Friday, March 8, 2013

Friday Fix

With a cold easterly breeze and full grey cloud the morning held spits of rain, as well as the promise of more to come, so kicking my heels I waited until the sky brightened a touch then headed out Pilling Way hoping to finish Friday with a flourish. 

I gave the Fluke Hall and Ridge Farm area a decent going over without finding anything spectacular, least of all an early Wheatear in such unpromising conditions. A number of Pied Wagtails were searching the recently ploughed fields and the roadside midden where more than one local family dump their horse manure, the resulting gunk as good a place as any to look for feeding birds. Mixed in with the mainly wagtail flock were a couple of Meadow Pipits, 6 or 7 Skylarks, and towering above the passerines 40+ Oystercatcher, several Lapwing, 4 Redshank and 3 Curlew, all burying their bills a little deeper than the small birds could manage. 

Oystercatcher

Pied Wagtail

Further back in the same field were 400+ Pink-footed Geese, a small sample of the several thousand out beyond the sea wall towards Lane Ends. All the geese took flight a little later when a light aeroplane flew over sending the birds in the air for a few minutes before they settled back to feeding on the marsh again. 

Pink-footed Goose

Other bits and bobs here and from the sea wall: 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Reed Bunting, 5 Little Egret, and a couple of singing Chaffinches with calling females close by. 

Backsands Lane has dried out more than a little, birds there today restricted to 30 Redshank, 15 Lapwing, 10 Greylag and the resident Kestrel. From Lane Ends car park Pilling Marsh was a mass of distant grey geese, too far out to make anything of in the murky light. 

Cockerham proved better with a distant, albeit good selection of birds, mostly waders on the managed flood - 80+ Dunlin, 40 Redshank, 120 Golden Plover, 300 Starling, 15 Curlew, 1 Little Egret and 160+ Lapwing. 

Golden Plover

A number of male Lapwings were in full display mode, tumbling crazily over the field, showing off their flying skills to females below. I could see one of the females a distance away had a ring on its left leg, the bird too far away and the light too poor to read the inscription. 

Lapwings are not only long-lived but also extremely site faithful through generations and I wondered if this female was one of the hundreds of Lapwing chicks I’d ringed along this stretch of coast over many years - perhaps no, but possibly yes. More visits required in a week or two when the female will be there and perhaps much closer, looking after a clutch of youngsters and still displaying the evidence of an earlier day in my company when I gave her a shiny new ring.

Lapwing

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Today's post is linking to Madge's Top Shot  and to Anni's Birding Blog

21 comments:

  1. Hello Phil,bonitas capturas,me gusta mucho la del Ostrero.Un abrazo

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  2. Hey Phil...Now has that Oyster catcher got horse manure on its beak?? Yuck..I guess you could say he stuck his beak in some horses business ; )
    That is quite the skein of Pink Footed Geese I would imagine there is enough there to knit yourself a sweater, well maybe you wouldn't want pink!!
    I have a little math problem for you!! There are 400 geese on the ground: how many gaggles do you have...and the same with a flock how many flocks do you have!! Something for your spare time : )
    Well enough harassment for this time my friend...I'm sure I'll pay for that one ; )
    Great mix for Friday fix Phil..oh almost forgot..Does your wife know about that shiny ring you gave to Mrs. Lapwing!
    Have a great weekend!!
    your buddy old pal : )
    Grace



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  3. Well, Phil, thank you for a very nice Friday Fix!
    Hope a future trip nets a Lapwing you previously ringed!
    Are the larger-sized flocks migrants?

    Enjoy your weekend - hope the wind subsides for you!

    --Wally

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  4. Great shots, Phil! The geese in flight shot is awesome. It is a nice big flock! The wagtail and oystercatcher are some of my favorites. Happy birding and have a great weekend!

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  5. Awe those glorious in flight images, just gorgeous and the Lapwing...absolutely wonderful, I always enjoy seeing them when you post...they would be a must if we ever came over the Big Pond. happy weekend Phil~

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  6. amazing sight to see so many p.f. geese like you did Phil. Great photos once again

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  7. Wonderful shots -- especially all the geese in flight! What a sight! Happy Critter Day!

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  8. You saw some great birds that day. Wonderful photos!

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  9. cute little lapwing. love the oyster catcher and the wagtail! so handsome.

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  10. the last bird shot is cool with the wind whisp-ing at his feathers

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  11. Considering the day didn't start out too promising it certainly ended well! What a collection! It'll be interesting to see if that bird is one you had previously banded. How exciting!

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  12. Great serie of beutiful birdphotos!
    Lovely to see!

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  13. Interesting article with great images,
    Have a good day

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  14. That Wagtail is a beauty. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  15. Wonderful photos, as always. I bet some time and patience is needed for them!

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  16. that lapwing chick is so darned adorable!!! And the oystercatcher sure as heck didn't come up with an oyster?!!! LOL

    The wagtail is really pretty too.

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  17. I'm so glad you came by to share on Weekly Top Shot #73!

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  18. Sometimes I just stop at things like the number "400...." and can't go on for a few seconds!
    The sheer number of birds you see just makes me joyful. And then your beautiful pictures! Just wonderful.

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  19. Some great shots Phil, and a great report of your Friday Fix!

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  20. Great photos-- especially the kingfisher with fish scales on its bill!

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