Friday, September 5, 2014

Bush Bashing

There was a fair amount of bush-bashing from me today without too much success in the way of rarities, just the common warblers. Oh well, shouldn’t complain, it was a lovely morning and I saw loads of birds. 

For readers unfamiliar with the term “bush-bashing” it refers to migration time when bird watchers look in suitable areas of habitat in the hopes of finding fresh-in migrant birds, the rarer the bird the better. Despite the frightening terminology there is no actual demolition of trees and hedgerows it’s more like a slow, thorough and meticulous search with ears pricked in the hope of seeing or hearing something out of the ordinary. 

That’s not to say the occasional over enthusiastic birder keen to impress or make their mark won’t occasionally tap a bush with a stick or chuck the odd rock into a hawthorn hedge to encourage an as yet unseen bird to show. Thank goodness for Birder’s Law Number One, “The welfare of the bird is paramount”. 

Glasson first stop and stopped in my tracks to watch a Grey Heron grabbing the early morning rays with help from a built in solar panel. I don’t think it was drying off as Cormorants do, just enjoying the morning sun like me. 

Grey Heron

Sunrise - The River Lune- Skywatch Friday

From the entrance to the car park I spotted the outline of a Kingfisher sat on the ropes of the sunken boat but as the car scrunched over the gravel towards the towpath the bird flew off. Not to worry, there would probably be a Kingfisher at Conder Green. And there was. 

Once again a good number of Swallows around the boats and something like 500/600 but no sign of the Hobby of wishful thinking, just a Common Tern hunting for fish. Along the towpath - 40+ Alba wagtails, 1 Grey Wagtail and further along 2 Chiffchaff. 

Pied Wagtail

The warblers were mostly at Conder Green, skulking along the old railway line or flitting through the trees of the long neglected orchard, with a Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroat and 2 Blackcap. There was evidence of Chaffinches on the move by way of their autumnal “pink-pink” calls and extra birds around than of late. 

Chaffinch

Meanwhile, and over at the pool a Kingfisher turned its back on me and the 7 Little Grebes left their usual safety margin of many yards. Here at Conder Green it’s easier to get pictures of a Kingfisher than it is to snap a Little Grebe. 

Kingfisher

Little Grebe

Waders today - 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Greenshank, 3 Snipe, 2 Common Sandpiper, 60+ Lapwing, 30 Redshank and a couple of Curlew. 

Black-tailed Godwit

Odds and Sods - 20 Teal, 4 Cormorant, 4 Common Tern, 2 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Wigeon. 

 Grey Heron

The next picture of a juvenile Starling is for students of moult and those who like to age and sex birds in the field. During the summer and autumn young Starlings have a complete moult of all their juvenile feathers, gradually replacing them with adult type ones. Their moult can last from May/June right through to late September but can vary geographically or according to the individual bird. It’s certainly a weird looking specimen. The poor thing looks like it was dragged through a bush backwards. 

Starling 

Please join Another Bird Blog soon for another bash at birding.

Linking today to Anni's Blog and Eileeen's Saturday Blog.

19 comments:

  1. little grebes (like our pied-billed grebes) just make me smile. so cute! love your grey in relaxed pose, too!

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  2. I'm doing the same thing over here! We've had storms roll in and I've been looking! It's nice to have your regulars as well. That Grey Heron is lovely!

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  3. You captured a great pose on that Grey Heron, Phil. Really a neat photo. And I'm in love with that fluffy Pied Wagtail! Looks like you have a beautiful area to bird in - thanks for posting a photo showing the harbor.

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  4. Wonderful photos, I'm assuming you have a pretty special camera or impressive telephoto to get such clearly defined images.
    Although I live in the South-West I'm a Yorkshire lass so I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying 'God's own country'!

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  5. Wonderful photos, I'm assuming you have a pretty special camera or impressive telephoto to get such clearly defined images.
    Although I live in the South-West I'm a Yorkshire lass so I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying 'God's own country'!

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  6. Wonderful photos, I'm assuming you have a pretty special camera or impressive telephoto to get such clearly defined images.
    Although I live in the South-West I'm a Yorkshire lass so I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying 'God's own country'!

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  7. Wonderful photos, I'm assuming you have a pretty special camera or impressive telephoto to get such clearly defined images.
    Although I live in the South-West I'm a Yorkshire lass so I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying 'God's own country'!

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  8. Now on this side of the Atlantic Bush Bashing had a whole different meaning!I think that the warblers you found had a whole lot more intelligence and appeal than the Bush we bashed here.

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  9. Wonderful photos.... Loved it...:)

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  10. Every single image just made me sing happy, beautiful selections and shares Phil~

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  11. I love the herons. I usually only see them from a great distance.

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  12. Some great birds, especially the Kingfisher and a Black-tailed Godwit, excellent photos.

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  13. A lot of superb pictures today, Phil. Love the heron with the sea background. Very dramatic.

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  14. Love the grey heron in that first shot! The sunrise is beautiful and enjoyed seeing the grebe. Too cute!

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  15. Beautiful photos and birds, like the Little Grebe.

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  16. I'm a little late getting around to visiting with you today....been out...BIRDING!! Altho I didn't do any bush bashing literally, I was trying to spot a 'new' warbler for me. The Cerulean Warbler. Someone told me a male was found at the cemetery close to our home, so I spent much too long there walking around. I think I found it...but was unable to get a photo of it!! Maybe some other time.

    Love the heron with the wind at its back...that would make a great bird book cover!! And of course, you know how jealous I get of your beautiful kingfishers!! Oh, and must add that your starlings are marked pretty.


    thanks for sharing your link this weekend at I'd Rather B Birdin'! Much appreciated.

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  17. The Grebes around here like to dive as soon as they see a camera. You got a nice pic.

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