Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Hot-Spot Cold-Spot

The still northerly breeze meant no ringing but the early morning sun dictated a birding trip to the customary hot-spots, starting at Conder Green. 

On Saturday four Avocets fed together but today it was back to perhaps an earlier pair, probably the two that arrived a couple of weeks ago. Following a good few days of sunnier if not necessarily warm weather the female is now sat on a nest. 

Meanwhile the two second year Avocets that spent a few hours here on Saturday morning seemed to have gone and were merely passing through on their way north and/or east. Avocets don’t normally breed until their third year whereby second year birds make up the numbers in the colonies that Avocets sometimes, but not always choose to breed. Conder Green is large enough for several pairs of Avocets but that is not necessarily a good thing as the species can be very aggressive in seeing off all opposition, large or small. 

There was no such aggression today, mainly because there was little for the Avocets to complain about. The usual water birds comprised 2 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 6 Tufted Duck, 8 Teal, 16 Shelduck and 2 Little Egret. A Kingfisher put in another brief appearance by flying through the creek, up and over the road, and then across the pool and out of sight. 

Passerines were hard to come by except for singles of Blackcap, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Reed Bunting and Meadow Pipit in the scrubby habitat next to the main road. I’m seeing only male Whitethroats just yet but not in great numbers. The continual north winds, blocking high pressure and below average temperatures must be holding many migrant birds back on the south coast or beyond. 

Whitethroat
 
26th April

Meadow Pipit

As I drove off from Conder Green a Kestrel hovered over the marsh and for a few seconds pulled in a couple of complaining Swallows. I didn’t see too many Swallows during the morning, just one or two House Martins, and I didn’t stop to survey the Sand Martins at Bank Lane. 

The marsh at the end of Bank Lane was very quiet, the best I could muster being singles of Whimbrel and Grey Heron, and then 6 Pied Wagtail. 

Whimbrel

I spent quite a while along Jeremy Lane, Moss Lane and up to Cockersands. I had Wheatear, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting, Linnet, Goldfinch, 3 Sedge Warblers and 3 Whitethroat. Just as feared, a number of fields that held Lapwings and Skylarks have been ploughed just as ground nesting birds have eggs and/or tiny young. I found a pair of Skylark in one regular spot but at another unvarying spot of the last few weeks - nothing. A good few fields had been ploughed right up to the fence line and the 80/100 Lapwings of recent weeks seem well down, replaced today by 8 Stock Doves attracted by the turned soil. 

Skylark

Lapwing

Near Lighthouse Cottage a male Whitethroat was in full song and showy mood for the females yet to arrive. His singing and display circuit proved easy to suss: the overhead wire and then the tallest bushes of the roadside plot, followed by a scurry along the roadside fence where sprigs of bramble provided cover. A singing Sedge Warbler stuck to the vegetation and wasn’t as obliging as the Whitethroat. 

An adult male Whitethroat has a lovely pink wash across the breast upon first arrival in late April but the healthy glow soon vanishes during the rough and tumble of a British summer. 

Whitethroat

Whitethroat

Sedge Warbler

Whitethroat

I may be out on Friday if the weather holds good. Log in then for more news, views and photos.

Linking today to Eileen's Saturday.




14 comments:

Linda said...

Such a beautiful assortment of birds, Phil! The Whitethroat looks like he was posing for you! :)

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Avocets are truly enchanting birds and I find it quite fascinating to watch them feed. One of the vivid memories of my recent trip to Hong Kong is of a thousand or so Pied Avocets massed together so densely it looked as though you could walk on them.

Billy Blue Eyes said...

Never seen a whitethroat before, nice little bird

Gordon said...

Love your shots of the whitethroat Phil, in fact like the whole post.
All the best, Gordon.

eileeninmd said...

Hello Phil, awesome photos as always. The Whitethroat and the Lapwing are two of my favorites. Have a happy day!

Patrycja P. said...

Interesting information about Avocets. I very like Whitethroats, they are often behave as a tame birds. Excellent photo of the Whimbrel! Greetings!

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

There have been 2 Avocets at out Wow RSPB Centre in Blefast ausung great excitement. Love the shots of the Whitethroat adn great to know you have seen a sedge warbler.

Stuart Price said...

Very nice Whitethroat pics Phil.............

Lowcarb team member said...

It has been so cool/cold this week, I do hope it may brighten and warm up soon for the coming weekend.
Absolutely STUNNING selection of photographs here.

Just off to enjoy some Moussaka, may just be tempted to open a bottle of wine too! LOL!

Enjoy the rest of your week

All the best Jan

betty-NZ said...

These birds are so adorable! Your photos are wonderfully clear.

krishna said...

So many cute birds...

Please visit: http://from-a-girls-mind.blogspot.com

eileeninmd said...

Hello Phil, awesome photos of the birds. I usually get to see the Avocets here in the summer, they are beautiful birds. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

Jeanne said...

Phil you have a lovely variety of birds here and your photos are just wonderful! Wondering what sort of lens you are using?

Anu said...

So great photos! Thanks for sharing! We have here in Finland little bit problems with the weather. There is so unusual cold and windy (yesterday it was snowing) that the migration is deferred.

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