Just One... But a GOOD One!

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Just One... But a GOOD One!

My digiscoped image through scope

We arrived at RSPB Marshside at 10:30am. We were hoping to catch a glimpse of a Water Pipit, something that I had wanted to see and dipped before. We walked towards Crossens Outer Marsh, seeing a hunting female Sparrowhawk and a few Wigeon with a pair of Teal along the way. We also saw a Buzzard flyover. We set up by the trough, that the Water Pipits were reportedly seen from. We waited for a while and were accompanied by a beautiful flock of Goldfinches flitting around, a few Stonechats posing on wires, two Pied Wagtails, and a Robin made for a pleasant morning's birding. Suddenly, I think I spot a pipit species, so I immediately think it's a Water Pipit. As I try to get it in the scope to confirm it, I lose it. I then desperately try to re-find it, I start scanning, but to no avail. Then, a small bird waddles in the grasses by the edge of the water. It was a pipit species! I get it in the scope and immediately think it's a Water Pipit because of its pale underbelly. Just like every tricky species I find alone, I confirm it with a few experts, who point out the brownish back making it a Meadow Pipit. Disappointingly, I only received this news while halfway towards Redsemere. 

We then arrived at Redsemere at 1:45pm, in hopes of seeing a juvenile Great Northern Diver. I immediately start scanning through the hundreds of ducks, and within seconds I located the Great Northern Diver behind a blanket of ice, its black and white colouration and its snake-like neck distinguishing it from afar. I then took a digiscoped record shot, of this majestic diver. Also on the lake were the hundreds of Mallards and Coots, as well as a family of Feral Geese and a few Goldeneyes. 

With limited light left, we decided to go to Haslam Park, Preston to get a lifer closer to home. We arrived there at 4:10pm We were hoping for Ring-necked Parakeets, so we did the short walk from the car park to the frozen pond. Strangely, we were greeted by a flock of Moorhens in a tree, (something I had not seen before) as well as a huddle of Mallards in a little area of water left de-iced. With diminishing light and lots of leaves in the evergreen trees, we decided to call it a day and head home.

Overall, a wonderful day, staying unusually local, thanks to the ice with 1 beautiful lifer (Great Northern Diver)!

Location: Redesmere Ln, Macclesfield SK11 9PR, UK

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