The Squeeze.

I managed to squeeze in couple of hours birding yesterday before undertaking the return trip back to Lancaster from the airport in the afternoon. 

Avocet David Cookson

I collected three excellent records at Conder Green, the first was on Conder Pool which was hosting a first record of 2 Avocet, but they soon decided to depart and flew off towards Glasson Dock and the Lune Estuary, but I couldn't find them when I visited there around a half hour later where I noted just 12 Bar-tailed Godwit and a Little Egret.

Dunnock Bob Bushell  

The second good sighting was of a Whitethroat, a Sedge Warbler, and a Dunnock, all singing in the same bush within a few metres of each other.    

Redshank Martin Jump 

But by far the best and most interesting of the three sightings was that of a pair of Redshank seen shepherding four young across a section of the Conder creeks only to be turned back by two aggressive Oystercatchers with loud vocals from all four adult birds. But a pleasing sight to see the success so far of breeding Redshank at Conder Green, I'm hoping they can reach to fledging.

With just an hour to spare I checked out Plover Scar at Cockersands up to high tide, but found no more than c.100 waders, being 60 Dunlin and 40 Ringed Plover. A Whitethroat was in song around Lighthouse Cottage.

Thanks to DC for the Avocet image with a difference, to BB for the excellent Dunnock, and to MJ for the brilliant young Redshank.

Well Blow Me Over....Twice!

I was a bit slow off the block on Friday and got to Conder Green at 11.00am to find the area quite the opposite to my visit here on Tuesday when I referred to the circuit as 'quite lively'. Today I noted just 3 Whitethroat, 3 Reed Bunting, and a pair of Linnet.

Little Ringed Plover Noushka Dufort  

But I put in one of my regular return visits - when possible - to an area already visited on the day, a practice which has so often paid off with me by finding something I missed the first time round....Lesser Yellowlegs springs to mind. Well blow me over, five hours after my first visit here, and at least a month late, a Little Ringed Plover was on Conder Pool. Food for thought on this one....has the bird only just turned up here, has it been skulking in some little hidden corner and escaped the attention of everyone these past few weeks, does it have a mate, has it bred on the pool, does it have young....Mmmmm!

Timed to be at Cockersands Plover Scar for the high tide, after panning through no more than c.160 waders, I noted around 80 Ringed Plover and Dunlin, 10 Eider were off the scar, and I was pleased to find a ringed Herring Gull - yes I do check the gulls - here for its fifth showing to me. This bird is almost 8 years old and was ringed on 1 July 2006 on the Ribble Estuary.

Curlew Sandpiper Brian Rafferty 

But wait a minute, what's this then, well blow me over....again, its an adult Curlew Sandpiper in breeding plumage, an excellent spring record and not many of those in a pound. 

One or two birds of interest on a wander, a Wheatear was still on the headland, 5 Whitethroat seen included three on Slack Lane, 7 Tree Sparrow included two young, a pair of Linnet and a singing Dunnock noted.

With a bit of effort required, yet another enjoyable and educational six hours birding.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. 

Many thanks to Isidro Ortiz for the excellent LSW image in the new header. When did you last see a LSW, or more to the point....have you ever seen one!

The Post Is Short....

....but certainly not sweet. 

If you consider the situation regarding the Hen Harrier and other birds of prey in their English upland breeding grounds, in this regard this has to be the best suggested petition of all time. 

I doubt anyone will be under the illusion this petition will lead to the banning of driven grouse shooting, but rather that you would hope it will highlight the issues around this land use - which are far wider than a protected bird of prey - and make it easier for some sort of sensible solution to emerge.

Perhaps you might also like to approach the RSPB and ask them whether or not the society thinks grouse shooting is still a legitimate fieldsport if it depends upon the obliteration of protected wildlife. But you will need to bear in mind they're going to tell you their charter dictates the RSPB is to remain neutral on legitimate fieldsports.

An army of support is needed here to kick-start the beginning of the end. 

Early Bird/er

I'd had a 4.00am family taxi booking for the airport yesterday morning. I returned from the trip and was at Conder Green by 6.30am....a bit like the milk round days, but we'll leave that one there I think.

