Phew! I Saw the Smew!

Posted on 20/01/2023 by Debra
Male smew (white and black duck) on water

Male smew – image by Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons

Having unexplainably passed up the chance to be driven in comfort to see the handsome male smew (Mergus albellus) that had just been spotted at Lapwing Hall Lake in Chelford, Cheshire, the opportunity to make my own way there after a nearby family event was one that I had to take, so I consulted the map, wrote down the instructions, turned on ‘location’ on my phone and set off in slight trepidation – anxiety and lack of self-confidence not making the best driving/place-finding companions. Continue reading →

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New Year, New List – Part 2

Posted on 13/01/2023 by Debra
An impressive old lodge

Allerton Towers lodge – image by Sue Adair CC BY-SA 2.0

Back on the footpath that links Calderstones Park with the golf course and Allerton Towers, I continue past the golf club and on towards the course itself, wondering what other species will be found along this part of the walk. Continue reading →

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New Year, New List – Part 1

Posted on 06/01/2023 by Debra

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2023

It’s New Year’s Day and I’ve decided to keep a list of birds seen this year – I don’t always, because it can take the fun out of birding – but not push myself and try to be as low carbon as possible, so I set out on foot to Calderstones Park with a very achievable total of 30 in my mind. Continue reading →

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‘Wintering’

Posted on 30/12/2022 by Debra
A snowy back garden

Surprising Snow in Allerton 10122022

Although 2022 is drawing to a close and a new year is looming, we will still, in the Northern Hemisphere, be in the season of winter. In that respect, the 31st December 2022 and the 1st January 2023 are not so very different. Given that, in this blog post I am thinking about the word ‘wintering’ – which has a variety of meanings. Continue reading →

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Winter Solstice Birding along Within Way and Hale Shore

Posted on 23/12/2022 by Debra
A monochromatic view of clouds over an estuary and shoreline

A monochromatic Hale Shore on the Winter Solstice

Wednesday, 21st December 2022 – the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year; soon, the evenings and mornings will be lighter and the birds will be singing and courting again. For now, though, I am making the most of this glorious sunny day to enjoy a last visit of the year to Hale – and today I am not alone. Continue reading →

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The Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)

Posted on 16/12/2022 by Debra
Photograph of a male northern goshawk

Northern Goshawk – image by Melani Marfeld from Pixabay

As the year comes to an end, I have been thinking about ‘the ones that got away’ in 2022 – birds I haven’t managed to see this year. A notable omission is the Northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). So I thought I’d do a little reading around the subject and share it here – including memories from when I have seen these magnificent birds. Continue reading →

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November on the Allotment

Posted on 09/12/2022 by Debra
Robin standing on person's hand

Magical

November was a mild month – too mild. Flies and other insects were still on the wing, the weeds were still growing, and the grass even had to be strimmed. But there were also some wonderful wildlife encounters, and that’s what this post is going to focus on. Continue reading →

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The Christmas Wreath

Posted on 02/12/2022 by Debra
Image of a traditional Christmas wreath

Christmas Wreath – image by Inge van Schaik from Pixabay.com

At this time of year, thoughts turn to decorating the home for the festive season, and may alight upon the Christmas wreath. This evergreen wreath has been a symbol of eternal life since the earliest days of Christianity, and incorporates many familiar native British species, including holly, ivy, mistletoe and pine. However, these species are not only meaningful for us, they are extremely important as food and shelter for wildlife, especially at what can be a harsh time of year. Continue reading →

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Hunting for Harriers at Parkgate

Posted on 25/11/2022 by Debra

Male western marsh harrier – photo by Konni Selonke from Pixabay

Spurred on by memories of a previous visit, and consulting both weather forecast and tide times, I choose the perfect day for a late autumn birdwatch – target species marsh harrier, hen harrier and short-eared owl – at Parkgate. The sun is shining, there are few clouds in the sky and visibility is great. Continue reading →

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“I Look at Harriers and They Bring Me Joy”

Posted on 18/11/2022 by Debra
Male hen harrier in flight

Male hen harrier (Circus cyaneus), phot by Isle of Man Government, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Listening to a recent BBC Radio 4 programme about one man’s search for hen harriers reminded me of my own encounters with these wonderful birds, so I revisited a piece I wrote for Hen Harrier Action’s February 2021 newsletter (https://henharrierday.uk/news) about a day out around Parkgate on the Wirral, an excellent place to see over-wintering and other raptors, in November 2020. Continue reading →

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