....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.
Pete. Despite lack of stonechats hope you enjoyed your excercise in the hills on a lovely winter's day.
ReplyDeleteThis prolonged cold weather does seem to be taking it's toll and it is here until the end of the month!!
I will be blogging soon. I have been keeping watch on a barn owl this week in West Lancs and hope to post some decent images . Take care and hope to meet up sometime.
It was indeed a great day today with wall to wall sunshine and pleasant in it but bloody cold out of it, but it was really good 'up there' today and realistically I got no less from it than I expected Stonechat-wise or any other bird-wise to be honest, but these exercises have to be done and I'm the one to do it. Good to hear from you again Brian and thanks for looking in and comment's.
ReplyDeleteMust get to Colin Bushell's HOM sometime soon.
The Stonechats ( as you have discovered recently) are clever,and resourceful little fellows, i'm sure not all will have perished Pete. Just moved elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lifer today Pete! (spotted redshank)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome (Spotted Redshank) Tom and good to see you at Conder Green, also good to see you took my word and looked in on Birds2blog which I hope you continue to do as I may be able to let you know of any other 'lifer's' you may need via this blog.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your birding and don't forget, this area - in its own right - is as good as they come.
Apologies Tim for renaming you Tom in error above.
ReplyDeleteThanks Pete. Altho I lve in Oldham and have Yorkshire. Derbyshire and Cheshire on my doorstep I love the Lancaster area.
ReplyDeleteIts nice to see a new bird then go home and read about its history and where its come from. (Migrants amaze me.) Im currently on the trail of the green woodpecker lifer. Theres loads of sightings round here, dont know why Ive never accidently seen one. Ive just got to put the time in. Great blog Pete!