The c.20 Black-tailed Godwit seem to have taken a permanent liking to Conder Pool and creeks, and seem reluctant to leave. The circuit at Conder Green was quite lively and I saw 2 Common Sandpiper, though a possibility the same bird duplicated as I had the second sighting in the creeks 20 minutes after the first on Conder Pool but I somehow think there are two birds. I also found 4 Sedge Warbler, heard 3 Song Thrush, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Whitethroat, and 2 Linnet. There was a 'few' Swift around, and the House Martin were very active around River Winds and Cafe 'd Lune. I must check at the cafe to see if they are happy about the birds which are building nests above the outdoor seating area....not the best of circumstances unfortunately.

Three Mallard females had young in tow, the one with thirteen seen on my last visit here was still a full compliment, the one with nine last visit appeared to be one down at eight, and the other family was new to me and consisted of five. 

Arctic Tern Martin Lofgren

Iv'e not seen any 'terns' on the Lune Estuary this spring yet, though I have noted Arctic Tern reported on/over Colloway Marsh on two occasions recently, which - void of any historical accuracy on my part - was a breeding ground for them in bygone years. The only notes I made yesterday at Glasson Dock were of 4 Little Egret and 5 Eider all hauled out.   

Sanderling. Howard Stockdale.

Despite a lengthy time at Cockersands and a stake out around high tide, no Sanderling were present, but I noted estimates of 220 Ringed Plover, 150 Dunlin, and 4 Turnstone on Plover Scar. On the 'tour', a Wheatear, 5 Skylark, 3 Whitethroat, and 2 Tree Sparrow. Sixteen Stock Dove and 5 Brown Hare were all in the same Abbey Farm field and 2 Little Egret seen.

Thanks to Martin for the Arctic Tern, and to Howard for the Sanderling, ever grateful. As always a 'clik the pik' is highly recommended for all three of the images in this post.

And finally....  

European Bee-eater. Ana Minguez.

Another of those 'cant resist this one' images of a brilliant bird and a brilliant photograph, with much appreciation and thanks to AM at Naturanafotos 

Godwits and Lings.

It was good to find at least 20 Black-tailed Godwit still on the Lune Estuary last Tuesday, and better still that they were on Conder Pool and included my sixth ringed bird this spring.

Black-tailed Godwit Martin Jump 

Sending the result of my reading this birds colour combination to the very obliging and reliable Böðvar in Iceland, he promptly sent back to me the history of the bird ringed as a chick on 30 June 2013 in Iceland. This bird had been sighted six times by the time it was barely over five months old, four times on the Dee Estuary, and twice in Flintshire, before my finding it on Conder Pool on Tuesday 20 May 2014 still not one year old.

OL-LN 30.06.13 Kaldaðarnes, Árnessýsla, S Iceland

OL-LN 12.09.13 Thurstaston Shore, Dee Estuary, Merseyside, England

OL-LN 13.09.13 Thurstaston Shore, Dee Estuary, Merseyside, England

OL-LN 20.09.13 Thurstaston Shore, Dee Estuary, Merseyside, England

OL-LN 21.09.13 Thurstaston Shore, Dee Estuary, Merseyside, England

OL-LN 7.11.13 Llawndy Farm, Talacre, Flintshire, Wales

OL-LN 02.12.13 Mostyn, Flintshire, Wales

OL-LN 20.05.14 Conder Pool, Conder Green, Lancashire, England

Sanderling. Howard Stockdale.

I was grateful to my man at Cockersands for getting in touch to tell me of a 'small group' of Sanderling off Crook Farm last Wednesday evening, with more seen again on Saturday and Sunday. So good to see the Sanderling moving through Cockersands again this May, though I've not seen my own ration yet. Also a birder from the Fylde tells me of breeding Stonechats - a pair with two young - at Foulshaw Moss....Great Stuff Howard/Andrew and thanks a bundle.

And finally....

Abbeystead Bluebells. Pete Woodruff.

Couldn't resist the 'clik the pik' photograph of the Bluebells at Stoops Bridge. An excellent location for finding Pied Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, Garden Warbler, Redstart, Blackcap, and more.

I'd sooner be birding!....But my prospects for any birding since last Wednesday haven't looked good, and still don't until six days later tomorrow....here's hoping. 

Hen Harrier Day.

Are you going to be at Dunsop Bridge in Bowland on 10 August?

Lots of interesting reading about this 'peaceful' event, including some about an alternative which certainly wouldn't be peaceful HERE

The Hareden/Langden Circuit.

