Shotwick Rifle Range Area

Just look what happens when you type Goldeneye into Google images - bloody Pierce Brosnon everywhere. I wonder if Google would produce an entire gallery of ducks if you typed Goldeneye when searching for the film?

Anyway, enough of derivative talkies produced by creativity-challenged Hollywood players, what about the birds?

I took a trip to Shotwick rifle range pools this evening - a pair of female Goldeneye, a brace of female Pochard, a Dabchick and a Grey Wagtail were on the pool, but my main aim was to head to the embankment and scan the marsh for Short-eared Owls.

No owls at first, but I was entertained for a while watching a female Merlin tracking a ringtail Hen Harrier, presumably hoping to pick-off any small passerines the larger raptor may flush out.

I eventually found the first owl way out towards Neston and this was soon joined by another two having a scrap. Very belligerent these birds - they don't seem to be able to pass each other without having a little contretemps!

Moving right I located a further one near Neston reedbed – this individual trying to shake of the attentions of a corvid – and then another possible close to Denhall old quay.

Just when I thought I would be restricted to long-range views, two wildfowlers flushed two birds from the grass a few hundred yards away. Then, one of the spaniels managed to unearth a third bird close by. Definitely seven, probably eight, either way my highest total this autumn!

Shotwick Rifle Range Pools 08.11.09

7/8 Short-eared Owl
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail)
1 Merlin (female)
2 Buzzard
16 Golden Plover
2 Goldeneye (female)
2 Pochard (female)
1 Grey Wagtail

Hopefully the Short-eared Owls will build up this month; I think it was November last year when the numbers began to rocket. Here's hoping, after all: Tomorrow Never Dies!

Until later.