Tricked Out Of It!

To begin with a nice image of a juvenile Cedar Waxwing which has to be credited to Paul Bakers son David over there in British Columbia in Canada....thanks David.

Well the weather tricked and made a complete fool of me today but if it had turned nasty 10 minutes sooner than it did it really wouldn't have happened at all. By the time I got to Conder Green - well where else - there was an unpleasant shower of sleet which over the next 15 minutes or so turned decidedly worse. So here I am sat once more in the car looking like some idiot with nothing better to do until 30 minutes later I decided nothing was going to change and in fact it was worsening with the sky turning blacker by the minute and I did have enough intelligence to work out that the best thing was to return from whence I came and I was back home again an hour after leaving.

So, considering how bleak the weather had been, what were the 'highlight' gains from my birding in January....

Well, I proved that the wisest Stonechat in the country was still at Cockersands at the end of the month feeding on plenty in the tide wrack. The four 'suspect' Snow Geese were still on Aldcliffe Marsh having relocated from Carnforth Marsh and in due course returned there, at one point in the month they were accompanied by a Dark-bellied Brent Goose and other dates 3 Barnacle Geese, I found 2 Green Sandpiper on Freeman's Pools one day. Conder Green continued to host at least one each of wintering Spotted Redshank and Greenshank, and a male Stonechat seen one day here but not since, 24 Twite were north of the picnic area are something of a rarity this winter in the area though I found another four behind the toilet block at Glasson Dock one day and the view of the River Lune from here produced an excellent count of at least 3,000 Bar-tailed Godwits towards the end of the month. The Whooper Swans had by now turned up on Jeremy Lane with the maximum count being six one day and a good count of 105 were on Pilling Marsh with 3 Bewick's Swans which I think were my first of the winter. Talking of maximum counts an amazing at least 300 Mute Swans were seen in field's from Jeremy Lane one day in the month. 

By the end of the month I had found clear evidence that the upland Stonechats were no more at the location's I had visited and further news from a reliable source was that non have been found at other upland sites since the big freeze. I don't think anyone will be too surprised about this since we've had the coldest winter for many years with snow and frost being the cause of very serious problems for the bird's and we will have to see what the spring brings with it. I feel bound to go up Clougha/Birk Bank in this month of February but feel in reality something of a futile exercise having already discovered a complete absence from here, Harrisend and Hawthornthwaite's west and east access point's.

I'm very much looking forward to finding my first Wheatear probably at Cockersands/Fluke Hall from the past experience's of a 'year or two' and the first exciting bird of 2010 in the late winter/early spring and possibly only four weeks away.     

Hard Work!

Thanks to John Bateman - who has been/is out and about once again - who took this picture of the PFG on Moss Lane last Friday. There was at least 4,000 Pink-footed Geese on Jeremy Lane this afternoon with more coming in on occasion's, also a tundra Bean Goose , thanks for this Tom I know you're reading this and it was good to see you and have a chat again today including your kind words about Birds2blog. In the field on the opposite side of the lane were 6 Bewick's Swans and 10 Whooper Swans, these swans keep changing their combination/numbers presumably hidden in dips/behind hedges in the landscape on my previous visit's and those of other birder's. Previous to Jeremy Lane I had been to Conder Green but got a little fed up dodging the shower's but did manage to assess the 140 Goldeneye on the river and 5 Bewick's Swans across on the Colloway Marsh side with 3 Little Egret on the marsh there. Other bird's noted at CG before I really got fed up of the heavy shower's and departed, 3 Little Grebe and c.25 Black-tailed Godwit.

I was running out of time now as I had other commitments today but was able to check out at Cockersands the male Stonechat, c.32 Turnstone, 2 Grey Partridge, and it was good to see at least 450 Golden Plover back in the field's here with c.250 Curlew noted.

I have it on good authority that no Stonechats have been found at more upland location's than the ones I have checked since the 'ice-age' arrived and thankfully has since departed, useful and welcome information if depressing.

A little short on words today but I had just four hours birding in before some business to attend to but did spend quite some time at Conder Green picnic area overlooking the marsh for chance of the American Wigeon still being around, and also a good period grilling the Jeremy Lane PFG.       

Arctic Tern.

I recently had a reason to look up my Arctic Tern records which reminded me of some of the mind boggling facts - briefly outlined here - surrounding this incredible bird which moves on a gigantic global scale, a 10,000 mile one way journey appears to mean nothing to this truly amazing bird weighing little more than 100g (3.5oz when I last did my exams at school). Another of the many distinction's the Arctic Tern holds is that it experiences more daylight than any other living organism on the planet, just two impressive examples of the capacity of birds.

