Bewick's/Whooper Swans.

Bewick's Swan Marc Heath 

In terms of Bewick’s Swans in the UK this winter, numbers on the Ouse Washes in Norfolk reached 800 in mid-December whilst around 90 were at Slimbridge at that time. The mild autumn meant that lower numbers than usual had reached the UK by December, with hundreds of swans still residing as far east as Estonia. But there was a large influx at Slimbridge over Christmas, and with the plunging temperatures and easterly winds probably more will arrive if/when temperatures decrease further. Decent numbers of Bewick's Swans are being seen again this winter in the Glasson/Cockersands area with a peak count of 19 birds seen 25 January off Moss Lane.

If you are interested, you can read about the amazing Caper, an old Bewick's Swan Here 

Whooper Swan Phillip Tomkinson 

Whooper Swans are also around our area again this winter, and I made a count of 185 at Cockersands on Friday 30 January. On Monday 19 January I was able to read a ringed Whooper Swan - C6J - which I duly reported and recieved a detailed history of the bird....

Ringed as an adult female 14 November 2006 at Martin Mere WWT. Subsequentially seen....

Martin Mere WWT (5) 2007/12/13
Fluke Hall (2) 2007/08
Pilling Moss (3) 2008/09/10 
Libby Lane, Pilling (1) 2008
Caeraverlock, Dumfries (2) 2009
Ruthwell, Dumfries (1) 2009
Thursland Hill, Lanc's (2) 2013
Cockersands (1) 2014
Eagland Hill, Fylde (1) 2014
Cockerham Moss (1) 19 January 2015 P.Woodruff.

My sincere thanks to Kane Brides at WWT for his usual prompt and efficient way of dealing with the details of observers ring reports which gives the added incentive for birders to note marked birds and to send in the sightings.

Thanks to Marc and Phillip for the excellent images.

Wot....No Gems Or Flukes!

The first bird seen when I arrived at Conder Green yesterday was the resident Spotted Redshank, though if anyone else had made that claim I would have been tempted to ask....how do you know it was the resident bird. One bird I didn't see was the Common Sandpiper, not seen since 20 January despite four visits here.

Five Little Grebe was the best count on Conder Pool, also 5 Snipe, and 16 Wigeon noted. Little to inspire on the Lune Estuary, with c.400 Golden Plover, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, and a drake Goosander my only notes today. On Jeremy Lane I found 4 Whooper Swan in company with 45 Mute Swan and the Black Swan again. At Cockersands I decided to concentrate on any swans I could find which resulted in c.185 Whooper Swan still too distant for comfort in an inland field.

 Waders on the Dee Brian Rafferty  

Also in the fields here today, what I eventually estimated to be an absolute minimum of 8,000 waders comprising of my suggesting up to 3,000 Golden Plover and similar Lapwing, with Redshank, Dunlin, Curlew, and Oystercatcher easily making up the other 2,000, I also noted a Mistle Thrush whilst observing this mass. 

The Lune Estuary Goldeneye. 

Numbers were down on the Lune Estuary in the Glasson/Conder area, and the count was 32 Goldeneye yesterday....

25 Canal Basin

  5 Lune Estuary

  2 Conder Green

Thanks to Brian for his wader mass on the Dee Estuary. Also thanks to Howard Stockdale for his photograph of the Audouin's Gull in the new header.

An extremely rare vagrant, a potentially first record of Audouin's Gull in Britain was of a bird found by two birders in Cornwall on New Years Eve December 1997. They watched this bird for several minutes until it landed on the sea 200ft below them, at which point they went off to fetch another birder to the location. As darkness fell they watched it fly off presumably to a known gull roost, but the bird was never seen again.

This claim of an Audouin's Gull in Cornwall 1997 was subsequently not proven and rejected by the BBRC and the first record in Britain was of a bird at Dungeness in Kent May 2003. 

Jeremy's Gem!

