We made a brief visit to Marsh Lane NR on Friday afternoon - it was very cold! I can't believe that I hadn't visited since mid October - where does the time go? I took the Canon Bridge Camera with me even though I still haven't had time to read the manual. To be honest I am finding it quite hard to get used to as I am using the "live-view" screen whereas on the Olympus dslr I always use the viewfinder. No doubt I'll get used to it in the end.
Car Park Pool from one of the viewing screens. Actually the viewing screens have been turned into hides since my last visit - am hoping they are going to add some seats!
Railway Pool from Oak Hide - the channel in the foreground contained about 6
Common Snipe.
I did keep an eye out for any wildflowers whilst walking round as the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland is asking for records for plants in flower for their New Year Plant Hunt. I could only see Common Gorse (Ulex europaeus)
and Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). Sorry poor photos - am also having problems telling whether the photo is in focus!
It was too cold to stay as long as I had hoped but I did make a good start on the 2015 Bird List!
Today I drove over to the Wishaw area with D. I used to go birding in this area a lot several years ago when E used to attend Pony Club at the stables and I always had a couple of hours to while away the time every Saturday afternoon. At first glance it doesn't look a promising area for birds as most of the hedgerows have been ripped out :( to create huge prairie type crop fields. However, its an area well known to local birders and recent sightings have included Merlin, Corn Buntings, Grey Partridge and Golden Plover. Needless to say I didn't spot any of those species but I did add Green Woodpecker to the year list along with Fieldfare - a flock were foraging in one of the fields.
Misty Murky fields at Wishaw - just love the drawing on the silage bale!
Added Mallard (can't believe I failed to spot this species at Marsh Lane - I must have overlooked it somehow) and Moorhen to the year list at a small pool but D decided to take a photo of this white duck instead!
A rather lovely weather vane on one of the cottages.
