Trickle Time

There were small numbers of Siskins, Lesser Redpolls and Goldfinches on the move north this week. It was on Monday at Oakenclough that Andy caught handfuls of all three species. 

We both returned today hoping to witness further evidence of spring migration and catch more of our target species for the site. The forecast wind speed of 5mph was some way off the mark as we arrived to see swaying tree tops and ripples across the surface of the nearby reservoir caused by a 15mph chilly northerly breeze. Fortunately the wind dropped somewhat, the sun came out and we managed to catch 15 birds in a slow trickle of activity but during a morning when the temperature never rose above 8°C. 

We didn’t catch a single Goldfinch today and we both scratched our heads trying to remember the last time Goldfinch failed to appear on a field sheet from this site. Coal Tits are also regular here, mainly as recaptures from previous ringing sessions so we were surprised to catch three new ones today in our total of just 15 - 4 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Siskin, 2 Chaffinch, 3 Blue Tit, 3 Coal Tit and 1 Dunnock. 

Coal Tit

The four Lesser Repolls consisted of three new ones and a recapture from Monday. Both Siskins were new birds and both adult males. 

Lesser Redpoll

 Lesser Redpoll

Siskin

Siskin

We saw a number of raptors this morning with circling and calling Buzzards much in evidence and a count of between four and eight individuals, all of them harried by crows or gulls in the course of their soaring. We also saw at least two Sparrowhawks plus one or more Peregrine. On Monday Andy had also clocked up a ringtail Hen Harrier over nearby farmland. 

Carrion Crows and Buzzard

Other birds today - 4 Mistle Thrush, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Pied Wagtail, 8+ Oystercatcher, 12+ Curlew and the rather unusual sight of a Dipper feeding alongside the water’s edge of the nearby reservoir.

The normal habitat of the dipper is fast flowing streams, and although there are some nearby, to see a dipper along the reservoir’s margins made us look twice.

White-throated Dipper - R. Knight. East Sussex, UK [CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons)

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Linking today to Anni's Blog and Eileen's Saturday.

Hi everyone!

Well I did the easy bit. Signed up to The Bird Blog Club, swore my oath of allegiance to Google Inc and wrote down to later lose yet another unmemorable password variation on “wheat3£?22ear99”. Just two geeks who had a bright idea? There’s hope for birders yet. I’m just thankful I have a few quid invested with Google.

A blank screen, but now for the difficult bit, adding the words and pictures, desperately trying not to cock-up completely. Even so my hit counter is at 50 and more before I click the “publish” button. I managed to upload a header photo, even handled the obligatory bird links, slipping in a few extra non birdy ones, hoping it won’t lead to my further relegation to an even lower division. I quite like the header photo taken recently with my old Nikon Coolpix 8700, easily the worst camera I have ever had. If anyone wants to take this pile of poo off my hands before it lands in the big grey bin, or joins the mountain of pre digital camera equipment festering in a cupboard, let me know. But for now, thank goodness for the Footsie bounce, back to the digital age with a vengeance and a brand new Canon. All I need now is for autumn to begin, a few more birds than I have seen in recent weeks and I can snap away 600 times before loading a new film I’m told.

I agonised over the title. Unhelpful and a little puzzling that Sue said “Just call it ‘Victor’s’ Blog”, everyone will understand that”. “But it’s about birds” I insisted grumpily. Women, I don’t believe them.

So it’s just another bird blog with no firm plans, after all, Rome wasn’t built in a day, I’ll just take it as it comes whether I’m birding, ringing or whatever. I know I have to make it interesting for you to visit again; I don’t want this blog to suffer from McDonalds Syndrome - “Tried It Once, Never Again”. Pretty sure what won’t be on here – Weeds, Creepy Crawlies and Seawatching. Now there’s an apt name for a Fylde pastime. Which reminds me that I did have a lady at Knott End phone me this week to say she had a Gannet on her chimney all afternoon, but after being harassed by gulls for a few hours it apparently flew off to no doubt later excite the folks at Starr Gate.

Don’t get me wrong, when I lived on the other side of the River Wyre I used to go to Rossall Point quite a lot, mainly to keep an eye on the breeding Ringed Plover where in the 1980s and 1990s I found many nests, sent in many Nest Record Cards and ringed over 60 pulli. Now no one seems to know how Ringed Plovers do there or whether any still manage to breed after years of torment by the doggy brigade, ably supported by Wyre Borough Council. Also, I love watching Cory’s and yelkouans from “The Malibu” on Menorca, tossing the occasional lump of bocadillo to the lingering Audouin’s or Yellow-legged Gulls, but from the cliffs find it much more interesting to separate the Pallid from the Common or wait for the Alpine or a passing Hobby than stare out to sea.

Anyway, whilst typing away but glancing out of the window cursing yet another weather “forecast” as the sun peeks out, I realised that as its fine I really must get out to ring what will probably turn out to be my last Swallows of the year.

For now I’ll leave you with a few pictures from earlier in the year. Barn Owls near Nateby and Little Owls near Garstang, the latter courtesy of Wayne Sleep’s mum. Wow, this blog must get better and better, maybe I can get some birding celebrities and big listers on here next.