Plexy's Badlight Stunners

A trip to the East Lancashire mosses yesterday with 007 and Stan turned out to be very productive with cracking views of a drake American Wigeon at Martin Mere and, finally, a brace of Tundra Bean Geese on Plex Moss.

The day had started in frustrating fashion when after touring all corners of the moss we eventually located a big flock of Pinkies near an abandoned barn. With no other Geese about, it seemed likely that the Beanies would be hiding somewhere in the flock, but try as we might it was Pink Feet all the way.

Reading in dispatches that the drake American Wigeon was putting on a show at Martin Mere we resolved to have a quick peek and then return to the moss later on in the afternoon.

The only other American Wigeon I have seen was at the same location last summer, but with distant views into strong sunlight it was hardly a satisfactory view. Much more obliging, this duck was content to doze just to the right of the Ron Barker hide and run the rule over through Leon Castell’s ridiculously pin-sharp Kowa scope it looked stunning.

With our chauffeur eager to return to look for the Beanies before it was too late, it was back in the motor and a return to the moss. After more pfaffing around on the northern section of the area, we returned to our original spot near Plex Moss Farm and this time our luck was in.

Stan spotted a couple of Geese feeding alone, but with their legs and feet planted firmly in a furrow it was difficult to ascertain their identity. I was quick to dismiss them as Pinkies and after a quick glance by a chap passing by whom originally found the birds thought that that was probably the case too, I had all but given up.

However, Stan and Ian had other ideas, with Stan convinced that the bills looked a little longer, and sure enough after a wait of fifteen minutes they stepped out of the furrow and revealed legs more orange than a young Liverpool lass after a dose of fake tan. Superb.

A perfect day, nearly, had not yours truly in a clumsy and oaf like fashion trapped my seatbelt as I closed the door, putting a small dent in 007’s pride and joy. What a plonker.

Nevertheless, an excellent day, and the drive home was spent mentally going over an endless list of possible headlines for this post: The Joy of Plex, Absolutely Fabalis and more obviously Wild Goose Chase would all have fitted nicely!

Plex Moss 13.03.10

2 Tundra Bean Goose
400+ Pink-footed Goose
1 Grey Partridge
1 Little Egret
1 Perergrine
4 Golden Plover

Martin Mere 13.03.10

1 American Wigeon
19 Avocet

Until later.