Sat With Swallows

I haven’t a lot to report today. My walk on the patch was quiet in the strong east wind, but to be positive, a wind with some east in it is always more productive for bringing migrants, but it often takes a day or two to provide the goods.

From Lane Ends heading west towards Pilling Water I noticed a number of Meadow Pipits arriving from across the bay, then as I walked further more jumped out of the grassy sea wall where they both fed and sheltered. By the time I reached Pilling Water I counted 22 Meadow Pipits and 5 Wheatear with a few of each fence hopping behind the sea wall.

I found parties of both Linnets and Goldfinches today, about 35 and 30 respectively, but only 1 Pied Wagtail. The wildfowlers have now released their Red-legged Partridge, as I found when, as the first person along the wall today, I caused a rush of panicked wings en masse as about 120 birds made for the safety of the pools; little do they know the fate that awaits them at their refuge.

After that I didn’t venture near the pools for fear of causing another fright of both partridge and duck so I watched about 40 Swallows and 10 House Martins feeding over the pools and the dyke as a Greenshank hurtled in from the marsh and a Little Egret floated out in the opposite direction. A circling Sparrowhawk distracted the hirundines from feeding for a while before they went back to the sheltered ditch and the abundant insects. So because it was a nice sunny morning and not a lot happening otherwise, I sat down near the Swallows and watched the recently fledged young ones resting but also watching and waiting for adults with food.

Swallow or Barn Swallow

Well let's face it, they won't be around much longer so let us enjoy them while we can.