The distribution of the Arctic Tern means that neither ring-recoveries nor observation's will reveal the full extent of its movements much of which occur in small groups and at high altitude across open oceans. In Britain its breeding stronghold is in Shetland and Orkney and after fledging the main post-breeding movement appears to be similar to that of the adults, southwards along the West African coast. Its not known to what extent the American-breeding Arctic Terns might occur in Britain on passage, Nearctic breeders migrate south along the west coast of Europe, and Siberian breeders may pass Britain as well, at least during the autumn.

There are many gaps in the understanding of the movements of this species and perhaps there are some safeguards for the future of the bird in that its wintering grounds are largely uninhabited and its breeding grounds are sparsely populated, in my view excellent news for any bird species in an age where persecution and wilful disturbance are still alive and thriving in some areas.

Friday Again!

Photography first, and this superb image comes with the title 'Marshaw Beech' and with my many thanks to Peter Guy. I was in this area yesterday but wasn't in possession of this picture then so it is quite appropriate I add it to this post today. When I see this kind of work I find it difficult to believe I gave up my photography to pursue my passion for the birds....but there you go! Thanks again Peter, this is simply stunning.

Well, it's Friday and I was in the company of JB/BT but don't be tempted to compare my records with JB's on the LDBWS website http://www.lancasterbirdwatching.org.uk/ as they come nowhere close to being as comprehensive as his but I'm quite happy to transfer on to Birds2blog what I personally regard  as worthy of note and not as a scientific report. 

At Conder Green the first record I collected was of an excellent 230+ Goldeneye on the River Lune which represents something like 200 more than can be seen anywhere else within the recording area at any one location, also on the river c.2,000 Bar-tailed Godwit. On Conder Pool and in the channel at least 70 Common Gull of note, a Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, and 2 Little Grebe. On Jeremy Lane the same number as on 5 February of  16 Bewick's Swans with 3 Whooper Swans. At Cockersands I noted c.60 Black-tailed Godwit at the lighthouse end, and at the Caravan Park the male Stonechat happily foraging the tide wrack again. Off Moss Lane up to 7,000 Pink-footed Geese were in three fields.

On Pilling Marsh distant and partially hidden - and could only be presumed - up to 95 Whooper Swans and 3 Little Egrets. At the feeding station on Bradshaw Lane - not my most favourite location - 10 Yellowhammer, 10 Corn Bunting, 12 Tree Sparrow, 12 Chaffinch, a Dunnock, 2 Reed Bunting, and 2 Brown Hare. On New Lane c.20 Tree Sparrows  to note.

And me being a succour for good photography here's another Peter Guy gem, this of the River Hodder at Whitewell. I'm just going to have to thank you once more Peter, I know what I'm talking about when it comes to passing judgement on a photograph and this is great composition, stunning and very atmospheric.

   

The Road To Nowhere....

....Talking Heads and a great track, but it was me on the road to nowhere today I'm afraid.

                            Look at me when I talk to you.                That's better. 

Well there's always room for a little humour isn't there....There was good numbers of these creatures on the uplands I visited today but in the six hours I spent in three areas I found not a single Stonechat, so thanks to the return of the ice-age recently were looking at first records for in excess of ten years since the upturn in the status of this species of no wintering Stonechats in several moorland locations I've been to recently most of which are always reported on here. But at least I added to the bigger picture of the current status of the birds of the area being that records of no birds are of the same importance as records of sightings to achieve a more accurate result.

I last visited Harrisend on 25 January but not easily convinced I decide to go again today but drew a blank on the Stonechats and recorded just 4 Red Grouse, a solitary Wren, a Snipe, and 22 Greylag >NE, surprisingly I also found the flightless Carrion Crow of 26 January again so perhaps one or two dead sheep around.

On Hawthornthwaite where I found six Stonechats two months ago on 10 December....deserted. I saw 2 Raven, 2 Red Grouse, a Snipe, Kestrel, 3 Buzzard soaring together, and 7 Lapwing went over flying purposefully west. I spent two hours on the east side of Hawthornthwaite Fell and saw just two birds in the form of Red Grouse....almost like birding without purpose. 

  

This image even makes the Starling look a smart bird. Taken at Steveston Wharf, BC, Canada with thanks to Paul Baker.

Filling The Gap Again....

....and that doesn't mean punching someone in the mouth, it means I didn't get any birding in again today save seeing a pleasing c.320 Back-tailed Godwits feeding on the beach below the Clock Tower at Morecambe this afternoon. So one or two of the usual excellent pic's I'm fortunate to have access to which is good news for me in situations like this.

Stuart Piner did all the hard work - nothing new there - on this American Wigeon including finding the bird in the first place. I reckon he achieved this image on the River Lune from Conder Green....thanks for letting me have this picture Stuart, excellent birding as ever.

