Trip reports

MANSFIELD RSPB FIELD TRIP TO OLD MOOR on 7th DECEMBER 2008

Friday, 2 January 2009

Records were broken on this outing with the most people that have ever travelled on a field trip. Everyone saw the bird of the day, the Bittern. 50 of us had dinner in the Gannet's Restaurant, after which I spoke to many who enjoyed their meals and were highly satisfied. Before leaving Old Moor, I went to see the Restaurant Manager and thanked her and the staff for their hard work.

We saw quite a good number of birds and I think we did well to record so many, considering most of the lagoons were frozen over.

Bittern, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Grey Lag Goose, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goosander, Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon and a Harris Hawk which sat on a flood bank and one could clearly see Falconer's attachments on its legs.

Also seen were the following: Pheasant, Moorhen, Coot, Golden Plover, Snipe, Redshank, Black Headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Little Owl, Green Woodpecker, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Redwing, Long Tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch and Reed Bunting.

Derek Beech
Outdoor Meetings Secretary