After an unplanned leave of absence from birding for 13 days, it was good to get back out on Monday to catch up with a few things I've been missing recently, but now the show goes on....
On Conder Pool I found 3 Curlew Sandpiper in a mix of 16 Greenshank and a few Redshank, also 10 Little Grebe and 15 Canada Geese, whilst at least 10 Long-tailed Tit passed in procession through the bushes, and a Kestrel hovered overhead for the unsuspecting vole no doubt. But the big surprise was an adult Whooper Swan, although the surprise was lessened when I remembered seeing this bird on the Lune Estuary at Glasson on 9 July.
On my way to Cockersand, I stopped off at Clarkson's Farm to find c.120 Black-headed Gull accompanied by an adult Mediterranean Gull, this bird was marked with a white darvic ring, frustratingly too distant to read, but based on the colour, the best I could come up with, was ringed in the near continent perhaps. Also seen around a small flood in the same field, a Ruff, up to 6 Golden Polver and a similar number of Ringed Polver.
The traditional Cockersand circuit started with a surprise just beyond Bank House Farm, when I counted at least 40 Tree Sparrow. I've not been seeing many Tree Sparrow here the past 2 years, in fact I saw just 2 on 7 April this year, previous to that, I recorded 16 on 16 October 2023. Worth noting the Tree Sparrow is Red Listed, with a BTO report showing a significant decline across the country.
Further into the walk, I found another encouraging sight, that of 100+Linnet. Although the arrival of wintering geese has been noted, it was a bit of a surprise to find just 3 Pink-footed Geese in a field off Slack Lane, from where I heard a Skylark burst briefly into song.
Butterflies on the day were a pleasing 4 Clouded Yellow, 2 Red Admiral, 2 Speckled Wood, and a Silver Y moth.
As I walked along the side of Lighthouse Cottage, I spotted about a dozen chrysalis 'glued' to the whitewashed wall, a bit of searching had me find they were Large White butterfly.
On Sunday, a pleasant walk along Morecambe Promenade at Sandylands, was made all the more pleasant with 3 Wheatear seen along the sea defences.
The Header.
Struggling to find a suitable pik of my own for the header, I remembered Ian's stunning Merveille du Jour, and....Bingo!
That's a very full day out in my book. What a variety of birds seen. Like the picture of the Wheatear looking at you.
ReplyDeleteYou were lucky to come across the Clouded Yellow, I believe there are a couple about at Heysham Nature Reserve lately. Glad you could get a picture of one for me, I have only ever seen one and that was at Bank End.
Thanks for the update.
Ian
Sorry Ian, been away from the computer recently. Thanks as always.
DeletePete.
There are quite a few tree sparrows in Finland, but the house sparrow is endangered here.
ReplyDeleteThe opposite here, we have a good resident House Sparrow flock in our garden, but in our area of Lancashire it is regarded as a declining breeding resident.
DeleteThanks Sami....Pete.
Hi Pete,
ReplyDeletegreat pictures, the wheatear is well captured, I really like it.
Greetings, Frank
Thank you Frank. Hope all is well with you and with Germany.
ReplyDeletePete.
That's a lot of Tree Sparrows. I will hope for one this winter. A great selection of birds I would love to see down here. Certainly worth getting up for. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI was pleased to see the sparrows after their absence from my record book Marc.
ReplyDeletePete.
Prachtig vastgelegd Pete.
ReplyDeleteMooi om de wittepop te zien en helemaal mooi de tapuit te zien.
Groetjes Tinie
Thank you for the compliments Tinie, they are very much welcomed. I admired the insects you showed us recently too.
ReplyDeleteKind Regards.