Everyone is talking about the UK's cold weather. I am no exception. I have been marooned indoors in minus temperatures and icy roads for a week, a now unusual but not unknown sequence of the natural cycles of weather. This is a real old fashioned British winter; when postmen trudged through six feet of snow, milk bottles froze solid to the doorstep and trains came to a halt in snowdrifts, not because of rail strikers.
I have been trapped in our north facing away from major roads cul-de-sac where the sun don't shine and gritters never venture.
Gritter
With plans for ringing and birding literally "on ice" and when standing around invited hypothermia I managed a couple of trips out Pilling way and then Knott End on Sea Ice.
At Pilling where I went to top up the supplementary seed - quick and rough counts of 30 Shelduck, 40 Teal, 50 Mallard, 180 Wigeon, 45 Lapwing, 40 Curlew and 15 or so Redshank.
Of the small birds I found 10 or more Skylarks and 5 Meadow Pipits braving the elements but nothing else save for Blackbirds, Robins, Reed Buntings, Chaffinches, Dunnocks and a few Blue Tits. All were busy inspecting and devouring our offerings of millet, rape seed, niger and Luxury Picnic Mix. Moorhens, forced off the frozen water, joined in the feast.
Dunnock
Blue Tit
On a good bright morning I reckoned to have better luck with the tide and waders at Knott End where the ice and semblance of snow covered the beach, foreshore, walkways and the jetty. It didn’t take long to find a good but not especially numerous selection of waders either roosting or feeding, but I was careful not to disturb them nor venture too far onto the treacherous icy surfaces.
For the record my counts were 30 Turnstone, 1 Grey Plover, 48 Redshank, 22 Knot, 14 Ringed Plover and 3 Oystercatcher.
A few Shelduck in amongst the ice floes sailed past the end of the jetty, as they looked for food at the tide edges.
Also along the foreshore were the now annual visitors, approximately 45 Twite and a single Rock Pipit.
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15 comments:
Hello, Phil
You are brave to be out there on a cold icy day counting and ringing the birds. It is interesting seeing the shorebirds on the snow and ice. Here, they head south for the winter. Beautiful photos, love the cute Blue Tit!
I never heard of a Twite? Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend.
I can see that if I had fallen in love with birds as much as I did with arthropods, I wouldn't be left bereft in the winter. On the other hand, I don't have to go outside to care for arthropods either. My overwintering pupa need nothing. I am glad you are here though, to show me that life goes on in winter and it's as beautiful as ever.
The birds with their little legs stuck in snow looks awfully cold! Glad you had a nice outing though and it's always nice to come inside and get warm! Or you can come to Florida! lol Happy holidays!
We humans have it comparatively well, dear Phil - we go outside and then back into the warmth. Unfortunately, the birds can't do that, the poor ones... I hope they get through the winter well. You brought beautiful photos from your birdwatching tour.
❤️⭐🎄🌟🕯️❤️
Best wishes from Austria,
Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2022/12/besuch-im-tierpark-stadt-haag.html
Great work in the cold. These little birds would be so grateful for those supplementary seeds in these harsh times.
Good work. We're still fixing our winter storm damage!
You have courage to venture out in the cold! But, to top off the feed for "your" birds is so understandable. Yes - a hot drink by the radiator sounds like a perfect ending.
Great photos Phil. Hope the weather predictions for the future weeks are back to normal
Thanks for sharing your post with us all and Happy Holidays!!
Not being so far away from you, it's been the same here Phil. Only saving grace has been the sunshine. The waders look particularly nice against the snow and ice, and the Ringed Plover is smashing. A barmy warmth felt today. Hurry up Spring. All the best for Christmas and your birding in the new year.
A nice selection of photos and many that I will never see here. Suddenly this week has warmed up, and temperatures are quite freaky for December. Today it is a Max of 15C.
Happy Christmas, happy ringing and all the best for 2023. Diane
Great work in this chilly weather. Those extra seeds would be greatly appreciated by the birds.
Happy Tuesday, Phil!
Warm wishes and Season's Greetings from Sharon's Souvenirs!
The winged plover reminds me a bit of our kildeer. Pretty fellow.
Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2022/12/wishing-you-peace-on-earth-good-will.html
I know it's that anthropomorphic thing, but the birds must be very grateful for the supplementary seed. Good show for getting it done under less than ideal conditions.
The shorebirds look like I might feel in that weather. "If I huddle up with everyone and don't move maybe I won't freeze."
Hopefully the weather will give you a break soon. Forecast looks a bit better for the holiday weekend.
Where is global warming when we need it?
Gini and I are nearly 100% healthy again and have been birding intensely. Now we're kitchen-bound until Christmas day as we (and by "we" I mean "she") are baking and putting together all manner of things to eat.
We wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!
Nice birds, and a nice grot wagon! For some reason I have found a page that shows the locations of Scottish grit wagons - and they all have great names!
Hope all is well.
SM
Such a nice selection of photographs.
All the best Jan
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