Saturday, November 4, 2017

Saturday’s Schedule

Saturday began dull and cloudy but the forecast was pretty accurate. The sky brightened a little but not enough to get decent photographs. 

I set off in the direction of Cockerham where I stopped in the gateway of Braides Farm and looked on the flood about 300 yards away. The flood is distant but always worth a look with the risk that small birds go missing amongst the puddled, rough grass landscape. I counted 480 Curlew, 10 Black-tailed Godwit and a single Kestrel but I’m sure more bits and pieces were hidden. 

Conder Green proved productive. In the wader stakes I noted 15 Curlew, 15 Redshank, 14 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Snipe, 4 Lapwing and the single and still wintering Common Sandpiper. The light was far from ideal and required ISO1000, a setting which proved barely enough. 

Redshank

Common Sandpiper

Down on the mud was a single Grey Wagtail and also 4 Meadow Pipits. The incoming tide made it easier to count the Teal now flushed out of their hiding places in the marsh and I counted 170/180. There was a single Grey Heron, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Little Grebe and 9 Goosanders. The latter included 3 stunning looking males, even if they were on the far side of the pool. 

 Meadow Pipit

Little Egret

Teal

I drove around Jeremy Lane and up to Cockersands where I hoped to find and photograph Fieldfares, a species which in some winters appears in large numbers along the hawthorn hedges. But very few Fieldfares today with the best I saw about 50 very mobile birds in two flocks in roadside that flew quickly south and out of sight at the approach of vehicles. I had to make do with a House Sparrow dining on rather old blackberries. 

House Sparrow

Near to Cockersands I found 190 or more Whooper Swans, a number partly hidden as the field dropped down and away from view. As I watched a number of parties flew off noisily towards Cockerham but a hour or so later and when visiting Thursday’s location of almost 500 Whoopers at Cockerham I saw not a one. Clearly this winter’s swans will be very mobile with a selection of places in which to delight their admirers. 

Whooper Swans

Whooper Swans

Whooper Swan

I stopped at Gulf Lane and counted the Linnets at 130+.  Their natural food is still a plentiful mystery where they drop to the bottom of the vegetation, feed on or close to the ground and appear to ignore our line of rape seed.  Six Stock Doves dropped in to feed but they won’t stay around if the ringers or shooters appear and then open their car doors. 

Linnets
 
More birds soon. It’s Saturday evening and I’m due a glass of plonk.

In the meantime, linking to Stewart's World Bird Wednesday and  Anni's Blog.



17 comments:

  1. Great post - I love that shot of the teal - one of my favourite ducks.

    I assume that the swans are a sure sign that winter is coming.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  2. I have to say that I shiver every time you mention a shooter, ugh :D

    These are some gorgeous photos despite the conditions you mention. I have to say that waders are some of my favourites, they are so elegant as they stalk through the shallows. And the little egret is a find :D

    I still need to go look up those swans.

    Thank you so much for sharing both your knowledge and your photography. Hope you enjoyed the plonk :D

    Best wishes,
    Liz

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  3. I'm like Stewart....that Teal is gorgeous...you captured the colors so perfectly, even if the weather and lighting wasn't picture perfect. Love the swans!!!

    Wonderful photos and write up...you always manage to take me with you with your words. I can feel the misty air and hear the birds calling.
    You participating in linking up this weekend at I'd Rather B Birdin' is appreciated...thanks Phil!!

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  4. Good morning Phil: The continuing presence of so many swans must surely be the highlight of the walk. I know it would be for me.

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  5. I love the Teal too...it has the most beautiful colors! Great photos as always. Hope you had a good weekend!

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  6. My favourite photos are of the Common Sandpiper and the Teal duck with their reflections, beautiful.
    Have a wonderful week.

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  7. The young egret was my favourite.

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  8. Our Whoopers arrived recently in very similar-looking fields........

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  9. A fabulous collestion of bird images in this post Phil.



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  10. There were huge flocks of linnets at Parkgate on Sunday. Great pictures.

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  11. In Salamanca(Spain) there were too many linnets in Sunday as well. We saw the linnets near Villamayor Village. Beautiful post.

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  12. You got some lovely shots but I'm with everyone else - I was delighted with the teal..

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  13. It's a Linnet Tree! :-) Loved the sandpiper shot with the reflection!

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  14. Such sweet comments, Phil about my working on the book. I appreciate that. Not sure if that's a Swainson's Hawk or not. I can go with that since you are a much better expert than I am!

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  15. Beautiful shorebirds, the Teal image is stunning and your first image share is stunning and so many Linnets in one shrub, how wonderful. So happy to be able to stop and visit. I want to see a few more from older posts now too ;)

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  16. Phil some lovely photographs here, but the colours in that Teal are just beautiful.

    All the best Jan

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