A 'Little' Birding!

Little Grebe 13 Little Egret 11

Little Stint 1 Little Owl 0 

I had gone to Conder Green late morning before going back to Lancaster early afternoon. I saw the Kingfisher four times flying along/across Conder Pool where my best count this time was 13 Little Grebe, with 2 Common Sandpiper, a Ruff, and the customary Little Egret. 

Chiffchaff Warren Baker

Along the coastal path a bird took my eye in the bushes and had me jumping to attention....it was a Chiffchaff, another bird had the same effect on me....it was a Blue Tit, and another....it was a Robin....next time!!

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock, the tide was racing in and I had the advantage of having what was around being pushed nearer to me on the south side though 3 Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank were initially distant, but eventually came closer. With 10 Little Egret, the build up of numbers here must be seen as an invasion of the species, but what a minute what's this then....its a Calidris minuta Little Stint....nice.

Little Owl.

I had seen a request on the LDBWS website last week for information on where to see Little Owl in the area. In replying to the request I had eventually arranged to meet John McTague in Lancaster at 1.30pm, John was down from Scotland visiting his parents. After a look in on Conder Pool and Glasson Dock we went to Cockersands in the hope of finding John's 'need to see' Little Owl which had been showing for me recently in the horse paddock at Bank Houses. Unfortunately the Little Owl wasn't playing the game and the object of the exercise was a failure. 

Good to see you John, hope to see you again sometime when you may have better luck with the Little Owl.

Little Owl Ana Minguez

The Little Owl isn't a native of Great Britain, and there is no conclusive evidence that one has ever reached here naturally. The species has been introduced here on several occasions - mostly unsuccessfully - and there is a suggestion that most of today's Little Owls are descended from birds brought from the Netherlands by one Lord Lilford during 1880-90. It is a scarce bird in Scotland - which is why John McTague wanted to see one today - with very few records north of the Forth/Clyde valley. Lack of records from the N Isles supports the sedentary nature of Little Owls, interestingly there are more records of Scops Owl than Little Owl in Shetland.

Thank you Warren/Ana....the photographs are brilliant.