Windy Wheatears

Today I’m struggling to post anything except a letter through a doorway. Even that could get blown from my hands.

After a morning swim I hoped the overnight and morning gusts would drop for me by afternoon but they didn’t. The wind was really potent here today, too strong really for passerine birding but I thought I would go out to look for a few Wheatears out Pilling Way on the basis of a good count of more than 70 Wheatears on Bardsey Island on Monday 19th April. Bardsey Blog.

For anyone unsure of the geography up here, Bardsey is just off the tip of the Llleyn peninsula, North Wales, approximately 170 miles by road to the southern part of Morecambe Bay. To a Wheatear, especially a fuelled up specimen, it’s but a short flight from Bardsey or North Wales to any part of Morecambe Bay and a quick top up of food before the next leg of their journey. That’s not to say that any Wheatears I might find would definitely be part of the Welsh contingent, but they may have been. Equally Wheatears have been rather held up lately by the constant northerly winds and there must be many more heading this way quite soon.

Wheatear
Bardsey Island and Morecambe Bay
My walk along the Pilling wall in the north westerly proved difficult and uneventful, so hard that the best birding option was to walk behind the grassy wall out of the wind but not so to speak, stick your head over the parapet for fear of being blown back below.

There were at least 8 Wheatears, mobile, fence hopping specimens hard to study through binoculars shaking in the blustery wind. Needless to say with being so active they weren’t tempted by meal worms but quickly continued their part journey in an easterly direction.

A quick count around the Lane Ends pools revealed 6 Tufted Duck and several Swallows plus 2 Sand Martins hawking over the windswept pools.

Back home I did notice both Swallows and House Martins in our cul-de-sac inspecting last year’s sites.

Swallow and House Martin
Swallow
Swallow

Sorry folks, that’s all my news for today.

A Distant Circus

My early circuit of the Lane Ends pools and plantation in the clearing mist revealed 3 pairs of Tufted Duck, with once again the seemingly lone drake Gadwall that doesn’t venture far from the south east corner of the pool. There was a light passage of redpoll, probably Lesser Redpoll as at least three chattered high overhead with a smattering of Meadow Pipits heading out into the Heysham obscured bay. I really excelled myself when I picked up an overhead calling Tree Pipit that also headed north. Fortunately for my now low frequency hearing it was directly above me because if it had been further away and I may not have heard that high pitched but distinctive short sharp buzz. Old age and the loss of faculties, it comes to us all but happily I do have other skills left that come in quite useful occasionally. And I can still easily hear Whimbrel, and who couldn’t hear and recognise the loud, rapid seven whistles as one glides overhead with bill bent but not curved - two went over this morning as I made my way towards Pilling along the sea wall.

Common Redpoll
On the video there’s a bonus of Slender-billed Curlew and Curlew as well as Whimbrel.




I started off at Pilling Water with 4 Teal and 145 Redshank on the wildfowler’s pools, with mixed amongst them 5 Dunlin, then along the water itself looking back towards Broadfleet bridge, a Common Sandpiper. The flock of Pink-footed Goose still numbers about 800 and maybe they are better off at Pilling at the moment rather than flying off north to Iceland. A Grey Heron joined the now constant 4 Little Egrets dotted white across the green marsh together with 30 or so Shelduck, similarly white from a distance until binoculars revealed their real colours.

I laughed out loud today when I remembered the occasion out here many moons ago when I found an Avocet at a time they were rare and a clown of a birder asked if I hadn’t seen a Shelduck! I smiled back into my passerine count which revealed a singing Willow Warbler, 2 Reed Bunting, 6 Meadow Pipits, 4 Linnets and a single “alba” overhead.

Redshank
Teal
Shelduck
I spent quite a lot of time at Pilling Water this morning because every time I readied for the walk back to Lane Ends something happened, either I spotted a distant bird that required further investigation or I heard a call or two that made me linger a while. Like when I found a single Wheatear, my first there for more than 10 days; a good enough reason to try and catch it I reasoned, but it would have non of my meal worms and eventually headed out over the bay after being flushed twice by separate tide line joggers.

I sat on the stile looking left to Preesall Sands debating whether that familiar distant post had changed shape and now bore a raptor perched on top, moving around occasionally or was it a mirage from the haze? No matter because the next one wasn’t a figment of my imagination but a Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus, distant but flying over the sands on the edge of the marsh and heading east. I willed it to fly in towards me and linger for a slow trawl of the marsh but it didn’t, just continued on its flight north and east towards Bank End and Cockerham. It was distant for sure and it also gave me and my camera a “V” sign as it flew away out of sight.