Wednesday was a good day for me to get myself into Bowland, and accompanied by BD we went up on to Hareden Fell, across the wild tops, and down the Langden Valley.

Redshank Martin Jump 

The first sighting was of 3 Common Sandpiper together on Langden Brook with some interesting display noted between what was probably two males in pursuit of a female, with much vocalisation and running around, and one of the males constantly holding its wings vertical, reminiscent of the Redshank engaged in part of it's mating ritual above.

A 'few' Sand Martin were obviously nesting in a bank above the brook. At least 20 House Martin around Hareden Farm as we passed by with a Swift above them, a few House Martin were also around the house at the intake. 

Heading off along the Hareden Fell track on the 7 hour 6.2 mile walk, we soon picked up a pair of Stonechat with one young, probably more if we'd have lingered. I lost count of a 'good number' of Meadow Pipit, at least 14 Willow Warbler, 7 Grey Wagtail, 4 Reed Bunting, 2 Dipper, and a single male Wheatear. Two Peregrine Falcon seen, which I'm bound to note were the only raptors in the entire seven hours on the uplands of Bowland, hard to believe....but this is the 21st century.

Looking West Up The Langden Valley. Pete Woodruff. 

This is the brilliant view - 'clik the pik' - afforded by a wise choice to take the high path coming down the Langden Valley, where 6 Stonechat were seen as a pair, 3 young, and an apparent lone male.

Ring Ouzel Marc Heath 

The highlight of the day was excellent views of a male Ring Ouzel soon followed by brief views of a female in flight.

Green Tiger Beetle Arkive 

Insects on the day included....8 Green Tiger Beetle including one chasing and catching a lone ant on the track which made the fatal error of going across the beetles path.

Beautiful Yellow Underwing. Copy Permitted.  

A Beautiful Yellow Underwing, a Silver Y, and several Common Heath were the moths of the day.

A great day in great company. 

Where's The Sand At Cockersands!

Sanderling Brian Rafferty 

The main purpose of my visit to Cockersands yesterday was to be at Plover Scar at high tide to see if any Sanderling are going to turn up here on the way north to their high Arctic breeding grounds....well they didn't, though I note a report of twenty nine here on 11 May. But still time to see if there is ever going to be a repeat of the 120 which showed up here 7 years ago on 31 May 2007 and hasn't done so since, an all time high count of this scarce spring and autumn migrant in our area.

Sedge Warbler David Cookson

On a wander at Cockersands waiting for the tide, a Sedge Warbler was singing on Slack Lane, a Skylark was collecting grubs off the coastal path obviously feeding young somewhere, I found 3 Whitethroat, 2 Wheatear, 2 Reed Bunting, the Tree Sparrow are always guaranteed around Bank Houses paddock though not often in double figure, 3 Greenfinch seen. Eight Stock Dove were in a field which was rough stubble just three weeks ago and now has a crop three inches high, 2 Whitethroat were on Moss Lane.

When I finally got to Plover Scar wader numbers were much depleted with c.225 Ringed Plover, up to 100 Dunlin, a solitary Whimbrel, and a Brown Hare had wandered on to the scar, with 8 Eider off here.

At least 12 House Martin have returned to Conder Green and were busy collecting mud off the Cocker banks and have started to build their nests at River Winds and Cafe d' Lune. Conder Pool held 13 Black-tailed Godwit, and I heard a Sedge Warbler on the marsh edge opposite the Stork Hotel, and saw a Whitethroat and Reed Bunting.

The biggest surprise was virtually the last bird of the day, when I looked towards the shingle below the abbey and saw a bird fly out to sea before doing a u-turn, it was immediately identifiable as a Common Sandpiper and was a first for me as I don't recall seeing one at Cockersands ever before.

Thanks to BR/DC for the brilliant images in this post.    

Hi Ho....Hi Ho....

....its off to work birding we go!

Barbondale actually, primarily to check out the Pied Flycatcher situation there as the visit on 29 April produced only two birds - a male and female - and I was hoping for some improvement on that score three weeks later.

In fact I found 4 Pied Flycatcher, being three male and a female. Also noted from the 24 species seen in the five hours spent here and about, a Cuckoo called around a half dozen times during my visit, but as on 29 April I failed to locate the bird. 

Redstart. Phillip Tomkinson.

