Trip reports

Sunday Morning Outing: Lamesley Pastures and Beyond

Sunday, 16 November 2008

We knew that this was just a small site, so with sixteen members present, we decided to split into two groups. One group headed for the hide whilst the other took to the pastures footpath. As the hide was full, however, one group followed the other along the footpath, doubling back along the roadside to the hide - which by this time other birdwatchers had vacated. The eagerly anticipated kingfisher was nowhere to be seen, but we did have sightings of :-
Greylag geese (numerous), lapwing (large flock), pied wagtail, black-headed gulls, jackdaw, greenfinch, kestrel, wood pigeon, chaffinch, blackbird, robin, moorhen, blue tit, heron and mistle thrush.

Moving on, we headed for Thornley Woods, with all members eventually arriving safely after some anxious moments for group leaders John and Elaine.
A good hide this, looking out onto a number of feeders and providing easy viewing of :-
nuthatch, treecreeper (some of us missed it!), blue tit, great tit, coal tit, marsh/willow tit (can you tell the difference at twenty metres?) bullfinch, g/s.woodpecker, jay and - now you see it, now you don't - sparrowhawk. Sadly, again no sign of a kingfisher.

Our next stop was Far Pastures Pond. Viewing facilities are good, but the scene was quiet, with just teal and little grebe. No kingfisher There was more to be seen, in fact, from the car park, with excellent views of buzzard and kestrel.

Finally, a small group of fanatical enthusiasts drove over to Barlow, stopping on the way for an excellent sighting of Red Kite - though just the one. At which point, refreshment was called for before making our way home. Only later was the message received that some of our group had returned to Lamesley Pastures and finally spotted the elusive kingfisher.
Thanks to John and Elaine for their part in leading this outing.