Brilliant weather on Thursday....enough for me to drop everything and do the six miles in five hours birding Lancaster - Glasson Dock, always with the 'you never know' principal in mind.
Gadwall Antonio Puigg
Having checked out the gulls which 'hang around' on the River Lune between Greyhound and Skerton Bridges I headed south to soon note 25 Redshank high tide roosting on the far bank opposite St Georges Quay, 6 Goldeneye where the only other birds of note on the river before I diverted to look over Freeman's Pools to find another 6 Goldeneye making twelve my best count of the species so far this winter with no numbers found downstream at Glasson Dock yet. Also noted, 8 Wigeon, 6 Teal, and 10 Gadwall....Thanks for the lovely drake Gadwall Antonio.
There was a good number of Chaffinch again in the stubble field, almost certainly the same as last Thursdays 150 but not as mobile so difficult to assess and no Brambling found this week, a 'few' Fieldfare seen. Noted en route to Conder Green, 14 Long-tailed Tit, a Mistle Thrush, 6 Robin, a Kestrel, and an excellent count of 52 Blackbird, 2 Goosander were floating downstream opposite Stodday.
Little Grebe Noushka Dufort
At Conder Green I counted 12 Little Grebe, five on Conder Pool and seven in the creeks were I saw a Spotted Redshank. I'm beginning to suspect the Common Sandpiper is no longer present here for whatever reason, not seen since 5 November, but its sure to be found lurking somewhere now I said this. Thanks for the brilliant Little Grebe Noushka.
By the time I reached Glasson Dock the light was almost gone and my bus is coming....Nothing riveting, but a brilliant walk on a brilliant day.
And....
Richard Shilling Landart.
I've caught up with RS again and hey....he's got a calendar published for 2013. Richard has been highlighted on Birds2blog many times before, but if you've not heard about him yet or would like some info on the calendar....have a look HERE
I love the grebe
ReplyDeleteA nice article Pete, your joy is so obvious!
ReplyDeleteOutings come rarely without some sighting and a walk counting birds and species is always rewarding!
Thanks for doing me the honour of publishing my Grebe!
Cheers and enjoy your Sunday!
Sounds a great walk, I haven't been able to go out this weekend so far. From Findlay
ReplyDelete