Tuesday 12 August 2008

Venus Pool - good Gulls...

Following the Honey Buzzard excitement it was always going to be 'after the Lord mayor's show'!
An early start on Sunday at Venus Pool nearly produced a Tern but it was too brief and distant a glimpse to ID. A juvenile Peregrine sparked excitement, making a couple of visits and scattering the Lapwing flock in all directions.....






A quick look round in the North of the County yielded a couple of Hobbies and another Peregrine at Whixall Moss. A flock of 29 Curlew landing on the scrape at Wood Lane made quite an entrance, a few pictured here.....






A single Egyptian Goose has latched onto the large Greylag flock at Polemere.....








Then, yet another good bird at Venus Pool on Monday evening! A few large Gulls are now dropping in for a 'wash and brush up' pre roost. I homed in on a single 'Herring Gull' type standing thigh deep in the water / pouring rain. As it waded nearer the one of the islands, I suddenly glimpsed a flash of yellow! Soon, there was no doubt, Yellow-legged Gull indeed!! It never did emerge from the water completely and the departure flight shots turned out to be a blur....











Time for bed (yawning)....






Tuesday evening continued the theme of Gull interest. A text from Geoff Holmes had indicated a juv Med Gull present during the afternoon, which had flown South!! I had 20 mins or so to check out the pool (not easy with c100 Black headed lounging around, many asleep!) I nearly gave up but with sleepyheads gradually waking up, the juv Med suddenly revealed itself and walked into clear but distant view on the main island!!

A couple of record shots - job done!!








Now, what will Wednesday's bird be??