Wednesday, 27 September 2023

Quiet On The Western Front.

Albeit short on time, birds, and consequently no piks for the post, this is going to be brief and straight to the point....  

Monday was a decent day, the weather being mostly sunny and warm when sheltered from the wind. 

On Conder Pool, a Merlin juvenile/female flew through putting everything to flight, including 7 Greenshank and 2 Ruff. The count of 22 Little Grebe is my all time best count, though I note 32 Little Grebe seen on Conder Pool by something of a coincidence on precisely the same date of 25 September 2021, as reported in The Birds of Lancaster & District, a record I would suggest not likely be beaten anytime soon. 

On the circuit, 2 Common Sandpiper, one in the creeks, one in the channel downstream from the railway bridge, a charm of c.50 Goldfinch were flighty over the marsh, and 3 Red Admiral were on Ivy from the coastal path.

On the Lune Estuary from the bowling green, relatively low numbers of waders and nothing spectacular, 132 Curlew noted, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, and a lone Knot were the odd ones out. A wander along the canal towpath Glasson - Conder Green was the road to nowhere for dragonflies, but a lone Migrant Hawker was on Saltcote Pond in shelter from the wind.

Hawker With Lunch!

I decided on a search for something to add a little interest to the post, and found this excellent image of a dragonfly with prey....Thanks Ian. 

Mature Male Brown Hawker. Ian Mitchell.

The header pik gives some exposure to the beauty of Morecambe Bay and the Lakeland Hills.

4 comments:

  1. A brief visit, Pete, as I am without a computer at present and having to rely on my ancient tablet.

    Morecambe Bay looks very tranquil in your header image.

    Impressed that Ian managed a shot of Brown Hawker in flight, and even more impressed that it was with prey.

    Best wishes - - - Richard

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  2. Richard....No problem re the brief visit, hope you get the computer back up and running soon.

    Someone close to me - no names - said my M'cbe Bay header pik was a bit 'fuzzy' and didn't approve of my choice....Oh dear!

    Regards....Pete.

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  3. Oh dear things in bit of a lull at the moment. I had a walk around Cockersands the other day and not much of anything doing really.
    Header picture is ok to me, tell them it makes it look moody and atmospheric.

    Thanks as always for the update.

    Ian

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  4. Ian....I always say to myself, you have to get used to the idea that there will be many days that draw a blank in birding....Anyway, there's nothing better than a walk round Cockersand, it's good for the soul. Yesterday I had a trip down the A588 to invade Fylde country, I'll leave it at that 'cos it's a bit depressing!

    Thanks for the positives re the bay pik Ian.

    Regards....Pete.

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