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I spy with my little eye - something beginning with H... - 30/10/22

After a night which featured very little sleep (as is typical of a Saturday night at uni) I had arranged to go to Marshside with Marc in order to try and connect with the Lesser Yellowlegs that had been gracing the reserve for the last week or so. However, news that the Hoopoe - which had been photographed the day before - was still present at Ince Blundell was just too tempting to resist. Despite having never seen one, the Hoopoe was a truly special bird to me and one of my favourite species without doubt. I can still remember receiving an eye spy book that featured this funky mediterranean bird amongst many other species. The beauty and punk nature of the species had me hooked instantly. I have previously dipped the species in Coverack, Cornwall over two years ago on my 18th birthday so my desire to see the species only intensified.

Anyway, fast forward to the 30th October... me and Marc hopped on the train to high town and then embarked on the half hour walk to the site with virtually no pavement. A group of 3 Red-legged Partridge were a happy bonus in the fields next to the road. But we didn't stop to watch them for long as we had a more important task in hand. Just before we arrived at the site, a major a road greeted us which we tentatively crossed with a sigh of relief.  

Finally we were on site - we were informed that the bird had been showing 5 minutes previously but had now flown out of view. And so the wait for the bird began. With scopes and 'bins' pointed at the ready, the by-now substantial crowd of twitchers waited patiently. Until out of nowhere, the Hoopoe appeared and flew high towards the a road to the delight of the group, before doing a u-turn and heading back out of sight. There were many happy faces amongst the crowd and I must admit that I punched the air in delight at finally having connected with one of my all-time favourite species. What a bird!

Hoopoe flight shot (by Marc Gannon)

Yet, we were not done there. Me and Marc decided to hold tight and patient to see if we could gain any views of the bird sat on deck. As people came and went and the minutes passed by, we began to question whether this fantasy would materialise. However, after an hour or so the bird appeared on the track on the ground! This allowed the lucky witnesses to get some much longed-for pictures and take in some superb views of the bird. This is where the bird was to stay for the next hour or so, gradually getting closer to the admiring crowd. In this time, the heavens decided to open and we remarked that the mediterranean bird must have felt highly out of place in the miserable north-west weather. Many birders used this as a cue to leave the site and the number of twitchers diminished rapidly. But the long-stayers were rewarded as the light improved and the Hoopoe offered stunning views in front of a double rainbow. What an end to a stunning twitch!

Hoopoe

Some more Hoopoe shots (because I can't resist it)


Eventually, the Hoopoe was flushed by a car which went down the track towards the microlight school and flew out of view. Me and Marc took this as our time to call it a day after a fantastic twitch of one of my favourite birds. What a superb day!!!

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