Stoat thanks to Mike Watson.
And the accompanying pic for my post today shows the Stoat just coming out of its winter ermine coat and was seen recently at Kenibus....thanks for the pic Mike. I recorded eight Stoats in ermine over six years between February 2003 and my last in February 2009 which was on Newby Moor just over the border into North Yorkshire.
There was almost nothing to note on the River Lune from Skerton Bridge to Marsh Point but I did note a drake Goosander, and 2 Mistle Trush flew to land on the very tip of one of the uprights on the Millennium Bridge....must be great to have wings!
On Freeman's Pools the redhead Smew was soon found again, also Green Sandpiper, a Little Grebe in full breeding plumage, 10 Tufted Ducks, 2 Wigeon, and 2 Dunnock, the 'gull' numbers continue to increase with at least 95 on/around the island today mainly Black-headed Gulls but including some Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls accompanied by some Lapwings and Oystercatchers which will learn the error of their ways in due course if they do attempt/are attempting to breed on there.
The walk to Conder Green has to be regarded as 'dull' bird wise with absolutely nothing new on the scene at all and the only record I collected was of a drake Red-breasted Merganser on the river off Sodday, I saw just 8 Blackbirds this week of which five were at Glasson Dock, but on the way I did collect a record of one of our rarer species in 2 Greenfinch. Conder Green produced 2 Spotted Redshank, and 2 Greenshank again, also a single Bar-tailed Godwit and Black-tailed Godwit in the Conder channel both of which had detached themselves from the larger numbers seen here on the Lune estuary regularly during this winter in particular the former of which I noted up to 3,000 on 19 January. I found just one Common Sandpiper this afternoon by the old railway bridge but note one reported on the pager later on Conder Pool which unfortunately proves absolutely nothing in relation as to whether or not there are still two here again.
Little Egret seen today on Freeman's Pools, 2 on wildfowlers pool, and one on Colloway Marsh opposite Stodday.
I also happen to think - well to know actually - that this is a pretty impressive photograph of two Oystercatchers in flight which is credited to Phil Slade....Thanks Phil.
Looks like you had a bit of a struggle Pete. Some good birds seem though - from my perspective :-)
ReplyDeleteAn excellent walk Warren - struggle or not - and will certainly be an even better walk in the weeks to come with a list of birds available.
ReplyDeleteA 'big up' to Warren Baker....my most regular contributor.