....didn't work for me on Wednesday!
Swallow Simon Hawtin
But I did see my first Swallow of the year when a single bird flew north and low across the field as I walked beyond Bank Houses at Cockersands, otherwise, it was a 'migrants what migrants' day....I didn't see my first Swallow last year until 13 April at Glasson Dock.
On Conder Pool....surprise, surprise, a Little Grebe still on here, my first since 15 March since when I thought they had all departed, though my last one on Conder Pool in 2015 was on 14 April. A Goosander was hauled out, a single Black-tailed Godwit and a few Redshank included some display behaviour.
On the Lune Estuary, c.150 Golden Plover were well camouflaged on the mid-distance weed covered shingle, c.50 Black-tailed Godwit, a drake Shoveler was interesting with the remaining c.100 Wigeon here, and a Red-breasted Merganser noted.
More desperation set in with me again at Cockersands, c.250 Golden Plover were flighty over the Abbey Farm fields, and believe it or not, a single Greenfinch and Meadow Pipit were the only passerines to catch my eye.
Apparently....
The 18 January Lune Estuary Little Stint put in it's sixth appearance yesterday, it was seen from the Conder Green car park at high tide. Thanks to IH - his third sighting - and RBA for 'Getting The News Out'.
And some excellent news from our Lancaster garden yesterday was that of a smart little male Siskin on our feeders again, follows five here on Sunday morning 13 March.
Thanks to Simon and Noushka for their ever excellent images.
It's April now....Let the show begin!
On Conder Pool....surprise, surprise, a Little Grebe still on here, my first since 15 March since when I thought they had all departed, though my last one on Conder Pool in 2015 was on 14 April. A Goosander was hauled out, a single Black-tailed Godwit and a few Redshank included some display behaviour.
On the Lune Estuary, c.150 Golden Plover were well camouflaged on the mid-distance weed covered shingle, c.50 Black-tailed Godwit, a drake Shoveler was interesting with the remaining c.100 Wigeon here, and a Red-breasted Merganser noted.
More desperation set in with me again at Cockersands, c.250 Golden Plover were flighty over the Abbey Farm fields, and believe it or not, a single Greenfinch and Meadow Pipit were the only passerines to catch my eye.
Apparently....
The 18 January Lune Estuary Little Stint put in it's sixth appearance yesterday, it was seen from the Conder Green car park at high tide. Thanks to IH - his third sighting - and RBA for 'Getting The News Out'.
Siskin. Noushka Dufort @ 1000-Pattes
And some excellent news from our Lancaster garden yesterday was that of a smart little male Siskin on our feeders again, follows five here on Sunday morning 13 March.
Thanks to Simon and Noushka for their ever excellent images.
It's April now....Let the show begin!
One of those magical birding sights I believe, seeing the first Swallow of the year. Keep up the good work Pete.
ReplyDeleteSweet Swallow shot!!! Nice reporting here. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteMarc....The Wheatear does it for me, the anticipation of finding my first - usually at Cockersands - becomes unbearable as time passes around early to mid-March.
ReplyDeleteChris....I couldn't find a contact on your website to get in touch with you, perhaps I didn't try hard enough. Any chance of mailing your address to me stonechat4@gmail.com
Pete.Always nice to see your first swallow of the year,not seen one yet !! Getting warmer next week with southerly winds,so the migrants should come flooding in.I will have to come to Lancaster to photograph your siskin,one bird that so far has eluded me. Had a run through Bowland yesterday,nice to see lapwings,curlews,redshank and oystercatchers on territory.Few grouse about but a summer plumage stonechat around Sykes Farm area was very nice indeed. Take care.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this Brian.
ReplyDeleteYou could easily have seen me yesterday, I was on Harrisend and Hawthornthwaite, then a while at Tower Lodge - post on the subject soon - it would have been good to bump into each other.
You're the first to have a Swallow this year, well done Pete.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this Bob, though I think your claim I'm the first will probably be challenged if silently offline.
ReplyDeleteSpring is slowly arriving Pete,AC had over 1000 sand martins over Preesall Flashes yesterday.Hope to be in those hills myself very soon and it would be very nice to bump into you.
ReplyDelete