I saw only 3 Redstart, discovered a Nuthatch going into a nest hole, and discovered the same for two nest hole Blue Tits, a Great-spotted Woodpecker put in an appearance four times, a Song Thrush and 4 Mistle Thrush were noted, a Grey Wagtail was on the beck, and a Buzzard and Kestrel overhead. 

In keeping with my recent lack of connecting with the species, I saw/heard no more than 6 Willow Warbler and compared these to last year on 30 April when my little black book notes....'at least fifteen Willow Warbler seen'.

Red Kite. Phillip Tomkinson.

I had info from two independent birders I saw, of a Red Kite briefly on the skyline above the ridge....Shuks! 

On my way back to Lancaster I gave my last thirty minutes of the day to the River Lune at Bull Beck where there appears to be a small but healthy looking Sand Martin colony, with a Common Sandpiper seen, and c.20 Goldfinch around. There was no sign of any Little Ringed Plover here where I found five one day in June last year.

Stonechats.

Adult/Juvenile Stonechat. Ana Minguez.

I have excellent news of Stonechats seen with young over the weekend by the most active and reliable upland birder I know, found at Catshaw, Marshaw, Trough Bank, Hareden, and Pendle. Many thanks JW....I'm obviously not doing my birding justice at this rate.

For the excellent Redstart and Red Kite images, thanks to PT at Wild Snaps and for the equally excellent Stonechats, many thanks to AM at NATURANAFOTOS  

Seen Anything Interesting?

No motor on Friday, so best get my boots on and get on down to Aldcliffe to see if the Woodchat Shrike really has gone. Not the real reason behind the days plan which was to do the hike from Lancaster to Glasson Dock via Aldcliffe, Stodday, and Conder Green. 

'Seen anything interesting'....said the nice man who pulled up on his bike at Aldcliffe to ask the question and seemed to know a little about last weeks shrike. If I'd have arrived at Glasson Dock to be asked the question again I'd have been hard pushed to give a 'yes' answer. But the truth is it's all interesting, but birding does have varying degrees of it as last Thursdays discovery showed.

I must confess when I reached Dawsons Bank at Aldcliffe Marsh, I glared inland over the area and fantasised the bird would show....But wait a minute, that's a female Sparrowhawk flying across the field to land on a post immediately below the very same bush the shrike was perched atop of eight days ago at around the same time as today. Just imagine, the consequences of this last week could well have spelt the end for this brilliant Aldcliffe find before anyone knew about it. I had seen a Sparrowhawk over the old Salt Ayre Tip just 15 minutes earlier....the same bird I reckon. 

Whitethroat Martin Lofgren 

I took notes of 40 species on the walk including, 3 Whitethroat, a Lesser Whitethroat, a Willow Warbler, and a Chiffchaff. I saw up to 8 Robin including four young, and saw 3 Dunnock, a pair of which were involved in some mating ritual, and saw the male flickering its wings whilst pecking several times at the females rear....didn't look pretty, but very interesting to observe such behaviour and a first for me. I probably saw up to 12 Blackbird, some of which were in lovely song, as was a Song Thrush.

As is usual on this birding exercise I sped through Conder Green to note Tuesdays 27 Black-tailed Godwit on Conder Pool again. From the coastal path I could see a 'few' distant Bar-tailed Godwit on the Lune Estuary, but hey up....the bus is coming!

Willow Warbler David Cookson

Willow Warbler.   

On 25 April I did my birding along the Lancaster - Glasson Dock route, and made a particular note that I had been walking 5 hours over 7 miles and heard just one Willow Warbler at Glasson Dock at the very end of the walk. Four days later on 29 April I visited Barbondale and noted in my book that I had seen/heard no more than 4 Willow Warbler in an area I expected to be 'crawling' with them. I was beginning to think maybe the Willow Warblers haven't yet arrived in number. But on Fridays Lancaster - Glasson Dock birding when I had again been covering the same time and miles I had heard just one Willow Warbler in Freemans Wood, and thereafter nil. The truth is....I'm not seeing many Willow Warbler yet anywhere I go in 2014.

Thanks to Martin and David for the excellent images of Whitethroat and Willow Warbler. 

Also many thanks to Jo Bradley for allowing me to use the Aldcliffe Woodchat Shrike as the new header for Birds2blog....A brilliant image, of a brilliant bird, in a brilliant local location.