Blue Morning

It was a bright blue sky this morning after clear overnight and when I looked across the estuary from Knott End and out towards the Wyre Light all was calm serenity save for the hoot of the 8am ferry. All right I exaggerated the blue a little but not the flat water as the east wind was barely perceptible, leaving the river like a mirror.

River Wyre from Knott End

I struggled to find many birds, even the 2 drake Eider hidden at the base of the jetty half way to Fleetwood so far was the tide out. A couple each of Linnets, Goldfinch, Meadow Pipits and "albas" flew from up river but I couldn’t be certain if they were migrants or not. Apart from the actual beautiful morning, the weather conditions hadn’t been ideal for migrants again so I headed for Pilling and my favourite walk in search of the mythical, elusive Wheatear.

Eider

At Lane Ends I saw my first “mallard” ducklings of the year, seven multi coloured bundles of fluff scooting across the pool with mum when a dog got too close to the water’s edge. Also on the pools were 2 pairs of Tufted Duck, the Little Grebes and a drake Gadwall, no sign of the female from last week! What I took to be the same Kestrel from Wednesday hung around but didn’t perform for me as it did the day before. Just as well I took plenty of pictures, because I didn’t today apart from a Chaffinch and a Woodpigeon – well someone has to. In the plantation I didn’t see or hear a single Willow Warbler or Chiffchaff, only the still present Reed Buntings represented the little brown jobs.

Chaffinch
Woodpigeon
Authentic Mallard
Kestrel

Towards Pilling Water I had the usual smattering of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks, now only 800 Pink-footed Geese, 4 Little Egrets and on the wildfowler’s pools, 90 Redshank. Apologies but it’s yet another Little Egret picture.

Little Egret

I was sat at the stile at Pilling Water when I received a message that IG had seen a Marsh Harrier over his Fleetwood house; so I looked both west towards the river then north towards Heysham and south over Pilling itself, but couldn’t pick up on anything that big heading my way. Sometimes I think the harriers on hitting the coast at Fleetwood follow the course of the Wyre up river and thence across to the mosslands. That’s my excuse for not refinding this one but I did have a single Whimbrel again, the highlight of my sea wall vigil.

Wheatears? None! But better luck tomorrow I hope with a ringing session elsewhere.

Blowing In The Wind

Every birder should have a Plan B. I turned to my alternative this morning when the cold north easterly again frustrated my early morning migration search. I started at Ridge Farm where I met JJ hurrying along the sea wall who like me complained about the un-April like temperature and piercing wind; at least I had hat and gloves to ward off the nip in the air. I saw a couple of now local Swallows, Meadow Pipits and Linnets before calling a halt to a fruitless walk.

A quick visit to Lane Ends revealed 2 Jays that seemingly visit here every now and then, and I watched them searching for Woodpigeon and Blackbird nests amongst the middle and lower storeys of the trees. A single Redpoll flew calling over the plantation and to the west over in the area of the pool I could hear the Little Grebes, but up on the sea wall it was too bitingly cold to expect much in the way of warblers from warmer climes. A local Kestrel hung about for a while, circling the mound, hanging in the blustery chill, on the look out for breakfast. This at least gave me the opportunity for a photograph or two and to confirm that “Windhover” is a pretty accurate name for the Kestrel. But the Jay was pretty adept at putting a branch between me and it.

Kestrel
Kestrel
Kestrel
Jay
So I headed inland to Rawcliffe where although it would be equally blowy, there is shelter in the few woods where I might find summery birds.

I drove up the track where at each side there are at least 4 pairs of Lapwing in residence now, forever fighting off the attentions of Carrion Crows. Brown Hares do very well out here and whilst I didn’t attempt to count any it seemed that most fields had a couple of them sat around or running off at the sound and sight of my vehicle. And the Roe Deer also ran from the plantation as I approached, heading off quickly to the next farm. It’s good to see Roe Deer but deer and early morning mist nets are just accidents waiting to happen, so when we put nets up early we just chatter a lot to let the deer know we are around so they can slope off quietly.

