I have been desperate all week to get out and about, but I have had so much homework since I started at High School. But last night we made it, a trip out! We decided to go to Winsford Flash as mum and dad had seen a Black Tern there a few days before and it was a new place for me to visit.
As soon as I got out of the car, a Sparrowhawk soared efficiently over us, startling the Wood Pigeons.
We walked along the River Weaver to get to the flash. On the way we saw 3 Kingfishers, Black Headed Gulls and this elegant Grey Heron.
The flash was filled with Black Headed Gulls and we got nice and close for a few snaps. Winsford Flash is huge, mostly because part of the Salt Mine collapsed and flooded fields next to the river, however it is all not just deep; on the side next to part of the actual river there is basically a mud scrape the size of Haydn's Pool and on it I saw Snipe, Black Headed Gulls, Lesser Black Backed Gulls, Mute Swans, Mallards, a huge flock of Goldfinch and Wood Pigeons.
We also saw a very large Mink. It's first time I have ever seen one. It wasn't just a quick glimpse, it was a proper good view of it running directly across us. It then swam across the flash to a nearby island. Because of it's size, I did think it might have been an otter at first and got quite excited, but now I don't think it was.
What an end to a great day, but tiring day.
It's always nice to visit new places Findlay and this looks like a good one, as it seems to hold plenty of birds?. Not good news about the Mink though!
ReplyDeleteDon't forget that homework!!...[;o)
glad you got out for a bit! i like that last shot a lot.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a very good outing! That's quite a nice variety of birds spotted. Not to mention a possible mink!
ReplyDeleteSounds a great place, hopefully the homework will lighten up, still it'll be the weekend soon enough.
ReplyDeleteHi Findlay. Another super post.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that the homework is putting you under pressure. The trick is not to shy away from it, but to get better at it. Then you'll get great satisfaction from a job well done - a bit like birding really!!
We get a few Mink around here, and they're not very welcome as they're ferocious killers and prey on the indigenous wildlife. We used to have a Mink farm fairly close to us and, unfortunately, some years ago the miguided 'animal liberation' crowd thought that it was a good idea to free them into the wild. Their hearts might have been in the right place but their brains weren't!!
Sounds to me like you had a great day - the highlight for me would have been the three Kingfishers.
Best wishes - Richard