The weather is so good at the moment it’s almost difficult to not go birding as often as possible, so I snatched a couple of hours again this morning for the usual sortie even though I was “helping” with the babysitting.
First was Lane Ends where 2 Willow Warblers, a Sedge Warbler and a Blackcap again serenaded anyone that cared to listen. Out on the marsh Mr PP, the pale Peregrine sat waiting, I supposed for the tide due at a few minutes after 10am, but something made it move, perhaps the sight of the other Peregrine, hundreds of yards west which obviously posed a threat to the bigger bird which wasted no time in seeing off the intruder. Two Peregrines! It isn’t that many years ago when seeing a Peregrine made for a brilliant day out, now they are rather common place, even on our summer coasts.
Peregrine
I also wasted no time in walking west as recently I have found that the wildfowler’s pools and Pilling Water hold more than or an equal number of migrants than my older ex-ringing site and birding haunt at Lane Ends. Undoubtedly it has to do with The Environment Agency “management” policy, ably assisted by the employees of Wyre Borough Council who pick up litter, over tidy the woodland and otherwise do little to help migrant or resident birds. If anyone doubts either of these publicly funded organisation’s commitment to nature conservation, then take a look at the giant flowerpots in the lower car park, the appalling mess left by brush cutters, the Tesco plastic bags full of rubbish next to the car park or the litter strewn all over the vicinity after each weekend of mayhem.
There were more Wheatear this morning, not to be confused with birds that stay overnight, as this simply isn’t happening; it is spring with all birds keen to reach all parts others can't reach and so join in the action quickly. So I watched 4 Wheatears to and fro along the wall before the doggy walkers pushed them too far away for further investigation. On the seaward side 8 White Wagtails were joined on the marsh by a single Yellow Wagtail with half a dozen Meadow Pipits adding variety to the wagtail mix. Over the immediate part of the creek 5 House Martins stopped to inspect the muddy margins and a Common Sandpiper just hurried along it.
Further out, the tide ran in and filled the creek with small groups of Dunlin, maybe 40 and smaller numbers of Ringed Plover circling at the outer reaches.
A little while before I watched 3 Eider head east, but pretty soon the same three birds flew back west out towards the more open waters of the bay. Most of the Oystercatcher and Curlew have now left the outer marsh, which makes it easier to find the spring waders such as Whimbrel, with 2 this morning.
The Pink-footed Geese have definitely gone north, only 50 or so today, likewise the Icelandic Redshank with less than 20 on the landside pools. On the pools I could see the pair of Teal, a single Little Egret once again and a Grey Heron, with a single Kestrel circling and hovering over the pools and the inland creek.
White Wagtail
”Greenland” Wheatear
Teal
It was a quick visit but with luck I should be out tomorrow too and get a few decent pictures.
First was Lane Ends where 2 Willow Warblers, a Sedge Warbler and a Blackcap again serenaded anyone that cared to listen. Out on the marsh Mr PP, the pale Peregrine sat waiting, I supposed for the tide due at a few minutes after 10am, but something made it move, perhaps the sight of the other Peregrine, hundreds of yards west which obviously posed a threat to the bigger bird which wasted no time in seeing off the intruder. Two Peregrines! It isn’t that many years ago when seeing a Peregrine made for a brilliant day out, now they are rather common place, even on our summer coasts.
I also wasted no time in walking west as recently I have found that the wildfowler’s pools and Pilling Water hold more than or an equal number of migrants than my older ex-ringing site and birding haunt at Lane Ends. Undoubtedly it has to do with The Environment Agency “management” policy, ably assisted by the employees of Wyre Borough Council who pick up litter, over tidy the woodland and otherwise do little to help migrant or resident birds. If anyone doubts either of these publicly funded organisation’s commitment to nature conservation, then take a look at the giant flowerpots in the lower car park, the appalling mess left by brush cutters, the Tesco plastic bags full of rubbish next to the car park or the litter strewn all over the vicinity after each weekend of mayhem.
There were more Wheatear this morning, not to be confused with birds that stay overnight, as this simply isn’t happening; it is spring with all birds keen to reach all parts others can't reach and so join in the action quickly. So I watched 4 Wheatears to and fro along the wall before the doggy walkers pushed them too far away for further investigation. On the seaward side 8 White Wagtails were joined on the marsh by a single Yellow Wagtail with half a dozen Meadow Pipits adding variety to the wagtail mix. Over the immediate part of the creek 5 House Martins stopped to inspect the muddy margins and a Common Sandpiper just hurried along it.
Further out, the tide ran in and filled the creek with small groups of Dunlin, maybe 40 and smaller numbers of Ringed Plover circling at the outer reaches.
A little while before I watched 3 Eider head east, but pretty soon the same three birds flew back west out towards the more open waters of the bay. Most of the Oystercatcher and Curlew have now left the outer marsh, which makes it easier to find the spring waders such as Whimbrel, with 2 this morning.
The Pink-footed Geese have definitely gone north, only 50 or so today, likewise the Icelandic Redshank with less than 20 on the landside pools. On the pools I could see the pair of Teal, a single Little Egret once again and a Grey Heron, with a single Kestrel circling and hovering over the pools and the inland creek.
It was a quick visit but with luck I should be out tomorrow too and get a few decent pictures.
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