Barrow Lodge, Clitheroe - 24th December 2099

After an email from Mike on Tuesday about the Velevet Scoter we finaly headed down to Barrow Lodge hoping it was still around. After parking in the snow at the bottom of the lodge I stepped out and found it pretty much straight away on the small unfrozen section of the lodge. There's a path running up at the back of the lodge so we headed up standing next to the bin and geting superb views of what looks to be a female. I pulled the Pentax out and readied it for what should have been some great shots but alas the battery needed charging and it would not come to life!! Luckily Reece had the Lumix and took all the photo's on the blog for this visit. If it stays around for a few more days I might head over again with a fully charged Pentax and get some more photo's as to see a Velvet Scoter at such close range and inland is a rarity indeed.

ABOVE VELVET SCOTER TAKEN BY REECE WITH THE LUMIX BELOW COURTESY OF MIKE FOLEY

Other sightings from the lodge included Heron, Mallard, Black Headed Gull, Grey and Pied Wagtail, Reed Bunting, Wren, Robin, Blue and Great Tit.

ABOVE GREY HERON BELOW GREY WAGTAIL AND MALLARD

ABOVE GREY WAGTAIL BELOW ROBIN