Brown Hare
Roe Deer
On the way from the barn I had seen the lingering flock of 20 or more Corn Buntings, but up here on the farm proper there were four or five Corn Buntings singing, so inconspicuous on a distant post or bush until they let forth with that jangling song. Near the “horsey houses” the Swallows are back to occupy the stables for another year if allowed and I counted 6 of them surveying the scene, in and out of last year’s doors. As I looked towards Pilling I expected to see the Buzzards soaring over the usual wood, thinking that the breeze would help them too. They were there, the pair of them forever too distant for the perfect photo but I’m sure that later in the year the young ones won’t be so circumspect.

Corn Bunting
Buzzard
Through the plantation I counted 6 singing Willow Warblers, but I think there are a few females now as when I stopped in a warm glade there were several flitting about. I also caught sight of a larger warbler moving through the willows and when I managed to home in on the creature it turned out to be a Whitethroat, just about due on 14th April. I watched it for a few minutes thinking that maybe it would treat me to a burst of loud scratchy warble but it didn’t, just a barely audible but unmistakeable sub song as it continued looking for insects. Heading back I disturbed a couple of pairs of Grey Partridge then watched a Kestrel swaying atop a spindly willow as it fought the breeze that threatened to dislodge it from the viewpoint. But I think the Kestrel mastered the situation and flew off only when it was ready despite the wind.

Kestrel
So Plan B worked, a successful morning's birding that's what I like.

Right Decision

I was tempted last night by the thought of ringing on a fine Tuesday morning but I looked carefully at the “all wrong” weather synopsis of north easterly wind with a drop in air temperature and decided to give the ringing a miss on the basis that there wouldn’t be much overnight migration to fill a mist net or two. Instead I opted for a birding afternoon, a quick check at Conder Green, a wander around Bank End then a look for Wheatears where I hoped the morning sun might have worked its magic by waking up the chat’s sheltering insect food.

At Conder Green I saw my first Common Sandpiper of the year in the creek together with both a single Greenshank and the piebald Spotted Redshank. Often, but not today, I forget to count the commoner things, like 12 Redshank, 11 Oystercatchers, the dozen or so Teal still scattered around or the Grey Heron that always honks into sight if I wait long enough. There was still at least one Little Grebe with 2 Goldeneye, the wintering duck that always lingers longest in spring and often in pairs.

Like PW yesterday I had to search for the Little Ringed Plover and also following in his footsteps, found it alone in the west corner. Perhaps now is a good time to remind ourselves Little Ringed Plover is a Schedule 1 species and as such, where present in the breeding season, is provided with special protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981.

Little Ringed Plover
Grey Heron
By the afternoon it was pretty blowy and cool, so I reckoned I hadn’t missed much in the way of morning migration as confirmed by my walk down Bank End alongside the marsh but also on an adjoining farm where I have permission to do a little survey work. The marsh was fairly quiet with 2 of those frustrating Little Egrets that seem not to be paired up but destined to spend their summers and winters stalking the fields and ditches of Fylde and Lancaster districts. The only summer birds came in the shape of 8 Swallows together, and a single Sand Martin, but I listened in vain for a Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff or Blackcap to enliven proceedings.

Little Egret
Walking the farm I counted 14 nests in the rookery where a Buzzard flew off to another copse at either my approach or the noise and attention that the Rooks gave it. The farm pools had a pair of Tufted Duck with 4 displaying Oystercatchers and a pair of Lapwings on the surrounding land, not to mention sundry ex-farmyard Mallards, Greylag and Canada Goose. In the passerine line I settled for overflying local Tree Sparrows, 2 Linnets, a fine Pied Wagtail and a single White Wagtail, another species which has been in very short supply this spring.

Pied Wagtail
Back at Pilling Lane Ends I found the now resident Reed Buntings, the trilling Little Grebe and a pair of Meadow Pipits, more bachelor and spinster Little Egrets out on the marsh and still 1000+ Pink-footed Geese that perhaps felt at home in the cool, cloudy, northerly air with a distinct Icelandic feel to it.

Pink-footed Goose
And once again I didn’t find a single Wheatear, another day of grace for the meal worms.

