Friday, July 3, 2015

It’s Not All Rubbish

At last the builders have gone. I swept the final dust from the driveway and set off north through Pilling village in the direction of Conder Green and Glasson Dock. 

Rubbish

There were no Barn Owls this morning but compensation came along Head Dyke Lane with a Blackcap in song and a roadside Kestrel atop a telegraph pole. At Braides Farm behind the sea wall and distant from the road was another Kestrel, this one taking exception to and then dive bombing a Buzzard generally minding its own business on a nearby fence. 

Kestrel

Damn. There was a wagon running its loud engine and parked up in the layby at Conder Green. As if this wasn’t bad enough the driver was having a wander both across and up and down the road to stretch his legs, all the while oblivious to birds scattering left, right and centre from the pool and the creeks. 

Adopting Plan B I drove the half a mile to Glasson Dock where a Common Sandpiper was busily feeding along the edge of the path which skirts the yacht basin. An unusual sighting here as there aren’t really muddy margins for wading birds. 

Common Sandpiper

There was a Common Tern searching the yacht basin and the dock for food. I watched it catch a fish and head off towards Conder Green - shades of 2014 when the male of the pair nesting at Conder Green regularly fished the same circuit to feed his mate half-a-mile away. Otherwise both the dock and the yacht basin seemed very quiet with just the regular Swallows, Mallards and Coot near the water and small numbers of Swift and House Martin overhead. 

 Coot

The canal towpath proved fruitful birding by way of 2 singing Blackcap, a singing Chiffchaff, a Song Thrush in loud voice, and several Reed Bunting flitting about the vegetation. Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers fed recent fledglings which hid in the reeds and umbelliferae which grow in profusion along the margins of the canal. Try as I might the little blighters wouldn’t cooperate. 

Reed Warbler

Conder Green was quiet again, the errant driver gone to create havoc elsewhere. Not many birds had returned although to be fair to our driver friend the pool has been rather devoid of birds and excitement all spring and summer except for the still resident Common Terns. Redshank and Lapwing numbers were quite healthy with 80+ and 30+ respectively, 10 Curlew, 15 Oystercatcher, 2 Common Sandpiper, and 2 Greenshank. Early July and the Greenshanks are dead on time as returnee migrants from their breeding sites way north and east of Lancashire. 

Greenshank

Oystercatchers

A walk of the circuit and the railway bridge produced 3 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Pied Wagtail, 3 Reed Bunting, 5 Whitethroat, 7 Greenfinch and 1 Sedge Warbler. 

So the moral of today’s story is that while we all know that mid-summer can be a quiet time for birding, we should also realise that it’s far from rubbish and infinitely better than DIY.

Linking today to Anni's Birding Blog and Eileen's Saturday.



19 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Hi Phil, great captures. Summer birding can be a little slow. You did see some great birds during your outing. I love the Kestrel and the Oystercatchers. Great photos. Have a happy weekend!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Now you were just complaining on my blog a couple of posts ago about hard it is to get a picture of a Common Sandpiper. And what do I see here? A Common Sandpiper. Better talk up a few other species in the same fashion and a photo op will present itself!

Linda said...

Phil, how lovely to come across your post today! I love seeing your bird photos, and these are beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing.

Louisette said...

Wonderfull summer bird and captures greeting from Belgium
http://louisette.eklablog.com

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Glad the building have gone but that didn't stop you getting out and about and seeing quie a number of birds. Love the Kestrel shots and the little Reed Warbler peeping through the foliage. wader image are great. Have a wonderful weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Hi Phil, just stopping back to say Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Have a happy weekend!

sandyland said...

all this time I mixed up greenshanks and sandpipers but love both

Snap said...

No rubbish here! I have to admit that the shore birds always make me giggle. I've always enjoyed how they "prance" around. Kestrels! Wonderful! Happy Critter Day!

Latane Barton said...

There's so many kinds of birds to see on your post. I loved the variety.

Hootin Anni said...

That Reed Warbler image is soooooooo precious!!! And all your other birds...you did good with such a great variety with today's shares.

Your building project is done!! Hooray. Now, you 'better half' will have a clean hubby after his birding adventures! I'm sure she's pleased.

And yes...."Damn" driver....flushing out all the birds, scattering them to kingdom come. That so pi$$es me off. So many times I have to bite my tongue when that happens.

Louisette said...

Lovely post summer,greeting from Belgium with a hot weather

http://louisette.eklablog.com/

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Very fine day, Phil!

Love the Greenshanks. Aptly named!
~

Adam Jones said...

Love the Common Sandpiper, and nice to see a Greenshank too. Hoping one pops by near me soon too.

Anni said...

Thanks for coming in and sharing your link at I'd Rather B Birdin'. You KNOW I always enjoy your posts...and visits!!

Have a glorious weekend. And, happy Birding!!

Unknown said...

You had a great day. I love the coot and the oystercatchers.

Stephanie said...

Really nice to see your bird shots this evening!

NatureFootstep said...

you met several nice birds. I like the Oystercatchers on the roof,(is it?). One of them seem to be juvenile :)

A Colorful World said...

Rats! About the truck! But you got some great shots at the new location...love that Coot!

NatureFootstep said...

lol, nice image of the little one hiding. That´s how we mostly see them. :)

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