Taking Part In Birding

The preferred destination was an early look at Conder Green and Cockerham. As often happens there was a delay caused by roadside birds to view, today a Barn Owl. Luckily there was a handy gateway in which to park. 

It gets pretty busy with traffic along Lancaster Lane and once or twice my heart was in my mouth as the owl flew across the road in what appeared to the path of oncoming vehicles. 

Barn Owl

Barn Owl

Barn Owl

Needs must I suppose when the bird’s best and regular feeding spots are either side of the road. After twenty minutes or more I couldn’t bear watch the Barn Owl put itself in such danger so started up the engine and set off north. 

Conder Green is pretty quiet in now mid-June but I hoped for an early returning Common Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank or Greenshank, three species very much on the cards any day now. No such luck, however there was an obvious influx of common Redshanks by way of a count of 52, way above recent numbers and a whole gang of 30 or more very noisy individuals sticking close together. 

Redshank

The nesting Common Tern was taking a break from incubation and at one point took a quick flight around the pool before returning to sentry duty at the island nest. Oystercatchers don’t appear to have done as well as other years with as far as I could see just one well-grown chick amongst the still 3 or 4 pairs. 

Oystercatcher

Otherwise - 8 Tufted Duck but no sign of youngsters, 1 lonesome Wigeon, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron and 3 Curlew. 10 Swifts fed over the hawthorns with 3 Pied Wagtail in the creeks and 2 singing Reed Bunting. There are young Starlings around now but in any great numbers just yet. 

Starling

Andy and I have been following the fortunes of the Skylarks along Pilling way. Two nests we located failed in mid-May during a period of wet and windy weather by way of one saturated nest containing 3 dead and very wet chicks and in the other nest 3 cold eggs. Both pairs are still close to their original nest sites although today I could find only the one nest despite both pair of adults being very active. 

Skylark

Skylark nest

With good weather forecast for the next week the chicks will provide data for the BTO and others by way of a Nest Record Card and ringing information when they are slightly bigger. 

Nest Record Card

Nest Record Card

Through the efforts of volunteers participating in BTO surveys, the bird populations of the British Isles have been monitored more effectively and for longer than those of most other parts of the world. This has produced a uniquely rich and detailed body of scientific work. Read about some of this Citizen Science and how to get involved at The British Trust for Ornithology website.

Linking today to Anni's Birding,  Run-a-Roundranch and Stewart's World Bird Wednesday.