Little Grebe courtesy of David Cookson.
Although I did find two of these today the photograph above is otherwise unrelated to the post. However the truth is, wildlife photography doesn't come any better than this....thanks David.
Conder Pool did it again today - the second consecutive visit by me it has done so - by delivering another first with 5 Spotted Redshanks in company with at least 320 Redshank and a Greenshank, also 5 Knot, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 18 Oystercatcher, and a solitary Dunlin, also noted was a Little Grebe, and a Goosander. In turn a Brown Hare put every Redshank up as it ran the full length of the terrace at the back of the pool where they were roosting, and the Lesser-Black backed Gull pair arriving on the scene had the same effect with every bird on the island they landed on and decided to set up their roost there. A Kestrel was over the pool being harassed by a Magpie. On Jeremy Lane just 6 Whooper Swans today.
At Cockersands with the 10m+ tide almost at it's height the waders were non existent but c.550 Golden Plover were restless and in the air all the time I had them in view on the return leg of the circuit via the road, also at least 60 Meadow Pipits were in stubble making them impossible to count with any accuracy, and without setting out to count them today I noted 11 Brown Hare.
With a couple of hours to tea time I decide to trespass into Aldcliffe territory to do the circuit and find 2 Little-ringed Plovers on Freeman's Pools with 2 Goldeneye and a Little Grebe to note. On the marsh, 3 Little Egret and a Wheatear, elsewhere on the round c.15 Linnet, a Reed Bunting, and 2 Long-tailed Tits. I saw my first Swallow today at Cockersands followed by two more later at Aldcliffe.
And it's rather unfortunate that I have to end on a down note with a subject which never fails to rouse me, one which I also never fail to get 'heavy' about, and one I always advertise when possible, when I hear of a young Otter found dead in the Lune Valley with an apparent bullet hole below the shoulder....Wildlife persecution lives on and thrives in the 21st century.
Bout time someone started shooting people with outdate 'Victorian' attitudes to anything that might go within ha;f a mile of a grouse or salmon. An absolute disgrace in the 21st Century. Some form of redress is needed from the law...makes me mad and so disappointed.
ReplyDeleteDave
Good to see the end of my post got your back up....if you see what I mean Dave.
ReplyDeleteThanks for looking in and have a nice Easter.
Please see the corrertion to the otter incident by Tony Riden = mink
ReplyDeleteWell done on your first Redshank Pete, and on the Swallow!
ReplyDeleteDoes the post above mine refer to the 'Otter' shooting, in fact being a mink ? I hope so.
Yes the post above yours does indicate Mink as opposed to Otter Warren.
ReplyDeleteApparently a 'pest' and we all know a few 'pest's' but don't tend to call for them to be killed off, depends on what your name is in the animal kingdom and what you do for a living as to whether or not you collect the label. Hen Harriers have been regarded as a 'pest' to quite a large group of 'sportsmen' for quite along time in the Forest of Bowland for example!