Early Bird

After a few early mornings I was cream crackered last night so decided not to join the other lads ringing but have a little lie in followed by some gentle birding - the plans of mice and men! I hit the road at about 0730; still too early for some I thought, when the roads to Pilling seemed deserted save for the occasional budding Valentino Rossi trying desperately to take the side off my car and the knee caps off their legs.

I sought refuge in Lane Ends car park and took a walk to Pilling Water in the course of which I saw and heard my first Whimbrel of the year whistling overhead but flying south. I’m sure the bird would turn around pretty soon and head north to Iceland if more of its buddies suddenly came the other way.

Down at Pilling Water, I was clearly the first there as all was quiet, quiet enough for the Fluke Hall Barn Owl to be poised on a fence watching for a careless animal and even taking time out to clean its talons from a recent encounter. It flew lazily around the creek and the rough grass and perched up a few times, posts and trees a plenty.

Barn Owl
Barn Owl
Barn Owl
I heard a Willow Warbler singing from the willows where the newly topped up lone crow’s nest stands out like a sore thumb. I think maybe the wildfowlers allow a nest on the principle that a pair of dominant Carrion Crow pair can control the local crow population in an environmentally friendly way. Around the creek and pool below I counted 5 Swallow that once again quickly went on their way. Then out on the marsh 3 Little Egrets, scattered far and wide with seemingly no hint of a pairsome.

There is a vibrant healthy little population of breeding birds on the stubbly set aside that surrounds the pools and old creek; 2 or more pairs of Oystercatcher, Lapwing and Redshank together with Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Greylag and the inevitable Mallard. With my traps ready I searched the Wheatear rocks for little white arses but found none, only Meadow Pipits, a straggly party of 20 or more zipping between the ditch, the fields and the sea wall. Wheatears don’t always arrive early morning, but maybe follow the sea wall from the west, only showing up at my catching spot in the afternoon; but that’s now another game plan for another day.

Destination 2 Conder Green as I gave Bank End a miss when I saw the plane scoot low over the quarry and land on Chris’ fields as the off loaded parachutes dropped towards the sea wall.

As expected, fairly quiet at CG: The brown and getting blacker Spotted Redshank, Curlew, Grey Heron, a Goldeneye pair, a Tufted Duck pair, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 9 Teal and displaying Oystercatchers and Lapwing still to settle their business.

Goldeneye
Lapwing
I got word the other day of the Starling I caught in my garden on 5th December 2009. It hadn’t travelled far – from Preesall in fact, but it was first ringed in May 2002 as a nestling. Not an amazingly old Starling, more middle aged really at 7.57 years when the UK longevity record is about 17 years and the Danish one 22 years.

Starling

Up, What A Lark

I must say these early starts don’t get any easier, particularly after a winter respite of 8 a.m. beginnings; but if the birds want worms and the ringers want birds, they both must make the effort and get out of bed early.

I met Will at 0615 on Rawcliffe Moss to a red sky in the east and the usual glow of optimism and anticipation that ringers possess in abundance. It was a very quiet session of ringing with very little grounded, but as is often the case, enough to keep us interested and occupied for four hours with a dribble of visible migration that added to the ringing. In the nets it was a slowly, slowly two birds an hour with only five new and four retraps, although we did catch our first Willow Warbler of the year. Other birds: Reed Bunting 4, Dunnock 2, Blue Tit 2 – I said it was quiet. One Reed Bunting provided us with a good example of an adult’s spring tail shape and condition.

Dawn Pheasant
Willow Warbler
Willow Warbler
Reed Bunting Tail-Adult
Reed Bunting
Blue Tit
Visible migration, all south to north this morning came as 22 Redpoll, 2 Sand Martin, 1 Swallow and 8+ Meadow Pipit. “Other” birds seen and heard but not directly attributable to today’s migration included another 5 Willow Warbler, 28 Curlew, 7 Linnet, 6 Goldfinch, I Sparrowhawk , 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel , 3 Great-spotted Woodpecker, 6 Corn Bunting and 4 Skylark, with perhaps the surprise bird of the morning, a Greenshank. The latter noisily circled the steep sided wildfowler’s pool before realising it was too deep to linger before heading off north again.

