Iv'e had no opportunities for birding or blogging since Thursday when I was up at 6.30am, that's very rare for me since the day I threw in the towel with the milk round when 4.00am was routine for me seven days a week, not just when I fancied an early birding start....So, like the trains often are, this post is running late.
Mediterranean Gulls. Noushka@1000-Pattes
I was at Heysham by 8.30am and thoroughly enjoyed sifting through the gulls for a couple of hours or so, concentrating mainly on Red Nab as the tide came in. The end result was 16 Mediterranean Gull, mostly adult but a 3cy and two juvenile were noted. Of four ringed birds seen, two Green and one White were all too distant for reading the marks, very frustrating, as together with looking for these brilliant gulls, the main aim was to clinch some ring details, but I did have success with one bird which came closer as the tide came in, it had a Red darvic ring duly reported.
There was an early date invasion at one point, when at least 1,000 Dunlin came on to Red Nab, with c.170 Curlew also present, a Jay was in the nature reserve as I left for Conder Green where, of 6 Common Sandpiper seen, two flew upstream round the bend and out of sight, they probably bred somewhere up there this year, as no doubt did the Kingfisher also seen here again, also 3 Snipe and a Sedge Warbler in full song here again, 2 Black-tailed Godwit were in the creeks with up to 100 Redshank. Eight Little Grebe seen on Conder Pool where 3 Raven went over, calling with their deep 'kor-kor' and drifting north.
There was an early date invasion at one point, when at least 1,000 Dunlin came on to Red Nab, with c.170 Curlew also present, a Jay was in the nature reserve as I left for Conder Green where, of 6 Common Sandpiper seen, two flew upstream round the bend and out of sight, they probably bred somewhere up there this year, as no doubt did the Kingfisher also seen here again, also 3 Snipe and a Sedge Warbler in full song here again, 2 Black-tailed Godwit were in the creeks with up to 100 Redshank. Eight Little Grebe seen on Conder Pool where 3 Raven went over, calling with their deep 'kor-kor' and drifting north.
Four Common Tern on Conder Pool included the island chick, the only bird from two breeding attempts by this years second pair of Common Tern at Conder Green. The two pairs here being the only breeding Common Terns in North Lancashire, brings the total number bred to twelve over five years, including this one yet to fledge.
Thanks to IP for the header image of the island Common Tern chick with parent birds, taken on the day of it's hatching 22 July, and to Noushka for the Mediterranean Gulls. I took several photographs on Thursday, but none to compete with the quality shown here.
Thanks to IP for the header image of the island Common Tern chick with parent birds, taken on the day of it's hatching 22 July, and to Noushka for the Mediterranean Gulls. I took several photographs on Thursday, but none to compete with the quality shown here.
You can't beat an early start Pete. Best part of the day. A nice selection of birds seen and some nice shots to back them up. It's been Southern Migrant Hawker heaven down here in Kent (see my latest post). Hopefully they may spread up your way. There's been the occasional wanderer seen.
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