On Jeremy Lane on Tuesday I was checking out 6 Whooper Swan to reckon five of them were the family party I saw here on 19 January and a loose adult with them this time. Distant in another field I found at least 14 Bewick's Swan with a Black Swan accompanying them. I also noted 3 Brown Hare, but wait a minute, what's this on the fence post in the middle of nowhere about a half mile away....

Stonechat Antonio Puigg 

....it's a smart little gem, a male Stonechat, well blow me over....an excellent fluke for you there Woodruff!

From Moss Lane I counted 128 Whooper Swan at SD437 538. On the canal basin, Mondays 56 Goldeneye still on here. On the Lune Estuary from the bowling green, at least 3,000 Lapwing in view from here, with c.400 Golden Plover in two groups, 4 Goldeneye, a pair of Red-breasted Merganser, and 3 Little Egret noted.

Snipe. Pete 'clik the pik' Woodruff.

On Conder Pool, 4 Snipe were tucked in on the island, 7 Little Grebe were seen as three in the creeks and four on the pool where I saw 2 Goldeneye, a pair of Goosander, 65 Mallard counted, and at least 350 Black-headed Gull under close scrutiny to no avail. The circuit produced a Blackbird, Robin, and 2 Blue Tit.

And the garden bird.

Siskin David Cookson

A Siskin in company with several Goldfinch visited our feeders on Tuesday, a MEGA for us in our little urban garden. 

A Dead Loss!

Well not quite....birding's never a 'dead loss'.

With a search of the Lune Estuary ongoing yesterday for a missing person - with the RNLI and a helicopter involved - I thought it best to avoid the area and decided to walk the route to Glasson Dock from Lancaster, though if it had been a job paid on results....I doubt if I'd have got any pay at all!

I made notes of 43 species, though very few counts were made - more to the point very few needed - but included, 14 Blackbird which was 26 down on the count of 40 made at the end of last year on the same route on Tuesday 30 December, 5 Robin were also of note, 7 down on the count of 12 on the same date. 

Gadwall Jan Larsson

I always like to see the Gadwall and some seen on Freeman's Pools yesterday. On Aldcliffe Marsh c.120 Pink-footed Geese, a single Black-tailed Godwit was on the flood with up to 240 Redshank, and just one Little Egret seen the entire length of the walk.

At Conder Green, a Sparrowhawk seen, with a casual count made of 6 Little Grebe on Conder Pool. On the canal basin at Glasson Dock, 56 Goldeneye counted, and c.60 Goldfinch appeared to be intending to roost in trees by the bowling green.

Land Management.

Land Management. Pete Woodruff. 

This is an ongoing Land Management exercise at Aldcliffe below the landward side of Dawsons Bank around the wildfowlers pool area. I shudder to think what the full plan is here, but the four men I watched armed with a chainsaw each were in no way engaged in coppicing, though some of this kind of management is taking place along the hedge as the picture above illustrates. However, wildlife can do without this kind of habitat loss, and the debris in the field is definitely not all the result of coppicing, some of it are trees/bushes taken out. From where the picture above was taken, previously the field and beyond could only be seen through gaps in the trees...I reckon when this job is finished a large area of habitat will have gone forever for no good reason.

Short....But Sweet As Ever.

A bit too brief on Thursday for my liking, but I could only allow myself a short birding break, all of it around the high tide.

From the viewing platform at Conder Green I noted 10 Little Grebe and 2 Goldeneye on Conder Pool with a Reed Bunting close by, c.250 Pink-footed Geese went over south. On the canal basin at Glasson Dock, the drake Scaup still and a Little Grebe seen, at least 50 Goldeneye were on here, but I saw a report of 61 Goldeneye here last Wednesday exceeding the peak count for the Lune Estuary of 60 made on 8 January.

On the estuary, at least 450 Black-tailed Godwit were my highest count here this winter, a Little Grebe and Great-crested Grebe were my only other notes. Up to 1,300 Pink-footed Geese were on Jeremy Lane.

At Cockersands I got no further than Plover Scar today to see 75 Turnstone, I watched a single Black-tailed Godwit fly in with some of the Turnstone, and 14 Eider were off here. On my way back from the scar I saw a Rock Pipit, 3 Wren, and a Reed Bunting.

