I can’t decide which is harder at the moment, finding birds to ring or finding birds to watch, as both activities are decidedly difficult. Following a slow morning’s ringing on Wednesday, this morning I decided to have a walk out Pilling Way in the hope of seeing a few birds, so stocked up with a new supply of meal worms hoping even a Wheatear or two might appear.
But no Wheatears again when there should be a more than a few around, so maybe our UK birds suffered the same fate as most low down nesting birds this year. In about a month’s time the geese will arrive from Iceland and it will be interesting to see if more Wheatears appear then.
Enough waffle – here’s the short list and a couple of photographs compiled from a few hours slog along the sea wall.
Little Grebe, Chiffchaff, Grey Heron and Sparrowhawk at Lane Ends. A number of Swallows, about 70 feeding at Pilling Water, with a single Sand Martin, but no Swifts in evidence.
Barn Swallow
A single Common Sandpiper around the
wildfowler’s pools plus return of the Teal with 8 flighty birds.
Passerines: 2 Pied Wagtail, 24 Linnet, 15 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch and 2
Skylark. Two Buzzards over Fluke Hall put on a bit of a show, circling
and calling in the bright sunshine.
Buzzard - Buteo buteo
Buzzard - Buteo buteo
Buzzard - Buteo buteo
After watching the Buzzards, and then a day or two ago seeing Grey Partridges being reared for “sport” it set me thinking of a number of questions for The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), a government department which earlier this year wished to spend £300,000 of taxpayers’ money on looking into ways of controlling the Buzzard population.
Grey Partridge
Here are few questions to be going on with, I’m sure readers can come up with more.
What research has DEFRA funded into why the UK population of Grey Partridge has plummeted until the species is now listed as of RED Conservation Concern?
Why does the Government of the UK allow millions of non-native Red-legged Partridge to be released willy-nilly into the wild?
Before we release any captive bred partridge species into the countryside should there be research into the possible effect on any remaining wild Grey Partridge populations?
Stay tuned, more soon on Another Bird Blog.
Some good questions, Phil. I wonder how those extra fowl effect the whole balance of the food chain? Do they compete with food of other species or change the environment enough to choke smaller birds, reptiles or mammals etc? It seems a daily puzzle for peoples around the globe the doings of infrastructure makers and maintainers. Reading before about an airstrip going through the habitat of a remaining 300 individual Ground Parrots back in Aus at yet another blog.
ReplyDeleteSuperb Buzzard photographs. I keep saying those UK buzzards are distinct and beautiful and you've masterfully captured the details.
Love three buzzard shots. Well done, Phil.
ReplyDeleteFantasticas capturas del Ratonero en vuelo.Saludos
ReplyDeleteHey Phil..that Barn Swallow is a cute little bugger!!
ReplyDeleteNow your title say's Mainly buzzards with a few question...I didn't see any coming directly from the buzzards??
Now I did see the ones directed to some old buzzards in government,and other places though ; }!
Who knows what these people are thinking ,believe me your not the only country with issues like this!
Nature has a way of taking care of itself,if man would just leave it alone!!
I'm done...those are some great photos of your Buzzard!!
Your opinionated friend
Grace
Superb buzzard pictures Phil and in flight, quite cool... Do not know about the partridge, but it looks like it is the same for all animals around. Stupid decision and act of government!
ReplyDeleteThose buzzards remind me of our red tailed hawks. Are they the same? Love the barn swallow. Perfect clarity!
ReplyDeleteHi Phil: Had a run thro Bowland today like you stated a shotage of birds seen in fact we saw more Butterflies than birds.
ReplyDeleteAll the best. JWB.
the feather patterns on that buzzard are so striking!
ReplyDeletePhil, your buzzard shots are awesome. It is an cool looking bird. And I love the cute swallow shot. Have a great weekend and happy birding.
ReplyDeleteexceptional shots of (?) buzzards...if they are really buzzards, and I trust you on this, they are gorgeous...
ReplyDeleteGood questions Phil, to accompany your excellent buzzard photographs, which I saw on flickr first, just to let you know. The images are sharp showing eye contact and detail.
ReplyDelete