I managed three birding days last week. Monday started the week in decent style with some good birding and good birds seen. Wednesday was a little more down to earth, and Friday was even more down to earth and ended with an early abortion.
Looking To Crook Farm. Pete Woodruff.
Yes, you may have guessed it....I went to Cockersands again on Friday. The 'winter shower' on it's way in the 'clik the pik' above was the second one to head my way, the first had caught me out on Plover Scar - deja vu - and gave me a drenching before I got back to the motor. So now I'm waiting to see if things would improve....An hours wait said things didn't look like they would and I gave in and headed back to Lancaster.
The only birds to report at Cockersands were about 30 Turnstone seeking some terra firma at high tide, with 20 Black-tailed Godwit seeking the same, 12 Little Grebe were on Conder Pool.
In birding terms I call that a week which started pretty well, and ended pretty awful....But I'll hopefully be back for more this week.
The Lark and the Bluetail.
There's been a few human invasions to Rossall Point on the Fylde Coast since a Shorelark was found there last Wednesday and still there yesterday, two birds were present at this location almost 45 years ago in February 1970. On it's arrival at a given location, the Shorelark often settles in for the winter. Influx years are not unknown, and in 1998 an amazing 800 were found in Norfolk.
The Red-flanked Bluetail (RFB) is a much sought after rarity which breeds across the Siberian taiga from western Russia to Japan. Potentially a first for Lancashire, last Wednesday a bird photographed from the path to the Allen Hide at Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve is thought to have been a possible female/immature RFB....enquiries are ongoing.
Bringing a smile into birding....A RFB discovered in Dorset in 1993 stayed at the location for 10 days and drew in a couple of thousand people to see the bird. On one ocassion the crush was so great that one observer feared for his life as he was swept off his feet during a surge in the crowd!!
Thanks to Marc for the Shorelark, and to Martin at Wild Bird Gallery for the Red-flanked Bluetail. Two excellent images of two excellent birds.
The only birds to report at Cockersands were about 30 Turnstone seeking some terra firma at high tide, with 20 Black-tailed Godwit seeking the same, 12 Little Grebe were on Conder Pool.
In birding terms I call that a week which started pretty well, and ended pretty awful....But I'll hopefully be back for more this week.
The Lark and the Bluetail.
Shorelark Marc Heath
There's been a few human invasions to Rossall Point on the Fylde Coast since a Shorelark was found there last Wednesday and still there yesterday, two birds were present at this location almost 45 years ago in February 1970. On it's arrival at a given location, the Shorelark often settles in for the winter. Influx years are not unknown, and in 1998 an amazing 800 were found in Norfolk.
Immature/Female Red-flanked Bluetail. Martin Lofgren.
The Red-flanked Bluetail (RFB) is a much sought after rarity which breeds across the Siberian taiga from western Russia to Japan. Potentially a first for Lancashire, last Wednesday a bird photographed from the path to the Allen Hide at Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve is thought to have been a possible female/immature RFB....enquiries are ongoing.
Bringing a smile into birding....A RFB discovered in Dorset in 1993 stayed at the location for 10 days and drew in a couple of thousand people to see the bird. On one ocassion the crush was so great that one observer feared for his life as he was swept off his feet during a surge in the crowd!!
Thanks to Marc for the Shorelark, and to Martin at Wild Bird Gallery for the Red-flanked Bluetail. Two excellent images of two excellent birds.
A lovely list of birds, and those who exhibit there Pete.
ReplyDeleteThree days out of five ain`t bad Pete,just nice to be out in the fresh air.I`m sure something exciting will turn up soon.
ReplyDelete'A lovely list of birds, and those who exhibit there Pete'....Thanks Bob.
ReplyDelete'I`m sure something exciting will turn up soon'....I'm sure it will too. Thanks Martin