At long last it looks like someone has started work on the fire-damaged Ocean Quest. The graffiti has been removed, the windows covered and she is sitting straighter in the water.
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Tuesday 11 January 2011
A pleasant afternoon, with a chill bite to it. There seem to be a lot of cormorants up in the Albert Edward dock today, both adult swans are still around though the youngsters weren't in sight. The dock gates are open and the Ocean Conquest looks like she's getting ready to leave, waiting for the lock gates.
At long last it looks like someone has started work on the fire-damaged Ocean Quest. The graffiti has been removed, the windows covered and she is sitting straighter in the water.
At long last it looks like someone has started work on the fire-damaged Ocean Quest. The graffiti has been removed, the windows covered and she is sitting straighter in the water.
Saturday, 18 December 2010
Santa Claus is coming to Town
Ribble Steam Railway are running their popular Santa Specials. A bit of snow won't stop Santa!
The garden bird feeders were covered in mounds of snow this morning. so brushed them off and re-filled. Also made sure there is some unfrozen water in the pond, which is attracting just as many birds as the feeders at the moment. Daily visits by greenfinch, goldfinch, chaffinch, blue tit, great tit, robin, dunnock and great spotted woodpecker give much birding pleasure when I'm unable to get out and about.
Wednesday, 1 December 2010
Sunday, 21 November 2010
Sunday 21 November 2010
There is an occasional rarity to be found amongst the birdlife on the dock. Any unusual gulls are not always easy to spot in a crowd of the resident blackheaded and blackbacks. Yesterday there was an Iceland gull around the pontoons in the Albert Edward dock, attracting a large number of people with binoculars, telescopes and probably some cameras. Like many Docklands birds, it was nowhere to be seen when I took my camera out with me today, but I'm sure it will have been photographed by someone else and will appear on the web in due course.
I was lucky enough to see these birds on an Arctic trip last summer, a major identification aid is that they have no black markings on the wingtips, or anywhere else, being white underneath and very pale grey on the back. It is very similar in appearance to the Glaucous gull, though much smaller.
I was lucky enough to see these birds on an Arctic trip last summer, a major identification aid is that they have no black markings on the wingtips, or anywhere else, being white underneath and very pale grey on the back. It is very similar in appearance to the Glaucous gull, though much smaller.
RSPB Bird Guide:
The greedy resident gulls, coots and ducks appear to be enjoying the remains of birdwatchers' sandwiches.
The swans with their 3 cygnets are still around the dock, and appear to be thriving. It's beautiful to see them moving through the water in a stately line on a cold, bright morning.
