Conder Green has gone really quiet, struggling today to equal anything near July’s purple patch, but afterwards I was to find that after a quiet couple of weeks Lane Ends almost came back to form.
Daisy Moo Cow with her head through the hide screen didn’t augur well this morning. After a couple of prods from the sharp end of a tripod she took the hint and sloped off, perhaps miffed she wasn’t the object of my attention.
The list of usual suspects is short, to the point and unsurprising - 2 Little Grebe, 1 Goldeneye, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Little Egret, 1 Stock Dove, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Shelduck, 28 Redshank and 35 Lapwing. No sign of Spotted Redshank or Greenshank this morning but that doesn’t mean they’re not around.
Common Sandpiper
Carrion Crow
An early bundle of Swifts and hirundines took their toll of insects along the hedgerow again - 12 Swift, 20+ House Martin, 15 Swallow and 2 Sand Martin. At the bridge I found a Chiffchaff by its loud slurring call, I think the same one which attempted a snatch of song in the car park just ten minutes later. A few Linnets, Goldfinches and Greenfinches whizzed about, but otherwise zilch.
Glasson had a good number of Swallows perched about the bridge and the tied up boats with a Grey Heron in the customary position, but it was generally so quiet I high tailed it to Pilling. Calling at Hillam Lane I found 20+ Sand Martins at the colony and a flock of 25+ Linnets.
Barn Swallow
Three noisy Jays were in the trees at Lane Ends, another one at Pilling Water a little later, and in the intervening walk, a Peregrine over the marsh. The trees at Pilling Water produced a Buzzard and a Great-spotted Woodpecker, and on the pools, 2 Grey Heron plus single Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and Snipe.
At last I saw 2 Wheatears of autumn proper, having gone the whole of July without seeing a single one. I managed to trap one of the two, the bird an obvious juvenile in fresh post-juvenile plumage. Afterwards both birds flew together towards Fluke Hall.
Wheatear
Wheatear
Wheatear
Another day done on Another Bird Blog. Join me soon for more birding news and birding views.
8 comments:
Lovely too see the Wheatear close up
The wheatear was a nice catch!
The bird whisperer triumphs again...how do you get the swallow to sit still like that...wonderful...and I love the wheatears (a bird I've never seen, but would recognize from your pictures if I were ever lucky enough to do so).
the Wheatear is a sweet looking bird Phil, and the pose on the crow looks quite comical
Lovely shots of the Wheater!
The wheatear is a pretty little bird. The carrion crow is not!
Of course, I like wading birds, so even a "common" one is a treat for me.
K
I assume the cow did not mind being poked, you are the brave one. Love the swallow and the wheatear. Beautiful birds. Happy birding, Phil!
Wheatear in the hand - nice catch - and better than two on the fells!
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
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