-MpfBOP20R6x5o4AlYn-mXuJ_OZGShVgntS0x3fyNj23npFqrXkAiM/s400/Common+Redpolls+x2+1stw+males+64+Petre+Crescent+Rishton+Lancs+31st+Jan+2011+b.jpg" /></a> Above: 2x 1stw male Common Redpoll - Rishton Bird Observatory, 31st Jan 2011.<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJGi3bYiQyNP31fW6J8k83nkFKLDDDiCjV061_dHlCgK-3r0CLfmLg_T8IEf8aqCoplYo65zUQXXVWsjD0CBkKCT_yYrBTcIEpdN0xb_4F0yY6XmOFx7PfY95-n_OSqZVeM91wvPJVRU/s1600/Common+Redpoll+1stw+male+%2526+Lesser+Redpoll+1stw+64+Petre+Crescent+Rishton+Lancs+31st+Jan+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568450434400409858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJGi3bYiQyNP31fW6J8k83nkFKLDDDiCjV061_dHlCgK-3r0CLfmLg_T8IEf8aqCoplYo65zUQXXVWsjD0CBkKCT_yYrBTcIEpdN0xb_4F0yY6XmOFx7PfY95-n_OSqZVeM91wvPJVRU/s400/Common+Redpoll+1stw+male+%2526+Lesser+Redpoll+1stw+64+Petre+Crescent+Rishton+Lancs+31st+Jan+2011+b.jpg" /></a><br />Above & below: 1stw male Common Redpoll (left) and 1stw Lesser Redpoll - RBO - 31st Jan 2011.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuscMbDlQKhWwdprFWlZRY-fuPLm_3B37aykniMqk97G-DmpOhPVu-f5OaHGHD8JOKNSAmDjp8hHq1ubCEZibtOGOjFlkJgnmuNMx_lOc51xxnZK-ZiefcJFemQ4c2AFPAQjrOp2UxMMI/s1600/Common+Redpoll+1stw+male+%2526+Lesser+Redpoll+1stw+64+Petre+Crescent+Rishton+Lancs+31st+Jan+2011b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568450428335168114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuscMbDlQKhWwdprFWlZRY-fuPLm_3B37aykniMqk97G-DmpOhPVu-f5OaHGHD8JOKNSAmDjp8hHq1ubCEZibtOGOjFlkJgnmuNMx_lOc51xxnZK-ZiefcJFemQ4c2AFPAQjrOp2UxMMI/s400/Common+Redpoll+1stw+male+%2526+Lesser+Redpoll+1stw+64+Petre+Crescent+Rishton+Lancs+31st+Jan+2011b.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsogilshxBQ1lV53bQyTAtSVJqfeYhBSS1Y3GlJMtrW9h7AwUys2KQ-mJ7OrG8h-Tz-1XAWPM-kVBF39iODmxx6agBohXKNcdUNk9RRwYtR25niJ-2KjJ7Dav1_I6ECuy6EjU0Oc3u-Ag/s1600/MkB+DBi++ASD+%252B+2+Common+Redpoll+64+Petre+Crescent+Rishton+Lancs+31st+Jan+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568450424305966466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsogilshxBQ1lV53bQyTAtSVJqfeYhBSS1Y3GlJMtrW9h7AwUys2KQ-mJ7OrG8h-Tz-1XAWPM-kVBF39iODmxx6agBohXKNcdUNk9RRwYtR25niJ-2KjJ7Dav1_I6ECuy6EjU0Oc3u-Ag/s400/MkB+DBi++ASD+%252B+2+Common+Redpoll+64+Petre+Crescent+Rishton+Lancs+31st+Jan+2011.jpg" /></a>Dave Bickerton (centre, RBO President/Chariman/Owner) and Tony Disley (right) photograph the Common Redpolls. Much to my annoyance, I forgot to get some shots of the undertail coverts.<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIIvbHnG3MB0IfTINbgS-L_iE-Q2QN_ne4eDTqAM9Osmllkkq3EeL1IRVLzf7dmETdCFAIyqyvZ1_x08v1e9w7F8CfYTTpsbp5qzfwEQHFRTC7s5qqzyKHTk864RV-DS0M-b99tQBhiY/s1600/MkB+ringing+64+Petre+Crescent+Rishton+Lancs+31st+Jan+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568450422018720050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIIvbHnG3MB0IfTINbgS-L_iE-Q2QN_ne4eDTqAM9Osmllkkq3EeL1IRVLzf7dmETdCFAIyqyvZ1_x08v1e9w7F8CfYTTpsbp5qzfwEQHFRTC7s5qqzyKHTk864RV-DS0M-b99tQBhiY/s400/MkB+ringing+64+Petre+Crescent+Rishton+Lancs+31st+Jan+2011.jpg" /></a> MkB extracts a Bullfinch: Rishton Bird Obs, 31st Jan 2011.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">A good number of Gulls were noted from the moving car as I passed Rishton Reservoir enroute to RBO. Thankfully the majority were still present over an hour later. A juv Iceland Gull was noted on the first scan, probably the same bird as found by Steven Grimshaw c5 days previously at Whinney Hill Tip, and a different individual to the juv present a few weeks previously, being darker and more coarsely patterned than that bird.