  

The bird with the fancy name is the Black-billed Shrike-tyrant - I must learn more about this creature - and is an image returned from North Peru in 2006 by Colin Bushell....Thanks for this Colin I really like this bird that little bit extra, a sort of Spotted Flycatcher lookalike perhaps slightly bigger and a longer bill....don't you think? 

A superb in flight shot of the Short-eared Owl taken by Mike Watson on Crutchenber Fell in Bowland....

....and yet another superb image of the stag Sika Deer in the Gisburn Forest in Bowland by Mike Watson.

Thanks for these Mike, all three of you have contributed to keeping Birds2blog ticking over until tomorrow when I hope to check out Harrisend and Hawthornthwaite Fell's for Stonechat which will cause me some apprehension given that so far I have found not a single bird in the upland habitat's since the ice-age departed.

Doing the Circuit's.

The Smew redhead was present again this late afternoon when I had decided to give the last two daylight hours to Aldcliffe doing the circuit from Railway Crossing Lane - Freeman's Pools and return via the embankment. As can be seen from the photograph above the bird still hasn't succumbed to having its pic taken and the black marks across my effort are those of branches I had to focus through from the footpath....any excuse is a good excuse! Also noted on the pools, 11 Gadwall, four Shoveler, and 2 Goldeneye. Also noted a Reed Bunting, Little Egret, 18 Moorhen in the same view was the highest count I ever recall of this species in one group feeding within a few metres of each other, a Green Sandpiper was on the flood.  

At Conder Green - which has gained considerable popularity the past couple of days - a few 'AW tickers' were evident and it was unfortunate a single birder who I spoke to referred to three of them as 'unfriendly'....how sad! My birding here today was a bit of a non event I'm afraid but on the circuit I noted 3 Little Grebe, single Grey Plover and Back-tailed Godwit, 62 Wigeon came down on the channel below the railway bridge none of which had any white/green in appropriate places. Conder Pool had the rare distinction of not being worthy of a mention today as did the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock save last Fridays c.2,300 Bar-tailed Godwits still here and of note.

 

I've never understood the meaning of the lower half of this sign on the approach road to the lighthouse parking area, perhaps just a deterrent for putting people off the visit there....in some instances maybe a good idea after all!

Off Plover Scar I noted 6 Eider and at least 1,000 Wigeon. Along the headland I saw a Merlin, Sparrowhawk, a Mistle Thrush, 2 Grey Partridge, and 3 Brown Hare. At the Caravan Park end I noted 2 Meadow Pipits and the male Stonechat could easily have evaded me if I hadn't have decided to head towards Bank End as it had moved several mtrs SE of the Caravan Park. From the road back c.500 Pink-footed Geese were in one of Cockersands Abbey Farm fields, they had tolerated a couple of cars driving past the gate but as soon as they saw me took to the wing and away. When I arrived back at the lighthouse it was at this point I decided on the visit to Aldcliffe which is where this post began.

Ian Tallon sent me this brilliant image if the Great Skua which he took on a trip to Handa Island in Scotland last May....really appreciate this Ian and many thanks for making Birds2blog a lot more interesting in using it.   

Bewick's Swans.

A moderate pic of four Bewick's Swans on Jeremy Lane in March 2004, but as my excuse it is the copy of a print given to me at the time by my good friend and mentor John Leedal (deceased) who wrote the following words expressing his feeling's about this special creature....'Bewick's Swans are beautiful, the knowledge that they share their life between Lancashire and Siberia enhances the wonder'....thanks John, my sentiments too. I've just realised this picture and the comments quoted on the reverse are a repeat on Birds2blog ('The Swans Are Coming' Tuesday 8 Sept 2009) so for those who have already noted and seen this....my apologies.

My best and most exciting observation of the Bewick's Swan - which I doubt will ever be exceeded - was on 5 January 2002 when I saw two bird's on Pilling Sands which had blue neck collars attached. Subsequent research uncovered the birds to have been marked as 807P and 809P on 12 August 1996 in Sedui Nos, Korovinskaya Bay, Russia.

From the date of being marked it is interesting to note that for over three year's these two birds were never reported as being seen together until 21 November 1999 when they were recorded at Welney WWT in Norfolk. Meanwhile, the wanderings of 807P over the three years apart are roughly outlined here....

Netherlands (two sightings) Ribble Estuary, Martin Mere, Marton Mere, Ludham, Norfolk, and Frecleton. Whilst the wanderings of 809P were....Skipsea, N York's, North Slobs Co Wexford, and Nene Washes, Camb's.

