I did get out for a few hours this afternoon, but apologies for the short summary as I have to go a meeting in the Black Bull later.
Over at Pilling before I turned off Wheel Lane to Fluke, there was Great-spotted Woodpecker activity when one perched in a roadside tree followed a second one that flew across in front me from the direction of Fluke Hall itself. I notice how this species has become extremely noticeable and vocal over the last week or so as they sort themselves out for the breeding season.
Along Fluke Hall Lane there were plenty of Lapwings, as in 235 of them, 15 Golden Plover, 40 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, the single Ruff from the previous week or so, 2 Stock Dove and 10/12 Skylarks.
Over at Pilling before I turned off Wheel Lane to Fluke, there was Great-spotted Woodpecker activity when one perched in a roadside tree followed a second one that flew across in front me from the direction of Fluke Hall itself. I notice how this species has become extremely noticeable and vocal over the last week or so as they sort themselves out for the breeding season.
Along Fluke Hall Lane there were plenty of Lapwings, as in 235 of them, 15 Golden Plover, 40 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, the single Ruff from the previous week or so, 2 Stock Dove and 10/12 Skylarks.
At the entrance to Lane Ends I saw a single Fieldfare still working the buckthorn berries above the road, then from the top car park I quickly counted 44 Whooper Swan on the distant marsh, 195 Shelduck with 2 Little Egret closer in.
I decided to check out Braides, partly as a preliminary to the wader survey work I have permission to do on there. It was fairly productive with counts of 210 Lapwing, 95 Curlew 12 Golden Plover, 9 Skylark, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Short-eared Owl and a high count of 11 Little Egrets. I will have to do a lot of my work from the gate, because although I have full access, by walking along the very open track I was extremely visible to all the birds, most of which gradually moved elsewhere.
I met a farmer up at Cockerham who gave me a ring GC75867 he found about a month ago on a dead roadside owl which he said was a Tawny Owl. I’ll do the business on the BTO website and see what transpires.
Conder Green was well, Conder Green. Greenshank 1, Spotted Redshank 1, Snipe 2, Teal 40 (are numbers going down a little?), Grey Plover 1, Wigeon 7, Tufted Duck 8, and Grey Heron 1. Just as I was about to leave 6 Black-tailed Godwit flew in calling but landed on the far side of the pool and didn’t approach the road side screen – pity.
You did much better than me Phil but I'll leave you to see the report on Birds2blog for which I always appreciate your looking in on as I also do on ABB.
ReplyDeleteI reckon the Teal are certainly down at Conder Green but JB is your comprehensive recorder on this or any other records from here and elsewhere.
Perhaps in the English language is not understood, here in Andalucia are now carnivals and when something makes my hair stand on end, when something special is it is sung:
ReplyDeleteThat ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ bonitooooooooooo that bonitoooooooooo that bonitooooooooo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(pd if anyone has experienced this please translate it properly)
Sincelery Fernando.
the egret has such grace!
ReplyDeletehave a great weekend!
here's my <a href="http://fickleinpink.blogspot.com/2010/02/at-subic-zambales.html>my piece of sky</a>, too! Come and visit if you have the time!
xoxo
fickle in pink
oh nice! the egret in flight is especially so! what camera do you use??
ReplyDeleteHi Louise, thanks for looking in my blog. I use a Canon 500d + Canon 40mm lens. Call back soon, phil
ReplyDeleteSome pretty good waders there, shorebirds are absent from where I am most winters.........
ReplyDeleteIs that the Black Bull in Fulwood?
Black Bull, Great Eccleston - opposite the White Bull
ReplyDelete