This time last year, an Avocet pair had only arrived at Conder Green three days ago on 20 May. This year there are now three pairs on Conder Pool all breeding, with two still sitting yesterday.
Returning to Lancaster on the A588, with my motor unable to drive through Conder Green, it automatically turned left at the bridge for me to check out Conder Pool to find Avocet present and accompanied by two young out of the nest.
With luck this means a fledge date of June 23-26, but luck was already needing to be on their side, with a Grey Heron and Lesser Black-backed Gull close by as I observed two marauding Carrion Crow whilst two adult Avocet and Common Tern attacked the corvids for several minutes. Also roosting on Conder Pool, 110 Black-tailed Godwit.
Returning to Lancaster on the A588, with my motor unable to drive through Conder Green, it automatically turned left at the bridge for me to check out Conder Pool to find Avocet present and accompanied by two young out of the nest.
Avocet Conder Pool. Pete Woodruff.
With luck this means a fledge date of June 23-26, but luck was already needing to be on their side, with a Grey Heron and Lesser Black-backed Gull close by as I observed two marauding Carrion Crow whilst two adult Avocet and Common Tern attacked the corvids for several minutes. Also roosting on Conder Pool, 110 Black-tailed Godwit.
Oystercatcher Nest Conder Green. Pete Woodruff.
This Oystercatcher nest by the roadside marker in the lay-by by Conder Pool doesn't stand a chance of progressing beyond where it is today when I took this picture. This is a busy pull-in on a busy road, every vehicle pulling into the lay-by has the bird vacating the nest, to run across the road until the all clear, it doesn't stand a chance of incubating these three eggs.
I'll still be keepig an eye on your wanderings pete ;-).
ReplyDeleteShame about that oystercatchers nest!
Hi Pete,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment on my blog.
I didn't know whether the Squacco heron could be seen in the UK or not.
At least now I know it can be found although rarely seen. Not too scarse in France but difficult to observe, it easier in Camargue, south-est of France.
I just love this heather photo you took it reminds me of of some places of Scotland!
Sorry to read about the Oystercatcher's nest, would it have been in south Africa I could have removed the eggs and hatched them in my incubators...
Enjoy your long weekend, I hope you will have the same glorious weather we're enjoying now :)
Warren....Good to see your name back on Birds2blog again, and thanks for bringing me up to date on your 'movements'.
ReplyDeleteNoushka....The last Squacco Heron record I found was at Erith, London June 2007, a rare vagrant in Britain. Glad you liked the heather photo which reminded you of Scotland.
ReplyDeleteI think the temperature today touched 28 degrees at one point.
Hope you have a good weekend too Noushka.
I do wonder why birds choose some strange places to build their nests. I was at Skomer Island yesterday and there are always swallows nesting in the toilet block there - not exactly where I'd choose to raise my kids lol! It does make taking a comfort break a pleasant experience though when there are baby swallows lined up on the ledge above the cubicle!
ReplyDelete