Saturday, July 14, 2012

Wheatears Return And Skylark Sussed.

The morning started at Knott End with the early tide and decent numbers of waders: 210 Oystercatcher, 95 Curlew, 70 Redshank and 12 Dunlin. At the jetty were just a single Eider and a Cormorant with 2 Pied Wagtail, and then it was up to Pilling before Gala festivities trapped me in the village. 

Cormorant

For a week or more I’ve carried a couple of spring traps at Pilling way because the first autumn Wheatears always arrive back in early July. There was a smart, spotty looking juvenile at Pilling Water this morning and within a couple of minutes I’d ringed, measured and released it. With a wing length of 97 mm it was almost certainly a male, possibly from the Pennine uplands not too far away or even from across the bay where odd pairs still breed on Carnforth Marsh. 

Wheatear juvenile

Wheatear juvenile

A day or two ago I noticed Skylarks carrying food to a nest which from the adults flight lines seemed not to be in a silage field this time. Birding was fairly quiet this morning which allowed more time to track the adults, and when found the nest was buried deep in a tuft of grass alongside a drainage ditch. The very downy young were just too small for a ring, despite the legs being almost fully developed. Better to ring the youngsters in a day or two provided the nest can be located again. 

Skylark nest

Skylark
Other birds Lane Ends to Pilling Water: 2 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk,1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 60 Curlew, 140 Lapwing, 22 Oystercatcher, 1 Common Sandpiper. Both hirundines and passerines proved hard to come by today, with just 15 Swallow, 8 House Martin and 5 Swift to report. Otherwise, 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 Pied Wagtail, 15 Goldfinch, 8 Linnet, 6 Greenfinch, 3 Corn Bunting, 1 Reed Bunting and the single Wheatear. Still 2 Blackcap in loud song at Lane Ends, joined today by a Chiffchaff. On the water there, 2 Little Grebe and 9 Tufted Duck, the tufties including a female with 5 youngsters. 

Tufted  Duck

There’s more news and pictures from Another Bird Blog very soon.

8 comments:

Roan said...

Another successful day of birding. Enjoyed seeing the baby skylark. Love the birds in your header shot, as well.

Isidro Ortiz said...

Fantasticas fotos,me gusta mucho la del polluelo de Alondra comun.Saludos

eileeninmd said...

Phil, I love the cute skylark and the pretty Wheatear. Sounds like a wonderful birdie outing. AWEsome shots of all your birds. Have a wonderful weekend and happy birding.

Carol said...

Totally awesome shots of all of them:0)

Image Artistry said...

Oh Phil, what an absolutely stunning site! So love birds. Jealous as hell about your pictures.

I only ever seem to get the chance to bird on holiday.

Anni said...

Oh my gosh...these images are incredible. The cormorant is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. But that hand held baby skylark chick is just such a delightful image share.

Just wanted you to know that I added a linky to my newest bird photos today. If you'd care to stop by and leave a link. And perhaps if you know of anyone who loves birding--let them know of the new birding meme I set up for a weekly run---The Bird D'Pot. Stop by if you can. And have a glorious week.

I'd Rather B Birdin'

theconstantwalker said...

Wonderful images as always.. so lovely to see.

El rincón de Ceditas said...

Son impresioanntes las imagenes que nos muestras.
Saludos

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