Thursday, February 19, 2015

Rainy Day Birding

Today is cloudy, rainy and breezy and I’m indoors. 

Yesterday there was time for a trip up to the feeding station armed with a bucket of nyjer seed and a bag of Bamford’s finest. On the 30 minutes drive up to Oakenclough I noted 5 roadside Kestrels at well scattered locations so figured that the moderately mild winter augured well for Kestrels and others in the coming weeks. 

 It was quite blowy with some action around the feeders but nothing out of the ordinary with good numbers of Chaffinch and Goldfinch, a couple of Lesser Redpolls, a Grey Wagtail and a pair of Mistle Thrush. 

Mistle Thrush

Kestrel

To fill today’s post there are a few leftovers from the recent holiday to Lanzarote. 

We like to spend a day in the old part of Puerto del Carmen, a town which has a busy working port and harbour, more than enough coffee stops, plus a spot of shopping for the grandkids’ presents. 

Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote

Puerto del Carmen, Lanzarote

Lanzarote dolls

The Turnstones here appeared to be juveniles and will probably spend the summer in the locality as there is so much food to be found by hanging about the fishing boats. 

Turnstone

Turnstone

The Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres is one of two species of turnstone in the genus Arenaria. It is a highly migratory bird, breeding in northern parts of Eurasia and North America and flying south to winter on coastlines almost worldwide. It is the only species of turnstone in much of its range and is often known simply as “Turnstone”. 

In the Americas, Turnstones winter on coastlines from Washington and Massachusetts southwards to the southern tip of South America. In Europe it winters in western regions from Iceland, Norway and Denmark southwards. In Africa, it is common all the way down to South Africa with good numbers on many offshore islands, including here in the Canaries. 

In Asia, it is widespread in the south with birds wintering as far north as southern China and Japan. It occurs south to Tasmania and New Zealand and is present on many Pacific islands. Yes, the Turnstone is some traveller, one that makes us appreciate the magic of bird migration. 

Turnstone

There’s a Little Egret here with a trick or two. The egret knew that if it waited around long enough someone would come along the jetty above with a handful of bread to feed the hordes of grey mullet in the clear shallow waters below. As the fish came steaming in for a free and easy meal, so did the egret. 

Little Egret

Little Egret

Let’s finish on a guy with attitude and hope the weather improves soon for Another Bird Blog 

Spanish Sparrow

19 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Hello Phil, I love the pretty Mistle Thrush..Great Kestrel shot! The Turnstone knows where the food is but the Egret is smart bird catching the easy fish.. Great post. Have a happy day!

Mary Howell Cromer said...

I will take on some of that Spanish Sparrows attitude right now. This was a very pleasant post to see, first time on blog in a couple of days. We are in such a deep freeze, and state of KY was declared state of emergency. The heavy snow kept me from my journey Tuesday and had to postpone to next Tuesday. It feels good to come for visit though. Take care~

Linda said...

Hi Phil,

I love this series, and the Spanish sparrow looks so alert and proud. Gorgeous. :) Lovely markings.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Now that Spanish Sparrow has the kind of attitude that I would like to have had when a cop recently stopped me to give me a ticket. Instead I was meek, humble and apologetic - but it worked. She ran my licence through the computer and seeing that I had a clean slate she let me off with a warning.

TexWisGirl said...

love that little sparrow! sweet shorebirds and i loved the ships in the bay.

Rohrerbot said...

Nice finish with the Spanish Sparrow! What a gorgeous little bird! That shot of the Turnstone opening up the plastic bag is quite humorous!

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

I am enjoying your images from this trip. Great kerel shotst

Rajesh said...

Beautiful birds. I like that Spanish sparrow.

eileeninmd said...

Hello Phil, I am stopping back to say thank you for linking up and sharing your post.. Happy Birding & Have a happy weekend!

Unknown said...

Wonderful photos! The turnstone is very pretty.

EG CameraGirl said...

I liked all these photos but I especially like the Spanish Sparrow. Very cute.

carol l mckenna said...

Great bird photos as always ~ favorite is the last one of the Spanish sparrow ~

Happy Weekend to you,
artmusedog and carol

Betsy Brock said...

It's cold, snowing and grey outside and we staying indoors, too! ha.

That little Turnstone is a resourceful little bird!

Breathtaking said...

Hello Phil!:) Wonderful series of shots from the beautiful Kestral and thrush images to the cheeky shots of the other birds. Just love the one of the Turnstone biting into the bag of Cuttle-fish. The sparrow with attitude is the winner though ( for me) what a proud pose, and a great shot.

Little Wandering Wren said...

Lanzarote leftovers are always a pleasure! I remember my Grandmother bringing me back one of those dolls. I do like a bird with attitude so I vote him/her the real star of this post!
Wren x

Stewart M said...

The turnstone pecking at the plastic bag is a great shot - don't think I've seen a wader feeding in this way before.

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

Anni said...

Wow...that Spanish Sparrow is the epitome of gorgeous. And the Mistle Thrush is mighty pretty too.

In fact, all your bird photos are super. It just goes without saying.

Also, enjoyed your 'leftovers' of your recent trip. But, with leftovers...where's the BEER?

Oh ya, we've had so many rainy gray days around my neck of the woods, I'm going stir crazy.


Thank you for joining with your link at I'd Rather B Birdin' this weekend!!!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Your local birds are nice , the thrush is new(even virtually) to me . But I'm glad too that you shared more of that great vacation.

Hannah said...

I like the spotted breasts of the Mistle Thrush and Kestrel, even also the Spanish Sparrow, but the Spanish Sparrow is so plucky, he seems to think he is an eagle. What a fantastic defiant pose! The turnstones look like they live up to their name, going to great lengths for their food. So cute!

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