Feb 19th

A good morning but a sad one to as our female Long-tailed Duck has finally departed after 37 days. I think it disappeared during the night of Friday 17th , as a female appeared at Branston GP Staffordshire on Saturday morning the 18th. It gave reasonable views to all who came to see it and with a little patience came closer at times it will be sadly missed.

Now for the good news I managed to add four new species to the years total . As the days are getting longer I was at the mere at 7-30 this morning and it paid off , as three Curlew flew over pretty low calling heading south towards Mow Cop and six Greylag flew in the opposite direction . A pair of Wigeon were on the water but the dull overcast conditions and the distance were not ideal for photography . A Pheasant was behind the sailing club in the top wood the first I have seen here and two Stock Dove flew out over the road into nearby farm fields . Also noted were four Little Grebe's still , and a single drake Pochard . There were plenty of finches around with Siskin , Goldfinch , Bullfinch , Greenfinch and Chaffinch all putting in an appearance . Lesser-black Backed and Herring Gull's were also on the water . The total so far this year stands at 63 . Additional Notes !!!!!!!!! Just been informed by a local birding friend that the Branston Long-tailed Duck is a much darker bird and is not the Westport, Astbury one Cheers Chris.