The Sparrowhawk picture is dedicated to Will who doesn’t believe that Sparrowhawks ever do anything but fly over, round or through mist net rides and probably only after the nets have been taken down.

Greenshank
Sparrowhawk

More King Harrys

We just seem to carry on catching finches in Will’s garden. Today we passed 75 new Goldfinch for the year, with during that period a handful only of retraps which shows a continuous and consistent passage of birds through February, March and to date in April, with perhaps today a hint of them tailing off.

Total of new birds caught this morning: Coal Tit 2, Goldfinch 7, Chaffinch 4, Lesser Redpoll 1, Siskin 1, Collared Dove 2, Robin 2 and Great Tit 1.

Retraps came in at one each of Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Nuthatch, Greenfinch, Great Tit , Blue Tit and Dunnock.

Lesser Redpoll
Lesser Redpoll
Siskin
Goldfinch
Nuthatch
Coal Tit
Collared Dove
The Nuthatch were busy in and out of their tree hole this morning and remained undeterred from their activities when we caught the already ringed male which returned to its labours immediately after release. Likewise busy in nest boxes in the garden were Jackdaw and Coal Tit.

Other birds seen today: Buzzard, Stock Dove 2, Lapwing 4, Swallow 4, already busy in and out of the outbuildings, Grey Wagtail 2 and Grey Heron 3.

It was an enjoyable session that started deliberately late at 0800 on the assumption that tomorrow will be the early 0600 start if that high pressure holds. Watch this space.

Trickling Through

There was a trickle of migrants at my usual cold corners this morning rather than the hoped for rush of migration to turn them into hot spots. Yet again hat and gloves were essential bits of kit for the first hour or more in the brisk westerly.

With an eye and an ear on the sky I killed time and counted the waders at Knott End, 190 Redshank and 200 Oystercatcher, with 7 Eider waiting at the ferry terminal. Things were so quiet I found time to confirm for Birdtrack breeding House Sparrow, Collared Dove and Starling along the Esplanade where the large old terraced houses provide ledges and cavities galore. Below the Esplanade a couple of Meadow Pipits were not this morning’s migrants, neither were 2 Pied Wagtails or the 3 Twite feeding on the remnants of the seed provided for them. I was just about to move on to my next migration hotspot when 2 Redpoll flew over heading east. One positive, it does seem to be a better spring for Redpoll, and maybe that is because more of them left us during the abnormally cold winter and they are now returning bang on cue, as they used to do? Someone said to me just the other day that plainer birds often make for better photographs: I suppose that the closely related Twite and Redpoll might be described as “little brown jobs” without many distinguishing features?

Lesser Redpoll
Twite
Fluke Hall and Ridge Farm were similarly quiet, with grounded Meadow Pipits numbering 18 and resident singing Skylarks 6. A spring flock of Linnets along the gorse numbered about 45, with 3 local Stock Dove feeding quietly in the stubble field whilst 2 Wheatear below the sea wall were probably new in. Another group of Linnets numbering 6 were alongside Fluke Hall Lane, as was a singing Chiffchaff with briefly, a perched up Merlin that as I approached, flew over Wheel Lane.

There was a little more spring activity during my Lane Ends to Pilling Water walk where I found 2 Chiffchaff, one singing and one silent and a lone singing Willow Warbler in the plantation, a Reed Bunting, 2 Wheatear, and then on the water noted the Little Grebe pair with eggs. Again, I noted the quiet staccato of overflying Redpoll, putting down one in my notebook.

All was mainly quiet at Pilling Water save for a Stoat that scurried around the stones, boulders, pipes and maintenance equipment left there by the Environment Agency. I think the Stoat makes a living by preying on the rabbits that make a home in and under the same leftovers, but it moved so fast I had no chance of taking a photo today, the one below taken earlier in the winter, when it was properly cold.

Stoat
The few birds around were 3 Sand Martin and a single Swallow over the wildfowler’s pools that seemed to disappear as quickly as they arrived, 2 Little Egrets and a few more Meadow Pipits and Skylarks.

Swallow
Things look better for the next three days with a building high pressure and the promise of a few ringing sessions on the horizon.

Warm Weather?