......back on the beat. What smart bird's both the humble Starling and the Kestrel below are when seen in image's as good as these.
By the time I got my act together today the tide was at its height so I called in at Conder Green before heading off down the road. No rare beauties to be seen here though, the 2 Spotted Redshank were roosting in the creeks, the three resident Little Grebe and lone Common Sandpiper were all on the pool and that was the sum total here again today. The highlight of the day was opposite Braides off the A588 in the new scrapes field a day earlier than 2008 in the form of 3 Whooper Swan's. I called in at Pilling Lane Ends to find at least 2,200 Pink - footed Geese, certainly more but distance and a haze makes the count pretty useless. From Fluke Hall I decided to walk to Cockers Dyke, the walk almost proved its worth as a 1st winter Yellow Wagtail had been west of here at Ridge Farm but despite the efforts (a call on my mobile) of a Fylde birder I encounter often on my wanderings I didn't connect with this smart migrant. Cockers Dyke was a little disappointing - but that's birding - and I noted estimates of 120 Golden Plover, 450 Lapwing, and a Wheatear not forgetting the Stoat which came out from under the sea defences and did a quick turnaround and disappeared back under them as soon as it saw me, a 'few' Meadow Pipits were on the move, and a Sparrowhawk had also noted this. Back at Fluke Hall 2 Little Egret were on the marsh and a Great - spotted Woodpecker flew out of the woods and headed out in the direction of Heysham PS but soon seemed to realise it was making a mistake and did a 'u' turn back over the woods.
I did a complete miscalculation today and by the time I reached Cockersands the tide was far too way out and my enthusiasm quickly drained and after noting 14 Eider, 15 Golden Plover and a 'few' Ringed Plover I left for Glasson Dock to view the Lune Estuary and find an adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 Little Egret, a Greenshank, 12 Bar - tailed Godwit, and a Peregrine Falcon doing its 'put panic into all and everything' act.
Thanks to David Cookson for allowing me to share some more of his brilliant photographs again.
Hi Pete,
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to take a quick moment to let you know how much your photos brighten my day! I have been visiting on and off for a few weeks now and I love your blog!
Blimey pete,
ReplyDeleteI would love a glimpse of just some of those species on my patch!
Nice day out Pete and thanks for using the grouse. What a surreal experience that was. If you zoom in on its eye on the full res version you can see my reflection in it! Btw remember no apostrophe needed in a plural (e.g. should just be Whooper Swans not Swan's) unleed something belongs to the swans like the Whooper Swan's neck. This is one of my pet hates like Fish and Chip's;) Keep up the good work and find a mega this weekend. We have to assume that there is something good somehwere in N Lancs! BR Mike
ReplyDeleteWell thanks 'Getsoiled'.
ReplyDeleteLike the man on the radio programme says 'we have listeners in the US on this radio station, boy don't we get around'. Well I've got viewers in the US and don't I get around. Please keep looking in as Warren below you does......Thanks again Warren.
Hey Mike many thanks for the English lesson, I'll try to remember. I think I made the comment recently on Birds2blog that I'm always up for learning and that's certainly the case on the birding scene, I've lots to learn and never afraid to say so.
ReplyDeleteIf you look at the timing you posted 2 minutes before I did in response to 'Getsoiled' from Central Florida no less.
Good Birding Mike.
Fantastic Kestrel Image.
ReplyDeleteJohn.
Thanks for looking in John (JRandSue).
ReplyDeleteDC's images - along with several photographers I'm in contact with - are always 'fantastic' as you call the Kestrel.