</div><br /><div align="left">Despite disturbance by the eternal scourge that is the dog walker (two in this case), the Iceland remained for c2 hours when it flew in the direction of Whinney Hill Tip at 14:22. Against the odds in foggy conditions, I briefly saw the bird at the Fishmoor Reservoir roost at 16:48.<br /><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx4RI6Kmmh5plpL8Oft4fKus6ZymC2bnKeiL3uJruwqzJVoyYgyUUFu1_VYeEF3gS296jAp41PK5MyS_CiD_NxZcJHprtigkVku2i0cOjuUT0yL192tjWnrgBPiXMJlUvrha-XG9nk8Q/s1600/Iceland+Gull+juv+Rishton+Res+Lancs+31st+Jan+2011+a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568456681038559730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx4RI6Kmmh5plpL8Oft4fKus6ZymC2bnKeiL3uJruwqzJVoyYgyUUFu1_VYeEF3gS296jAp41PK5MyS_CiD_NxZcJHprtigkVku2i0cOjuUT0yL192tjWnrgBPiXMJlUvrha-XG9nk8Q/s400/Iceland+Gull+juv+Rishton+Res+Lancs+31st+Jan+2011+a.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAi6_9IRHFl5BpLIKn3dpbk6ndKOM5hs8WhaXU4qIr7gvH6o4eJAY3NloDjqauaH7dVkd_3HbdbqnvmaYuG8QXgJanhMMgHRPzbJ7P5Be81NS-uPvIaCd51ZNjrsHzjVDVeZRU7W13F0/s1600/Iceland+Gull+juv+Rishton+Res+Lancs+31st+Jan+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 274px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568456672753380130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAi6_9IRHFl5BpLIKn3dpbk6ndKOM5hs8WhaXU4qIr7gvH6o4eJAY3NloDjqauaH7dVkd_3HbdbqnvmaYuG8QXgJanhMMgHRPzbJ7P5Be81NS-uPvIaCd51ZNjrsHzjVDVeZRU7W13F0/s400/Iceland+Gull+juv+Rishton+Res+Lancs+31st+Jan+2011+b.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJT_MUehwt6bC3Rw9z6ZoJixW7vUrcJBPmdT6PeinjRekIBbf8KqSXfxT65n9q4gYnLwGpAdeycCb3Qeg1mhihNlLoAskoOhDu2bqKQ4SYUMhm9_00jW4zksvs29ryJ0ypNXr2z6-MQE/s1600/Iceland+Gull+juv+Rishton+Res+Lancs+31st+Jan+2011+c.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568456667833919778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJT_MUehwt6bC3Rw9z6ZoJixW7vUrcJBPmdT6PeinjRekIBbf8KqSXfxT65n9q4gYnLwGpAdeycCb3Qeg1mhihNlLoAskoOhDu2bqKQ4SYUMhm9_00jW4zksvs29ryJ0ypNXr2z6-MQE/s400/Iceland+Gull+juv+Rishton+Res+Lancs+31st+Jan+2011+c.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihl0EoUB4jFETVWV76LLgCiYY-oYbzQO212mtQNlcdTnaWKPiARGT1cq_bJslxNO1dGhkr_QuqLBxkt64KRCTxVTrSe9X2N2yg2Of3yUq8dkOXYgnhzMrwyluKl-owwnQdj8yAZ5J9ilA/s1600/WCA+MkB+DBi+GT+SG+Rishton+Res+Lancs+31st+Jan+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568456663100538802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihl0EoUB4jFETVWV76LLgCiYY-oYbzQO212mtQNlcdTnaWKPiARGT1cq_bJslxNO1dGhkr_QuqLBxkt64KRCTxVTrSe9X2N2yg2Of3yUq8dkOXYgnhzMrwyluKl-owwnQdj8yAZ5J9ilA/s400/WCA+MkB+DBi+GT+SG+Rishton+Res+Lancs+31st+Jan+2011.jpg" /></a> Left-Right: Myself, Mark Breaks, Dave Bickerton, Geoff Turner & Steven Grimshaw - Rishton Reservoir, Lancs - 31st Jan 2011.</div></div>Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2424352523439449680.post-74223476568877055202011-01-29T12:59:00.000-08:002011-01-31T14:12:36.191-08:00White-billed Diver, Scotland: 28th Jan 2011.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYlW96kFzLcPyL_iZeyDxJemOV3uGqDpfrEtkCbVWi5hr3nBU3T107YooVzTjpxzL5jMxmgoBwzToxZMC6e8fiSukGHDTq10j59Jd4qJWToJ1yRAI7dtZAzsH7QS7-hY-6CHgfJGA8w4/s1600/White-billed+Diver+Scotland+28th+Jan+2011.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 332px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568446835575935986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYlW96kFzLcPyL_iZeyDxJemOV3uGqDpfrEtkCbVWi5hr3nBU3T107YooVzTjpxzL5jMxmgoBwzToxZMC6e8fiSukGHDTq10j59Jd4qJWToJ1yRAI7dtZAzsH7QS7-hY-6CHgfJGA8w4/s400/White-billed+Diver+Scotland+28th+Jan+2011.