Up and Down!

Lune Estuary. Pete Woodruff.

A perfect day for checking out the bird-life 'up' on Harrisend - and the disappointment I hadn't been able to do so in September - followed by a visit 'down' to Conder Green/Glasson Dock where I picked out an adult Mediterranean Gull with mainly c.550 Black-headed Gull which you can just about pick out - if you try really hard - in the pic above on the sand bank on the Colloway Marsh side. Also noted were 4 Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank, a Snipe, c.500 Golden Plover and c.180 Bar-tailed Godwit both of which were down in number compared to recent visits here. On Conder Pool a Kingfisher flew on to the outlet giving views down to a few metres, I counted 11 Little Grebe, the 3 Wigeon, and a Common Sandpiper. I was only being a 'half time' birder today and reluctantly had to forsake the circuit this time.

Earlier on Harrisend, an excellent visit in that I found 11 Stonechats today and at times I had the feeling once again they were 'all over the place'....well sort of,  but being October now where they were from is anybody's guess and doesn't necessarily indicate birds on their natal site. Also of note a flock of 15 Linnet flew SW, and I noted at least 40 Meadow Pipit going South in the two hours I was here, a Buzzard and Kestrel, 2 Wren, a Robin, Reed Bunting, 4 Red Grouse, and a solitary Swallow over made me think perhaps a good idea if it read the script.

A couple of things finally....

Beckett Park. Linda at kirkstallcreatures

An excellent atmospheric shot of Becket Park in Leeds. I can never resist brilliant photography, birds or otherwise....Many thanks for this Linda it really is a super shot.

And although this is a fact it is also very funny regarding the Wheatear which is not derived from 'wheat' or in any sense of 'ear' but is a 16th century corruption of 'white' and 'arse' referring to the prominent white rump found in most of the species.