BIRDING THE LUNE ESTUARY THE FOREST OF BOWLAND AND BEYOND..................................................SPOTTED REDSHANK RIVER CONDER HOWARD STOCKDALE

Thursday 29 December 2016

Caton Moor.

On a brilliant calm sunny day yesterday, Ian suggested a walk up Quarry Road from Brookhouse to the wind turbines on Caton Moor and return down by Kirkby Gill and past Claughton Hall into Claughton and back to Brookhouse, probably six miles....so off we went. 

No major discoveries, and certainly not overrun with birds, but it was good to be out birding again for the first time in eight days, and to get some fresh air - is there such a thing these days - into the lungs, and be surprised to find 7 Lapwing back up on the moors on the early date of 28 December, probably an all time earliest date for the species to be back on breeding grounds. Twelve Fieldfare and a single Redwing seen, 8 Rook were noted in a field, 3 Long-tailed Tit, with Blue Tit, Wren, and Robin noted. Two raptors seen on the day, a Kestrel and my second - 24 November - Hen Harrier in a month, both ringtail.

The Redstart.

Black Redstart. Richard O'meara.  

I was grateful to Richard for his enquiry about what the bird was in the photograph above which he attached to his e-mail to me, he had seen it by the slipway at Knott End mid-afternoon yesterday, it was an excellent picture of a female/1st winter male Black Redstart

Impressive stuff Richard....Keep 'em cumin!

4 comments:

  1. Hola amigo Pete,Feliz año 2017 y un fuerte abrazo.

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  2. A HAPPY NEW YEAR to you too Antonio.

    My Kind Regards to you and to Spain.

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  3. Hi Pete,
    Many thanks for your sweet comment on my blog, much appreciated!!
    Your banner makes me feel I am under this beautiful Xmas tree and its decorations.... how warm it feels!
    I don't know about you, but I am still battling with the flue, very vexing after saying a few days before to a friend that I hardly ever got sick!! LOL! Serves me right!
    Well, for the new year I naturally wish you many great sightings and birds observations!
    Keep well and warm!

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