BIRDING THE LUNE ESTUARY THE FOREST OF BOWLAND AND BEYOND...............................................................RED GROUSE HAWTHORNTHWAITE PETE WOODRUFF

Friday, 17 April 2009

All quiet.


Well not all quiet but not much in the way of 'movement' yet and certainly not likely to be whilst the wind comes from were it did today.

With JB we saw 2 Buzzard from the A588 just after passing Pinewood Close on the road to Conder Green where a Greenshank was soon seen as was the Common Sandpiper, but can we still refer to this bird as 'the' as this species begins to move through, the drake Goldeneye was again on Conder Pool making you wonder when is it going to read the script, about 12 Meadow Pipit went over. At Glasson Dock on the estuary the place was almost void of birds other than 250+ Black - tailed Godwit to note.


At Cockersands, at least 50 Eider was a decent count, 2 Wheatear were in the field by the derelict lookout and c.20 Tree Sparrow were pretending to be Snow Buntings on the shingle and some were collecting nesting material, 4 Swallow appeared to be lingering around Bank Houses looking like they may be considering setting up summer residence there. A Carrion Crow was seen to take a Lapwing egg from the nest, bad news for the Lapwing which suffers enough at the hands of 21st century agricultural practices at this time of the year. JB and I have seen at least six pairs breeding attempt 'bite the dust' in one field alone at Cockersands today and is a part of the darker side of birding unless you're going to pretend it doesn't happen.


On Pilling Marsh at least 12 Wheatear were to note. At Fluke Hall a Chiffchaff was heard in the wood here, a Little Egret was over fields flying towards the marsh and c.20 Swallow in almost an hour continues to be a poor show of passage though JB recorded a few more than this in my absence. Straying outside 'the' area on Bradshaw Lane 44 Corn Bunting made a pleasant change away from the feeding station.


At Scorton I walked a circular from the picnic area and heard 3 Blackcap and 3 Chiffchaff, a Song Thrush and a Peacock butterfly were also to note. I never did this walk in my life before and am never likely to ever do it again, the entire area is completely ruined by the noise of burning rubber from the M6 which is equal to the scourge of the dog brigade here.

To Stoops Bridge to check out for Pied Flycatcher proved negative but a Willow Warbler and Song Thrush were noted. Two Wheatear were seen from a moving car on Langthwaite Road.


Really struggling with pic's appropriate to my post's now but this Chough is a nice reminder that it was on - and in the area of - Knott End Golf Course from 17 August - 3 October 2005.

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