And Finally....

White-tailed Eagle Gary Jones 

Never prepared to publish a post without at least one accompanying photograph, this 'clik the pik' one I couldn't resist for the sheer beauty of this magnificent creature and the excellent image of it thanks to Gary.

Thanks to Ana Minguez for the brilliant photograph of the Black Redstart in the header image. 

....And The Birds In Our Garden.

Juvenile Pomerine Skua Geoff Gradwell

I had been to Cockers Dyke on Tuesday to get decent views of the juvenile Pomerine Skua and an adult Mediterranean Gull amongst the few hundred other gulls assembled here. In the area and on my way back to Fluke Hall I probably saw 20 Twite in three small groups in their bouncing flight along the coastal path.

Song Thrush Antonio Puigg 

At Fluke Hall a walk along the back side of the hedge running along the parking area is always a good idea, today it resulted in an amazing 10 Song Thrush, 9 Dunnock, and a 'few' Blackbird, this was bit of January bush bashing resulting in this excellent number of Song Thrush, also noted was a Reed Bunting, and Nuthatch.

Pink-footed Geese Brian Rafferty  

On my way back to Glasson Dock, I pulled in to see 55 Whooper Swan in fields opposite Braides, and at Thurnham on Moss Lane found up to 3,000 Pink-footed Geese. On the canal basin the drake Scaup was again with Tufted Duck and 23 Goldeneye counted, a Little Grebe was also on here, and I caught a glimpse of the Kingfisher as it disappeared over the lock towards the dock.

The Lune Estuary was awash with the tide and I noted nothing more than a single Goldeneye and 2 Little Grebe, with the Snow Goose distant on Colloway Marsh again. Conder Green was virtually under water with 2 Rock Pipit pushed off the marsh at high tide, but more of a surprise was a Song Thrush alongside the pipits. On Conder Pool, 7 Little Grebe, 2 Goldeneye, 3 Snipe, and a Brown Hare running along the back terrace.

....and the birds in our garden.

House Sparrow 1000-Pattes  

With the continuing decline of the Red listed species, it was good to see 40 House Sparrow in one sighting in our small urban garden recently, on the same day 8 Blackbird had also been present at the same time....This weekend KT will be doing the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch.

Thanks to Geoff/Antonio/Brian/Noushka for the excellent images, they are much appreciated.    

Routine....But Pleasant With It.

By 2.00pm on Monday at Cockersands it was pleasantly warm in the sun and the wind abated. I got closer views and was able to count 95 Whooper Swan in the field NW of Bank End accompanied by 2 Bewick's Swan. Off Plover Scar up to 3,000 Wigeon were spread over a wide area with some birds distant on the sea, also at least 65 Pintail were of note, with 4 Eider and a Red-breasted Merganser seen. Few waders to be seen here today, but 28 Golden Plover were in a field, with Redshank, Curlew, and Lapwing in small numbers in various fields.

 

Reed Bunting. Pete Woodruff.

Small birds during my wander at Cockersands, 26 Greenfinch seen in three small groups, 7 Reed Bunting - one of which obliged whilst I tried my hand at photography - 3 Wren and a Dunnock. 

Peregrine Falcon Wildsnaps

A Peregrine Falcon was again perched up on the railings around the lighthouse, and a local Kestrel seen, I also decided to take particular note of 4 Brown Hare.

Scaup. Martin Lofgren @ Wild Bird Gallery  

On the canal basin at Glasson Dock a drake Scaup mingled with 15 Goldeneye and uncounted Tufted Duck, with a Little Grebe and Kingfisher which gave me brief views as it disappeared over the lock gates.

On the Lune Estuary, waders were a little sparse again today, but 38 Bar-tailed Godwit and 14 Black-tailed Godwit were of note, with an estimated 300 Dunlin way over below Waterloo Cottage and 3 Red-breasted Merganser seen. Off Jeremy Lane, 5 Whooper Swan were a family party of two adult and three juvenile. In the same field, c.600 Pink-footed Geese and 40 Greylag.

