Friday, August 22, 2014

In The Bag

Not a bad morning. A spot of birding, another Wheatear in the bag and I even nailed the reluctant Kingfisher.

The forecast was for a sunny day so I headed for Conder and Glasson but as the windscreen wipers drew back and forth I wondered if I’d made the right decision. The rain was quite steady at Conder Green where an initial look into the creek revealed the usual wader suspects and their by now consistent numbers - 2 Greenshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 5 Common Sandpiper, 4 Snipe, 28 Redshank, 4 Curlew. 

The Lapwings seemed flighty this morning, not just those around the pool but the ones hidden from view near the canal. Their regular eruptions into the air before settling back down allowed a count of more than 150. Herons and wildfowl remain the same with 2 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 5 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Wigeon. 

A Cormorant dropped in to feed, those are raindrops in the photo, the ISO at 800, and both I and the camera were getting wet. Time to head off to Glasson and bird via the car until the rain stopped. 

Cormorant

Seven Pied Wagtails and 2 Grey Wagtails near the Glasson car park with a Grey Heron on the far jetty and about 60 Swallows feeding over the water. 

I took a few rain spotted pictures of the resident but far from tame Tufted Ducks, their wary eyes watching my every move. I rather admire our commonplace and largely ignored UK Tufted Duck, a duck of town and city parks with ornamental lakes and ponds. But the Tufty is also a highly migratory beast whereby their numbers increase in the UK in winter as birds move here to escape the cold winters of Iceland and northern Europe. The numbers at Glasson Dock will swell from the present 15/20 to nearer 80/90 during the winter months. 

Tufted Duck

The sky was brightening a little so I made my way back to Conder Green. 

Looking North from Conder Green

At the pool a Kingfisher was surveying the scenery and fishing the waters. Don't forget to "click the pics" for close-up views of the Kingfisher.

Kingfisher

Kingfisher

Kingfisher

Kingfisher

Kingfisher

Kingfisher

Kingfisher

Kingfisher

There's nothing much to add to the earlier numbers of birds except that both Common Terns took their share of the tiny fish on offer and then returned to their nest on the island where they fed the hidden from view youngsters.

There was time for Pilling Marsh where I found Buzzard, Kestrel, Greenshank, 7 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron and 5 Wheatears. One Wheatear, a juvenile of 96mm and 25.1 grams, succumbed to the temptation of a meal worm. 

Pilling Marsh

 Wheatear

Wheatear - juvenile

  Log in soon fior more news, views and pictures with Another Bird Blog.

Linking this post to Anni's Blog, Eileen's Saturday and Weekend Reflections.

28 comments:

A Colorful World said...

Yep, you nailed the kingfisher! Great photos. Even got him feeding. Love them all! Love the shot of Conder Green from a distance too. Wow, what a beautiful place!

Judy said...

I love that third image - the scenery is just beautiful!! And the kingfisher close-ups are incredible!!

Germán Ibarra Zorrilla said...

The Kingfisher, excelente, amigo Phil.

fredamans said...

Very beautiful birds!

Wally Jones said...

We made it back home! Over 2,000 miles of driving but a great visit with family.

Despite your "sunny" weather forecast (!) you had some great numbers and interesting variety this morning. It's easy to overlook the "common" birds, but every time I slow down to really look at them I'm once again impressed how beautiful they are. Very lovely Tufted Ducks!

That Kingfisher is certainly a little jewel. Superb photographs don't hurt! Nice work.

Happy the weather cleared a bit and you were able to tempt a Wheatear.

Hopefully, I'll be able to resume posting soon.

Have a great weekend, Phil!

21 Wits said...

Wow, such beautiful birds you've shared. They seem to have their own little expressions too. Thanks for stopping by my blog too!

carol l mckenna said...

Beautiful bird photos and wonderful reflection shots on the river ~

artmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)

Fun60 said...

A great series of shots of the kingfisher.

'Tsuki said...

The kingfisher is so gorgeous... Very nice serie indeed ; you have a perfect eye to catch those birds : they look so alive on your pics...

Priyashi said...

WOW ! Superb Clicks....:)

eileeninmd said...

Wonderful series, Phil! I love the Kingfisher shots.. and the view of the sky and marsh is beautiful. Happy birding and have a great weekend!

Christian Perrin said...

You can't beat those Kingfisher shots, Phil! What a stunning bird! I especially love the tiny light blue jewels all over its crown.

It's great you make the effort to bird even when its raining. I tend to be a bit too precious about these things and have spent two weekends in the confines of my house thanks to unending torrential rain.

Spare Parts and Pics said...

Spectacular kingfisher shots!

Mary Howell Cromer said...

All Photos are copyrighted by Phil Slade...ha ha, or words like that, just popped up and all I was doing was double clicking on the Kingfisher to view it up close as you suggested. It is early and I know I was only scrolling down, but I promise I was not about to copy anything ;)
Those Kingfisher images truly are remarkably stunning Phil, and Conder Green, glorious~

FAB said...

Marvelous series of the Kingfisher.

I love watching the Tufties. Had a few on my local patch but regretfully no evidence of breeding this year.

eileeninmd said...

Phil, Thank you for linking up to my critter party..Have a happy weekend!

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

amazing pictures...I feel as if I could reach out and touch the kingfisher

Roan said...

The kingfisher is amazing. The ones I see around here are a different color. Beautiful landscape shots, too!

TexWisGirl said...

my goodness, your kingfisher shots are divine!

marsha said...

fabulous photos...especially of the kingfisher

sandyland said...

wow those kingfisher photos so clear can feel the moss even great thanks

Unknown said...

Fabulous photos of the kingfisher!

sunshine said...

Great shots of the kingfisher, you are very lucky.

Adam Jones said...

Wow Phil so jealous of that Kingfisher shot. Superb!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

It seems that there have been many pictures of Common Kingfisher on various blogs recently, and hardly surprising. It's a gorgeous bird, isn't it?

Betsy Brock said...

Aw..the kingfisher is my favorite! What awesome shots!

Anni said...

So fine!!!
You know I love your kingfishers Phil. They're so much more colorful than our American species.

And the 'looking north' scene is so beautiful. I'm understanding just why you go birding here...wow.

Your linking this weekend at I'd Rather B Birdin' is much appreciated!!! Thanks.

Birgitta said...

Beautiful bird! What a great series!

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