Great White Egret - Great Mitton - 6th November 2010

The Great White Egret had been first reported localy on Thursday morning when it had been seen at Edisford Bridge, the following morning it had moved to Great Mitton and I had a confirmation text from Mike that the bird was still there in the afternoon (check Mikes Blog for some great photos). It was then that I decided if it was still being reported in the morning I was going to take a look and at just after 9 the confirmation came through. I headed out just before lunch and having parked up at the Aspinall Arms I had a quick scan up rier from the bridge just in time to see it being chased from the river bank by a Grey Heron.
GREAT WHITE EGRET RELOCATING DOWN STREAM
I watched as it relocated further down the Ribble and headed off in search of its whereabouts. Upon finding it just beyond the bend, about 500 meters from the bridge I observed it for about half an hour during which it relocated again further down the river.
It was a little out of reach for my 300mm lens so I added my x1.4 tele-convertor and used manual focus as previously my camera has struggled to focus with the x1.4 on. I got record shots at most but with the low light and distance I couldn't have hoped for anything better.
GREAT WHITE EGRET ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER RIBBLE, GREAT MITTON 
 
Next stop was Waddington, just north of the Moorcock Inn to see if I could find the Great Grey Shrike. I stopped for around an hour with now sign of it but it had been seen that morning and I'm sure I'll see it if I manage to get up a little earlier in the day.
On the way back I called in at Barrow Lodge for a coffee and decided to watch the Black Headed Gulls at close quarters from the car. Some were ringed but I was unable to get any numbers from them.
 
ABOVE AND BELOW WINTER PLUMAGE BLACK HEADED GULL 
ABOVE FIRST WINTER BLACK HEADED GULL BELOW  A RINGED ADULT BLACK HEADED GULL IN WINTER PLUMAGE 

Labels: ,

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your photos are excellent and I'm especially impressed with the flight ones of the GWE. They've come out really well. Any photos of a GWE flying must be a scarcity. Glad it all worked out for you. Sighting the GGS is just a matter of time and patience, I think. There have recently been some great birds locally. Mike.

6 November 2010 at 22:23
Stuart Price said...

Nice find. Great Egrets are common where I am but I've never seen one in the UK. Hope those waxwings stick around until I come back to Preston for a visit next month..........

7 November 2010 at 10:08
Derek Gallagher said...

Mike - we have done quite locally on the birding front. Not to concerned about the GGS as I'm sure I'll catch up with it sooner or later.

Stu - The Barrow numbers are down from what I'm told but there are some now being seen in Preston, check the Lancashire thread on Birdforum Jonny is keeping everyone updated daily.

7 November 2010 at 18:47

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)