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdE3HUGCcei2ArmVOhq6OhN_D7HzI64JGLK8y7pT3pV_Q5YidoTzvJQTWkeHloaDArZ-SYwWTPls-nBsqcT5Ck0V3FUE5LaE86xO6Wrvt4pHwDfXYKGIlvQC7eylSrzWVM3p0qxGRga1Q/s1600/White-billed+Diver+Scotland+28th+Jan+2011+b.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 233px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568446647116156402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdE3HUGCcei2ArmVOhq6OhN_D7HzI64JGLK8y7pT3pV_Q5YidoTzvJQTWkeHloaDArZ-SYwWTPls-nBsqcT5Ck0V3FUE5LaE86xO6Wrvt4pHwDfXYKGIlvQC7eylSrzWVM3p0qxGRga1Q/s400/White-billed+Diver+Scotland+28th+Jan+2011+b.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvn62sdOUqs-MjCZmuVa_qUb9Ek7LDbTbn6BBYGAw4vV6Rzuffi3pdBaeK2yY8zBUWEbumXtbWqhmygfEQAlzNlQbQHW_1Q4cUbI6SBuDIV8DZBBqP1O4hUAQEQZbwrpiw_J8HeAVmyTE/s1600/White-billed+Diver+Scotland+28th+Jan+2011+c.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 208px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568446642170175730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvn62sdOUqs-MjCZmuVa_qUb9Ek7LDbTbn6BBYGAw4vV6Rzuffi3pdBaeK2yY8zBUWEbumXtbWqhmygfEQAlzNlQbQHW_1Q4cUbI6SBuDIV8DZBBqP1O4hUAQEQZbwrpiw_J8HeAVmyTE/s400/White-billed+Diver+Scotland+28th+Jan+2011+c.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvoBfNOKKVfD7vKMz0rwc5VQNBiltAvo_4tgEFCie3J9EMjavCAWxgN_U6B47Erb-fQKjQgAIlou6JSgtlczpj7vTor8qjX6dEraQWYMLDhBH4B7F17W99J2-vU3-c1ekKLCPpNJu2u8/s1600/White-billed+Diver+Scotland+28th+Jan+2011+d.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 312px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568446637535680050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvoBfNOKKVfD7vKMz0rwc5VQNBiltAvo_4tgEFCie3J9EMjavCAWxgN_U6B47Erb-fQKjQgAIlou6JSgtlczpj7vTor8qjX6dEraQWYMLDhBH4B7F17W99J2-vU3-c1ekKLCPpNJu2u8/s400/White-billed+Diver+Scotland+28th+Jan+2011+d.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ih2QxEKn2QMQqLgJhb7GMKlorGr3KQxP3Ren-tyRiC1_sUDA0dRfhhivKSdkGQ_IF4SJvWHcESDGUE4LNGYdD7ogqMG_s-EW0_JNm0h4NqBrkSsGugQMilnTUCLsxApfF_0biAJzU2Q/s1600/White-billed+Diver+Scotland+28th+Jan+2011+e.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 202px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568446626187086514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ih2QxEKn2QMQqLgJhb7GMKlorGr3KQxP3Ren-tyRiC1_sUDA0dRfhhivKSdkGQ_IF4SJvWHcESDGUE4LNGYdD7ogqMG_s-EW0_JNm0h4NqBrkSsGugQMilnTUCLsxApfF_0biAJzU2Q/s400/White-billed+Diver+Scotland+28th+Jan+2011+e.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXYIr1OAo2RRJ-FbfpHbB9xgKZwAwevdsRP-X9CL4HIDUkr8ipTT0rx_xum6fM4FIKJ1RF0FPDcfVYKntJOqrJZQsPs8K80xjmDjr4tg3I7uw6Ya8IJMtYvYBzP13_RQLYbE_-if1VL8/s1600/White-billed+Diver+Scotland+28th+Jan+2011+f.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 359px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568446621513986386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXYIr1OAo2RRJ-FbfpHbB9xgKZwAwevdsRP-X9CL4HIDUkr8ipTT0rx_xum6fM4FIKJ1RF0FPDcfVYKntJOqrJZQsPs8K80xjmDjr4tg3I7uw6Ya8IJMtYvYBzP13_RQLYbE_-if1VL8/s400/White-billed+Diver+Scotland+28th+Jan+2011+f.jpg" /></a> I had the good fortune to find this magnificent (untwitchable) adult winter White-billed Diver at a confidential site in Scotland on 28th Jan.</div></div></div></div></div>Bill Aspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09038343978909883822noreply@blogger.com0