Winter wanders (lockdown local birding)

Everything a bit Groundhog Day at the moment, but feel very lucky to have Yarrow Meadows as my patch.

Apart from a few after work visits to Lower Rivington, and a few cycles to Eyes Lane and back, this year has been racking up the miles (with Bertie the dog of course) on Yarrow Meadows. The joy of Winter is the changing conditions... snow and ice, heavy rain and flooding, and even a few warmer hints of Spring.

This Kingfisher has been a regular customer on the southern of the two small ponds. It's not too bothered by passers-by, and is sometimes joined by a Grey Heron. On the nearby river, this Dipper has shown on and off, but can range the full length of the meadow and even on the streams flowing into Common Bank Lodge. Grey Wagtail also present.

Up to four Common Buzzards have been up and about, presume the adults and a couple of last year's youngsters. One of the birds is a daily regular in the trees, sometimes allowing close inspection. Sparrowhawk have been regular and a great patch tick was a Merlin flying powerfully west.

Finches are well represented on the meadows, with groups of Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Greenfinch pretty much daily, with the odd Brambling too. This winter a group of 4 Lesser Redpoll has spent time near the southern small pond. One day elusive, the next they will feed several feet away. Always lovely birds.

Passage birds are well represented along the valley. Cormorant are regular, commuting between here and Birkacre. Redwing (75+ is the largest group so far), Skylark and Meadow Pipit have been overhead as well. On the ground I have been pleased to pick up the trio of Common Snipe, Jack Snipe and Woodcock. A couple of Golden Plover last week were a cold weather bonus.

In the trees, the Great Spotted Woodpecker have begun drumming again, with 15+ Nuthatch scattered about. One possible call from last year's Lesser Spotted Woodpecker but birding Parker's Wood is challenging - very dense and difficult to access. A few viewpoints along the river help but it is often needle in a haystack stuff. As well as the commoner tit species, Willow Tit has been present a few times, but overall very elusive. Treecreeper are becoming more obvious as they call more, with birds throughout the valley.

Next to the meadows is Common Bank Lodge. There is still a slight oil smell after a significant leak in January. The birds on the lodge seem fine, with possibly 8 Little Grebe present (4 adult and 4 1st Winter) during the winter. Mediterranean Gull and Goosander have visited, as well as the usual Coot, Moorhen and (wandering) Mute Swan and Mallard. 

My bike rides have added very little, just good to be able to be out exercising. Working in Bolton has meant a couple of visits to Rivington to carry on the excellent gulling that took place around Christmas last year. Juvenile Iceland Gull has been regular (have there been 3, as the two I had one day seemed different to the regular?)

The Yellow-legged Gulls have remained also with the 2 2nd Winter birds. An interesting adult bird last week had me thinking back and forth between Yellow-legged and Caspian. Features seemed good for both, but it was a dark backed bird, right at the extreme end on the Kodak scale for these birds. It also looked similar to the hybrid Herring x LBB Gull that had been seen nearby.

Spring is now approaching, Snowdrops are flowering, and the subtle garlic smell of Ransoms now noticeable. Stay safe everyone.