Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Taking A Break

Migration seems to have come to a stop up here on this part of the North West coast. I was out this morning doing my usual circuit with nothing much to report on yet another cool, cloudy and quite windy morning. 

Still a good number of very vocal Golden Plovers at Braides Farm, over 250 again today. Occasionally some take a fly around, and had the sun been in evidence this morning I may have gotten a better picture of their synchronised but distant fly-past. 
 
Golden Plovers

Up at Conder Green the overwintering Spotted Redshanks are beginning to acquire their summer plumage, more than can be said for yours truly kitted out in almost full winter garb again. On the pool - 28 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Oystercatcher, 15 Redshank, 1 Little Egret and 9 Tufted Duck. 

Black-tailed Godwit

Signs of Spring at Glasson Dock comprised 4 Swallows hawking the water and 2 Chiffchaffs singing from roadside trees. 

At Pilling on the flood and behind the sea wall I found 600 Pink-footed Goose, 1 Green Sandpiper, 255 Redshank, 8 Shoveler, 10 Teal 1 Dunlin, 15 Skylark, 1 Pied Wagtail and 4 Linnet. I couldn’t find any Wheatears today, my traps made redundant as the mealworms took a well-earned break. At Lane Ends, 3 Little Egret, Chiffchaff, 2 Little Grebe and 2 Reed Bunting. 

There seems to be a few bits and pieces in the garden back home with in the last week several Goldfinches, a number of Chaffinches, a Chiffchaff, a Lesser Redpoll, local Starlings, and that major rarity a Song Thrush. I did a little ringing and photographing of Goldfinches in between Granddad duties.

Goldfinch

Goldfinch

Goldfinch

Chaffinch

Goldfinch

 Starling

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15 comments:

  1. Nice Golden Plover BIF work Phil, they look great in summer plumage.........

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  2. I have never seen anything like a Goldfinch here in the North Indian plains. The variety of colors is just amazing.

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  3. Hi Phil! the Goldfinch is very striking. I was wondering how often do you get feedback as a result of the ringing that you achieve so regularly. Have you mentioned quite how you 'catch' the birds somewhere? Do you throw out nets ... or ...?

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  4. In stark contrast to what is happening with you, Phil, migration is really heating up here. Every day brings something new. Great time of year - and tomorrow it is supposed to get up to 17C. Yippee!!

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  5. Great post, Phil! I love your Goldfinches! The Plovers in flight is awesome.. Happy birding!

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  6. Your Chaffinch and Goldfinch images, along with the Starling, all so handsome and crisp, just beautiful, made my late evening end with a smile. Isn't there just something very special in seeing small, or even large groups of birds in flight, and not knowing where they will land, how far they will go, or where they rested last evening, just passing through...I like that~

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  7. Very nice the Starling and Goldfinch.. Regards..

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  8. That's a mighty handsome god wit and the goldfinch pictures are superb. Thank you for visiting my blog a second time and ensuring your very kind comment was received. I am most grateful. Happy days, Phil.

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  9. Bonitas capturas,las del Jilguero me gustan especialmente.Un abrazo

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  10. new color in goldfinches for me amazing

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  11. Beautiful birds. Goldfinch is very cute.

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  12. Always informative and gorgeous bird photography here ~ Happy Weekend to you ~ xoxo

    artmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)

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  13. so many beautiful birds... your goldfinch looks nothing like ours. so much prettier is yours. what a cute little fella the chaffinch is. hope all is well. have a great day~

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  14. Lovely photos, I have never seen a goldfinch that color.

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