Botched!

Well that was exciting....I made two attempts at birding during the week, both of which soon became what can only be referred to as scrappy botched affairs.

Conder Pool still resembles a lake, with the new platform partially sunk again adding to the whole vista currently looking not at all pretty. But a Ruff was with up to 90 Redshank, with a similar number of Teal noted, also two Snipe and 4 Goosander.

On the Lune at Glasson, early winter days, but at least 1,500 Lapwing is my best count to date, also 220 Curlew were below Colloway Marsh waiting to escape the high tide as it rushed in.

Cattle Egret Moss Lane 1 November. Howard Stockdale. 

As I drove along Moss Lane to avoid Wednesdays downpour, 4 Cattle Egret - presumably my 25 October birds - were in fields west of Gardners Farm, and brought to end my double botched birding attempts for the week.

Turnstone Cockersand. Pete Woodruff.

I think the Turnstone is one of the most obliging waders to have a close encounter with. These had no care that I was within a few metres of them.

Thanks to Howard for the Cattle Egret, and to Martin for the header reminder of pleasant summer odonata days....The images are much appreciated.

Ian Mitchell sent me a short video of the beautiful Whooper Swans having returned to winter at Cockersand....Thank You Ian.

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Triple-brooded Stonechats.

In years with a 'forward' warm spring, some Stonechats may have three nesting attempts. A notable example was at Sale Fell, Wythop in 1999, when 19 chicks from broods of 6/7/6 were fledged. 

In early April this year, John Callion discovered a territorial pair of Stonechat south of Silloth Dock. Ten further visits to the territory during the summer, had John witnessing seamless timing between clutches which didn't allow for any pair-bond breakdown and replacement of an adult, a behaviour consistent with loyal pairs of breeding Stonechats.

Nest 1. On 17 April, a nest contained 5 eggs which hatched 12 days later on 29 April. The nestlings were colour-ringed on 9 May and fledged 10 days later on 19 May.

Nest 2. On 7 June, John discovered a second nest about 30 metres from the first. This nest contained 6 eggs, of which 5 had hatched 12 days later on 19 June and were duly colour-ringed. These had fledged and were close to the parent birds and nest 10 days later on 29 June.

Nest 3. This third nest was discovered between the two previous nests, and only 15 metres from the first. On 10 July it had 5 eggs, of which 4 hatched and were subsequently colour-ringed 20 days later on 30 July, and had fledged by 6 August.

Summary.

This extract from John Callion's summary....

Excluding pairing and nest-building, the pair studied had either eggs or young between 11 April and 20 August, by which date the final brood became independent. They were therefore in the breeding process for a total of 132 days. If the time to pair-bond and nest-build is added, it seems likely that these and other Stonechats can potentially be in breeding condition for more than 5 months....Ref: John Callion in Lakeland Naturalist

This article was an education for me, and the summary that the Stonechat can potentially be in breeding condition for in excess of 5 months is a revelation. I am grateful to John Callion for allowing me to publish extracts from his article in Lakeland Naturalist.