A Red-breasted Goose was being seen with regularity amongst several thousand Pink-footed Geese at Pilling Moss, Pilling in Lancashire. So, Saturday 11th February, Glynn, Richard and myself decided to go and see it. On arrival, the difficulty was trying to find the large flock of Pink-feet in a vast area we were unfamiliar with. We set the GPS to navigate to the last know grid ref and we found several small flocks of geese in the surrounding fields, but nothing in the numbers we were looking for. There were large skeins of geese in the air all over the place and we were beginning to think that this could be a “Wild Goose Chase”. Driving around the tiny lanes, we eventually found a sizeable flock of several hundred Pinkies and whilst scanning, we discovered a “Tundra” Bean Goose. Staying in the car reduced any risk of frightening the geese and we were able to get a few record shots of this bird, also a Merlin flew by.
At this point I decided to check my pager and the first message I looked at was telling me the Red-breasted Goose was on view at a place called Scronkey. Checking the GPS we were less than five minutes away. After a few anxious moments trying to find the right turning, we were soon watching the Red-breasted Goose feeding amongst a huge flock of Pink-footed Geese, with a few European, or now so called “Russian”, White-fronted Geese
Our next point of call was Knott End-on-Sea, where a Black Redstart had been seen regularly on the small beach. We soon found the Black Redstart and a small flock of 30 odd Twite. After a fabulous lunch at the small cafe, at Knott End, we decided to head for Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve, to look for Short-eared Owl. We found two but they were always distant and by this time the light was beginning to fade away. A few year ticks then taking my year list to 142.
Red-breasted Goose – Unfortunately the bird was too far for the camera, but hopefully this little sketch does the trick. – Tony Davison©
Pink-footed Geese – Above 3 images – Pilling, Lancashire – Tony Davison©
Bean Goose – The “Tundra” race rossicus – Pilling, Lancashire – Tony Davison©
European White-fronted Geese (2) The new buzz word for this race now seems to be “Russian White-fronted Goose” – Stronkey, Pilling, Lancashire – Tony Davison©
Grey Lag Goose – Above 2 images – Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve, Lancashire & North Merseyside – Tony Davison©
Sanderling – above 2 images – Knott End-on-Sea, Lancashire & North Merseyside – Tony Davison©
Twite – A small flock were feeding on the tide waste at Knott End-on-Sea, Lancashire & North Merseyside – Tony Davison©
Black Redstart – Probably a 1st winter male – Knott End-on-Sea, Lancashire & North Merseyside – Tony Davison©
