I was struggling for a header image this time, so decided to give some publicity to the fishing duo - that's me being diplomatic for a change - who completely ruined my birding, and more importantly were responsible for disturbance to hundreds of waders which use the dry land on Plover Scar each and every day to rest and escape the tide. I watched dozens of flocks flying in towards Plover Scar to roost on Friday, only to have to divert elsewhere because of the action by these two who were fishing on and from a SSSI location on the Lune Estuary....Think there may be some laws being broken here!
But none of this fazed the smart 1st winter Little Gull which sat on the sea, accompanied by a mix of at least 600 predominantly Black-headed Gull and many other large gulls off Lighthouse Cottage....No Little Gull, and just a fraction of the gulls in the short video.
Also seen here at Cockersand, 12 Wheatear, 46 Eider, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Stock Dove and a small flock of 15 Linnet.
A couple of hours after high tide, I called in at the Lune Estuary at Glasson, to find a lone juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, with a few Dunlin and larger numbers of Redshank and Lapwing. On a stretch of the canal Glasson - Conder Green, I found 7 Migrant Hawker, and at Conder Pool saw 4 Greenshank, 10 Redshank, 2 Ruff, and after a few counts arrived at 18 Little Grebe. Geese seen, 16 Canada Geese and 4 Greylag. As I was about to leave Conder Pool, a Tree Sparrow came onto the sluice.
I was struggling for pictures for the post, so grateful to Brian Rafferty for his excellent Curlew Sandpiper moulting into breeding plumage at the opposite end of the season to my juvenile bird on the Lune Estuary on Friday.
I wonder if those two fisher-folk knew of the disturbance to the birds and the interference that they were causing to the the birds' routine, Pete. It could be a case of plain ignorance, rather than a 'don't give a shit' attitude? I can fully sympathise with your concern and frustration, however.
ReplyDeleteBrian Rafferty's Curlew Sandpiper image is excellent and interesting.
Best wishes - - - Richard
Good there is Curlew Sandpiper about Pete.
ReplyDeleteI think I agree with Richard, in so much as the fisherman are totally focused on fishing and don’t realise the stress they are causing to the waders. I have wondered what they fish for off there as I can only imagine to be flatfish off there or maybe they are hoping for the odd salmon, possibly they come from the caravan site.
Just returned from the Isle of Mull but was more of a family holiday than a wildlife holiday so sorry can’t supply you with any decent pics.
Did hear a lot of Pink Footed Geese going overhead at night.
Regards Ian
Richard/Ian....We do have to go with the 'plain ignorance' attitude re the fishing off Plover Scar, apart from anything else it's the peaceful way, though I really should have approached them to explain the disturbance issue, the problem there being the risk of me blowing a fuse!
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about the lack of piks from your holiday Ian, hope it went well.
Regards to both....Pete.