Marsh Harrier

New Poll Shock!!

Dear Readers, don’t worry, the poll in question is a Lesser Redpoll and I guarantee this blog is about birds only and does not contain references to any political parties, politicians or forthcoming elections to make you either very angry or to bore the socks off you.

It was a totally fascinating morning’s ringing and birding at Rawcliffe Moss this morning which began when I loaded the poles on the car at 0530 to find both the bamboos and the car roof covered in a thin layer of frost that initially numbed my fingers, again. Thank goodness for the dependable vacuum flask.

320 feet of net later Will and I waited for the catch, part of which we hoped would be a few of the breeding Willow Warblers, because the singing males at least are back on their territories. We caught 6 new birds, a Lesser Redpoll, one of the few caught at the site, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch and a Reed Bunting. Retraps came in at 1Reed Bunting and 4 Willow Warblers.

Lesser Redpoll
Willow Warbler
Goldfinch
Chaffinch
The four Willow Warblers were all males, each of them originally ringed in the same plantation in the breeding season of 2008. Three of them were subsequently retrapped in 2009, the fourth not. The latter omission may be explained simply by the smaller numbers of ringing sessions on site during the awful summer of 2009. We also caught a ringed Goldfinch but not a ring we recognised – another control to follow the one from earlier in the year. Goldfinch X818575 anyone?

The visible migration was interesting, varied but thin with a couple of Swallows only, 8 Redpoll, 1 Siskin, 6 alba and 4 Whimbrel with the star bird a single Fieldfare that chuckled north about 9am.

Fieldfare
Other birds seen: 2 Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, 10 Goldfinch, 15 Curlew, 6 Linnets and 4 Corn Bunting with several of each resident Lapwing and Skylark.

Decisions, Decisions

Today was another one of those indecisive occasions and the feeling that its spring therefore I should be out birding or ringing, but after the quiet birding most of this week where might it be best to look? Last night we decided to leave the ringing until Saturday when the forecast looks marginally better with the chance that one or two extra migrants might find the British Isles, especially if they head into a cloud of volcanic fallout just north of here. I decided that I should give Conder Green another chance, particularly as there are always good looking birds to see with plenty of activity from the variety of waders, wildfowl and passerines there; then after CG, who knows?

I parked up quietly and scanned the creek before I approached the screen cautiously as often any birds just below will stay put if I am quiet and unobtrusive. There were 2 or 3 Redshank fairly close that sensed I was around and although they didn’t fly off, they did move a little further away. Also, a couple of them on the nearest island, displaying around and over it, competing with the Oystercatchers and Lapwings as to which could make the most noise. A lone Grey Heron stood on the far bank of the pool, conspicuously silent today unlike their usual habit of taking off with one or two harsh calls before disappearing towards the canal. We think of the pool edges as a place for waders but today I watched a pair of Linnets come in for a drink and to search around the grassy margins for food. Earlier I heard Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting and Meadow Pipits close by but didn’t search them out so I was happy that small birds were around even if they were not of the warbler variety fresh in from Africa.

Linnet
Oystercatcher
Redshank
I had watched a Spotted Redshank fly from the creek out to one of the furthest islands where it stood in the shallows away from the Redshanks, then moments later I thought I saw a second spotted red just behind the island. It was about then that PW, JB and BT joined me on the podium for a chinwag but also to multiply the searching eyes, which paid dividends when a Little Ringed Plover showed on the far side of the pool. Those Lancaster birders certainly put some time in to seek out the birds; sometimes its difficult to stay one step ahead of them especially now my cover of a different car has been blown, but me thinks they don't know what Sue's car looks like!

There’s one really positive thing about the wildfowl at the moment - they are easy to count there are so few of them, but it is interesting to see the lingerers from winter to guess which ones may be breeding or the ones simply playing at it. I counted 3 Goldeneye, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Shelduck, 5 Teal, 4 Mute Swan and 1 Little Grebe.

Goldeneye
There was nothing for it but a return to Lane Ends where once again the Kestrel flew hopefully around as workmen cut the grass. Raptors are clever and opportunistic that way, knowing that cut grass leaves small mammals potentially exposed to binocular eyes from above. The migrant highlight here was a Common Sandpiper on the pool edges.

Kestrel
Kestrel
No “phylosscs” at Lane Ends and no Wheatears again today when I walked to Pilling Water, just Meadow Pipits on territory and a single overflying Redpoll.

Meadow Pipit
Time for a decision, carry on or hold off for another day by heading home for a good old cup of British and a Rich Tea biscuit? I think its known as quitting while ahead.

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.