Sunday, November 30, 2014

Sunday Survey

A sunny start was promised so I set off early for a run round the usual spots before heading into the hills. With Andy in Brum it was my turn to top up the feeding station in preparation for a much delayed ringing session now planned for Monday. 

Crossing the moss roads I noted a hovering Kestrel and then had tantalising views of a Barn Owl, the bird stopping briefly on a fence post before flying off towards the open-fronted barn where it spends the day. The weather has been very mild of late, so much so that Barn Owls don’t need to spend extra daylight hours hunting for food as they often do in cold and frosty conditions. There was little point in waiting for the owl to reappear so I headed north west towards the coast.  

Barn Owl

I made my way to Glasson Dock where the Kingfisher flew right to left across the dock. On quiet Sunday mornings the Kingfisher often spends time fishing from the ropes and moorings at the far end of the dock and away from the busy road bridge. All the sevens, 77 Tufted Duck was a good count on the yacht basin where 9 Cormorants lined the distant jetties but little else of note. 

 Glasson Dock

Kingfisher

A flying visit to Conder Green gave the customary teens of Little Grebe, 110 Teal, 1 Little Egret, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Spotted Redshank and 1 Common Sandpiper. Near the café - 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Reed Bunting, 8 Goldfinch, 1 Meadow Pipit, 15 Chaffinch and 8 Linnet. 

Time waits for no man and now was time to motor into the hills and stock the birds’ pantry. Thirty minutes and a couple roadside Jays later I stopped to survey the feeding station. 

Oakenclough

As already indicated the weather of late is so mild that even up here on the fringes of the Pennines and the Bowland Hills the feeders are still dominated by two essentially lowland birds, Goldfinch and Greenfinch, with lesser numbers of Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Great Tit and Blue Tit. Singles of both Pied Wagtail and Grey Wagtail were close by but unlikely to find their way into the nets. 

 Blue Tit

On the nearby reservoir was a family party of 5 Whooper Swans, two adults and 3 still quite brownish juveniles. 

Whooper Swans

I hope they don’t hit the mist nets tomorrow or whenever we manage a ringing session.

Linking today to Run-A-Round Ranch and Stewart's World Bird Wednesday

26 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

love the owl, then the kingfisher, then the blue tit! and great reflections in the water!

Linda said...

A lovely series, Phil! Living in Montreal, I never get to see owls, kingfishers or blue tits, unfortunately. However, I have seen a bluejay, cardinal and the usual sparrows, seagulls and pigeons. I captured a couple of blue herons in photos, but unfortunately the smaller birds are very hard for me to capture.

They are quite fast! :)

Ida said...

Owls are such a favorite of mine. Loved the Kingfisher too. Thanks for stopping by my card blog. I've got new stuff on the photo blog as well.

Russell Jenkins said...

Three nice solo portraits finished off with a family portrait. I can't get close to kingfishers here and that Blue Tit is a 'neat' looking fellow.

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

WOW! All wonderful shot I am taking my bird class out today and I hope to see some whooper Swans.

NatureStop said...

Greetings from Dubai!Love that kingfisher and really enjoyed going through your blog. Have a great week ahead! Will be back soon...

Shantana

Wally Jones said...

Happy to hear your weather is having a mild streak! Hopefully, the birding will soar (pun intended).

Although your Barn Owl didn't give you long to get a shot, you provided a stunning image! That early morning light makes Glasson Dock look like a tourist destination. Evidently, the Kingfisher thinks so, too.

Best of luck with the ringing!

Birding here continues apace. Now, if I can just get back in the regular blogging habit!

carol l mckenna said...

All wonderful photos ~ absolutely love the owl! Wow!

Happy Week to you,
artmusedog and carol
www.acreativeharbor.com

Fun60 said...

A kingfisher, such a beautiful bird.

Villrose said...

Wonderful owl and Kingfisher!

EG CameraGirl said...

LOVE the barn owl! I will be postig a Snowy Owl tomorrow so I hope you come to see it!

A Colorful World said...

Truly beautiful photos! I love the owl and the kingfisher. You had a productive visit. I wanted to tell you, by the way, that agave plants are also the source for tequila. They really are interesting plants!

mick said...

I'm glad your weather was a little milder. I love the landscape photo of Oakenclough and the water view of the Dock. AND of course the birds are always beautiful.

Anonymous said...

just been teaching the students about birds, and I have a snowy owl toy.

Modesto Viegas said...

Great shots!!!
Very good post!

Unknown said...

Wonderful birds! My favorite is the owl, but the kingfisher and the blue tit are great too.

theconstantwalker said...

A wonderful post Phil...

eileeninmd said...

Great birds, Phil! I love the Barn owl and the pretty Kingfisher! Happy Birding!

CountryMouse said...

Beautiful kingfisher photo and that tit is very cute. The tree is it is on seems confused by the weather as well?

Hootin Anni said...

Phil...picture post card perfect photos....How's that for the use of the 'p' words?!!

You really do have some great images. The owl is absolutely incredible. Love the colors of the kingfisher too.

Ni de Aqui, Ni de Alla said...

Great pictures! I really like the kingfisher, but I've never seen one before.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

I have seen many species of owl, but I think that the Barn Owl is one of the most enigmatic of all. They don't occur where I live so I only get to see them when I travel, and even then rarely. Saw my first two Snowy Owls of the season yesterday, however. Not bad compensation I would say, and I suspect that if we could trade, you'd swap a Barn Owl for a Snowy straight up!

Millie and Walter said...

Beautiful pictures. Your kingfisher is stunning!

Cindy

TexWisGirl said...

thanks for linking!

Ida said...

Very interesting post. Spotting the barn owl on the fence post was a great sigthing. I liked the picture of the docks. The Kingfisher is gorgeous and I've never heard of Whooper swans but I like them.

Jen said...

Very handsome owl. His head looks as big as the rest of him!

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