A quiet walk on Thursday in more ways than one, but when the sun found its way from behind the clouds it was very pleasant and some respite from the very cold days of late, but it didn't last and by mid-afternoon it was back to square one....clouded over and very cold again.
Goldeneye Martin Jump
Between Skerton Weir in Lancaster and downstream on the River Lune to Marsh Point I counted a quite impressive 46 Goldeneye. If it could have been established the Glasson Dock birds - c.30 here is my best count here to date - were still present it would have been even more likely that the number of Goldeneye in our recording area 'could' reach 100 this winter, also noted 20 Goosander.
Walking along the embankment on Aldcliffe Marsh, a relatively small number of no more than 150 Greylag, with 2 Little Egret seen. The flood here is in prime condition again and would be hard to beat by another anywhere in our area and beyond as c.40 Redshank seemed to think today.
Though I was walking in a higher gear today which lessened my intensity and lingering, even the 12 Blackbird seen between Aldcliffe and Conder Green was a dramatic reduction of late, and 6 Long-tailed Tit were the only other birds to enter my little black book. But I did note that the Lapwing have started to stand about in many fields today, and when I reached Conder Green at least 55 Lapwing were on Conder Pool with 7 Little Grebe, 24 Wigeon, and a Snipe also to note. Thanks Martin/Ana for the impressive Goldeneye and Lapwing images.
And a belated thank you to the Fylde birder who was kind enough to leave a note on my windscreen when I returned to the motor last time I was at Cockersands which said 'HAPPY NEW YEAR PETE' strengthening my long time attitude even more that....'Fylde birders are not just good birders, but friendly birders too'.
Now the good news.
Walking along the embankment on Aldcliffe Marsh, a relatively small number of no more than 150 Greylag, with 2 Little Egret seen. The flood here is in prime condition again and would be hard to beat by another anywhere in our area and beyond as c.40 Redshank seemed to think today.
Lapwing Ana Minguez
Though I was walking in a higher gear today which lessened my intensity and lingering, even the 12 Blackbird seen between Aldcliffe and Conder Green was a dramatic reduction of late, and 6 Long-tailed Tit were the only other birds to enter my little black book. But I did note that the Lapwing have started to stand about in many fields today, and when I reached Conder Green at least 55 Lapwing were on Conder Pool with 7 Little Grebe, 24 Wigeon, and a Snipe also to note. Thanks Martin/Ana for the impressive Goldeneye and Lapwing images.
And a belated thank you to the Fylde birder who was kind enough to leave a note on my windscreen when I returned to the motor last time I was at Cockersands which said 'HAPPY NEW YEAR PETE' strengthening my long time attitude even more that....'Fylde birders are not just good birders, but friendly birders too'.
Now the good news.
The RSPB has welcomed the Home Office and Defra agreement on 23rd January to fund the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) for another year, beginning on 1st April 2013. The Home Office and Defra have each committed £136,000 for the next financial year, securing the future of the unit. The current funding arrangement was due to run out at the end of March. No decisions have been taken for funding the unit beyond 31st March 2014....
You can read more about this, and see a brilliant image of a stunning male Hen Harrier....HERE
You can read more about this, and see a brilliant image of a stunning male Hen Harrier....HERE
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