When the bird's were eventually seen together at Welney WWT on 21 November 1999 they were subsequently recorded thirteen times over a three year period at the following outline of location's....Martin Mere, Marton Mere, Oude Bildtdijk, Netherlands, Mistertor Carrs, Nott's, Saltcotes, Lytham, Preesall Sands, Hy Fly Hatcheries, Fluke Hall, Lanc's, and Smallwood Hey.

I have made no enquiries about these two birds since 2007 - I probably will do soon - but do know that following the last sighting noted above at Smallwood Hey in Pilling on 29 November 2002 the bird marked 807P had never been seen since unless/until present day enquiries are made to prove otherwise. Meanwhile, 809P was reported seventeen times since 2002 and was back at Wroot in Lincolnshire on 7 January 2007 leaving us to marvel and be truly amazed at the thought of how many thousand miles this bird will have flow throughout its ten and a half year life since being marked in August 1996. 

Final Snippet's of 2009....

....but first a couple of images from the archives.

One from the archives of Mike Watson who is here http://mikewatsonsdiary.blogspot.com/ as well as permanently in my sidebar.  

I regularly visit his blog and think you should too for some various birding trips both here and abroad with excellent commentary to accompany some equally excellent bird's. This image is of the Pechora Pipit which Mike describes as having made a tortuous journey to reach the location in November 2007 at Goodwick Common in Pembrokeshire....Thanks for this Mike but as well nobody relied on me to identify this smart little pipit.

  

And one from Colin Bushell's archive, this from his visit to Costa Rica in 2006 and is the Black & White Owl. This is another blog I visit regularly as Colin also records his birding trips both here and abroad with excellent images of some exotic birds with good commentary. Please take a look at his blog which can be linked from my sidebar and here http://www.ribbletoamazon.com/.... Thanks for this Colin. 

NOVEMBER.

3rd  Slavonian Grebe Pine Lake.

6th  Twelve Little Grebe was the maximum count on Conder Pool this year.

9th  Stonechat a male at Conder Green and also at Cockersands where I found a 1st winter/female Black Redstart.

17th Four Jack Snipe seen at Conder Green and two adult Mediterranean Gulls found on Preesall Sands.

27th Four adult Snow Geese seen with Greylag Geese on Aldcliffe Marsh were the ex Leighton Moss birds.

DECEMBER.

8th    Adult Mediterranean Gull at Cockers Dyke and one Fluke Hall Lane.

11th  Male and female Stonechat found on Dalton Craggs. 

28th  Male Stonechat at the Caravan Park end at Cockersands, in my opinion was the bird seen at the lighthouse end on 23 November and is still present here today.

31st.  An amazing 22 Song Thrush seen between Stodday and Conder Green from the coastal path.

A quiet month due to birding restrictions because of the snow and the big freeze. 

Even More....

....'A Bit More Like It' today with JB/BT and at least by way of a change we attacked Aldcliffe from a different angle as this time we went via the town route and along the quay. The Smew redhead gave good views on Freeman's Pools but still hasn't succumbed to having its pic taken, also to note on here, 12 Gadwall, and 3 Shoveler. In the area a male Bullfinch, 3 Greenfinch, and 2 Fieldfare were of note.

At Conder Green a Merlin was soon found on the marsh as was a Rock Pipit and 2 Meadow Pipits. In the channels a Grey Plover and Little Grebe, and I let JB do the rest of the counts here today as I found nothing else to add to my records of yesterday. On the Lune Estuary from Glasson Dock counts of circa 2,300 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1,875 Lapwing, 100 Dunlin, 50 Golden Plover, and a count of 25 Goldeneye and a Grey Plover. From Bodie Hill another 52 Goldeneye and c.60 Black-tailed Godwit seen. And on Jeremy Lane a count of 16 Bewick's Swans and 4 Whooper Swans was excellent. At Cockersands whilst I walked along the headland from the lighthouse to the Caravan Park I let JB do the record honours once again via the road with BT.

On Pilling Marsh an excellent c.300 Whooper Swans....would be well worth enquiring how many were at Martin Mere at 3.55 this afternoon. And the day ended well with the drive to Fluke Hall rewarded with 2 Ruff in the same field as the Lapwings pictured - in the excuse for a photograph by me - above....nice letterbox format though!

I'd seen this Little Egret yesterday on Jeremy Lane, it had come out of a ditch as it had done for Phil Slade who managed this excellent image of the bird. Please visit his blog here http://anotherbirdblog.blogspot.com/ and also linked from my sidebar for some good photoghraphs and equally good commentary on his birding day's....Thanks for this Phil. 

Little Egrets seen today at....Aldcliffe, Conder Green, Glasson Marsh, Cockersands, and Pilling Marsh.