Local MEGA: Velvet Scoter, Barrow Lodge, Clitheroe, SD740381 - 22nd Dec 2009

Medical advice not to drive following a very recent stomach operation simply had to be ignored when news of East Lancashire's first-ever Velvet Scoter broke mid-afternoon... and the pain was well worth it, what a bird!

To anyone who saw the Slavonian Grebe at the same site in early 2008, the Velvet gives staggering views just as close. A must-see MEGA local rarity. I'm unsure about age & indeed sex of the bird at this stage. From a photographic point of view, I just managed to get there with enough light to get something for the blog, but this bird is a dream subject in good light.

Above: The Velvet Scoter was showing as close as the nearest Mallard in centre of the photo!

According to the 'Birds of Lancashire' there have only been two genuine inland occurences, 3 probably immatures at Rivington Res on 12 Feb 1956 and a 1st winter male on the Ribble near Preston 21-25 January 1997 (per Tony Cooper). I believe the latter bird apparently made it as far upstream as Brockholes Bridge just downstream of the Tickle Trout Hotel.

Pom Skua, Chew Valley Lake, Somerset - 2nd Dec 2009.

Nice scope views of the albeit rather distant imm Pom Skua were had as it fed on a probable Common Gull at the mouth of Herons Green Bay, a cracking bird! A Red-throated diver off the Dam and a Black-necked Grebe off Nunnery Point were also seen in a couple of hours mid-late afternoon.

Local birding: Ad Yellow-legged Gull, Whinney Hill Tip, Altham - 27th Nov 2009.

Black Redstart - Dog Inn, Longridge, Lancs - 15th Nov 2009.

I dipped on the adult male Black Redstart which had joined the fem/imm in the vicinity of the Dog Inn for a couple of hours during the morning. However, the f/imm performed impeccably for those present, actively flycatching from the roof's down to ground level, showing down to feet to the delight of the birders present. Two Raven flew west and an adm Peregrine flew south.

Black Redstart - Dog Inn, Longridge, Lancs - 14th Nov 2009.

Photos of the second Black Redstart to be found in Longridge in the past three days, a f/imm present on the roof of the Dog Inn, Berry Lane, 15:20-16:10 at least, by the finder, Lee Parnell.

Great Northern Diver - Hollingworth Lake, Gtr Man - 12th Nov 2009.

Can't resist inland Great Northern Divers within striking range. For much of the time this juv present for c1week fed so close to the wall/shoreline of the reservoir it was too close and feeding too actively for me to digiscope. without a DSLR to hand, I had to settle for a couple of 'digibinned' efforts in poor weather for the blog as it swam further out.

For anyone with a DSLR and quality lens, this bird is a photographic dream, showing down to c6ft at times. Great bird. I MUST get my Canon 100-400 lens repaired!!

Local birding: Whooper Swans - 5th Nov 2009.

4 adult Whooper Swans grounded on Fishmoor Res in poor weather, 12:10 at least.