At Conder Green, in the creeks and on the pool I got a double figure again of 12 Little Grebe, with Spotted Redshank, 4 Snipe, a pair of Goosander and 14 Wigeon. Two species noted from the coastal path, c.15 Chaffinch and a Reed Bunting.

The Cockers Dyke Skua.

Pomerine Skua. Stuart Piner.

The juvenile Pomerine Skua which - since having been first found at Knott End on 10 January - has pitched up in the Cockers Dyke area to the joys of many a birder. It appears healthy in the photograph above and gives the impression it could fly off over the sea and disappear into the sunset. I went to see this bird yesterday and it now appears to have at best a problem with it's left wing, and at worst a broken one. I find it difficult to believe it can still fly but will be well pleased to see the next photograph or being told of it doing just that.

For 'something better 'clik the pik'....With thanks to Phillip/Martin/Stuart.

The Cliff Swallow.

Cliff Swallow Nests. Patrick Tillet. I was in touch recently with an American member of a photographic website I joined a couple of years ago, he had posted this picture of Swallows nests clamped to the structure similar to those of the House Martin. With an interest I made enquiries as to the species and learned that they are the nests of the Cliff Swallow. In addition to this info from Pat, he told me of the song by Leon Rene in 1940  'When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano' - you need to be a bit ancient to remember it - apparently a popular song in it's day and was written as a tribute to the annual springtime return of the Cliff Swallows to Mission San Juan in Capistrano, Southern California.

Mission San Juan. Robert. A. Estremo. What is regarded by some as the miracle of the Swallows of Capistrano takes place each year at Mission San Juan Capistrano. As the faithful Cliff Swallows wing their way back to the most famous mission in California, the village of San Juan Capistrano takes on a fiesta air and visitors from far and wide gather in number to witness the return of the Swallows.

At dawn the birds arrive and begin rebuilding their mud nests, which are clinging to the ruins of the Great Stone Church of San Juan Capistrano. The arches of the two story vaulted Great Stone Church were left bare and exposed, as the roof collapsed during the great earthquake of 1812

After the summer spent within the sheltered walls of the Old Mission in San Juan Capistrano, the Swallows take flight again and leave after circling the Mission San Juan....A pretty inspirational story I thought.

 

Cliff Swallow. Copy Permitted.

An extremely rare vagrant in the UK, the first record of which was only a little over 31 years ago of a bird found on the Isles of Scilly in October 1983. 

Non of the three birders who initially saw the bird on St Agnes could put a name to it, it had flown past them with Barn Swallows, they were able to eliminate Red-rumped Swallow and had presumed it was a hybrid. But a fourth birder arrived to see the bird land and immediately recognised it as a Cliff Swallow identified from the species he had seen in America. This Cliff Swallow was last seen on the Scilly Isles 18 days after it had been first spotted and was seen by several hundred birders. 

I'd sooner be birding....And that's exactly what I'm off to do right now!  

Good Friday!

Well it was a Good Friday if only because it was my first trip out since Monday, though the gap was never planned to be that long.

Nothing special, but it was good to be out and about to see the regulars again, including 9 Little Grebe found today at Conder Green, two of which were downstream from the old railway bridge - which is where I found the Common Sandpiper - three in the creeks, and four on Conder Pool where I saw just one lone drake Goldeneye. A Reed Bunting was the only other bird to note on my wander, whilst c.300 Pink-footed Geese were making a northerly move overhead from the south in their distinct V formation.

Goosander Warren Baker @ Pittswood Birds 

On the canal basin at Glasson Dock, I saw 7 Goldeneye and noted up to 50 Tufted Duck. The Lune Estuary was remarkably quiet with little more than 50 Black-tailed Godwit, a pair of Goosander, a Red-breasted Merganser, and another 28 Goldeneye seen.

At Cockersands, an excellent sight was of at least 2,500 Golden Plover overhead and undecided where to land, with another c.350 Golden Plover in a field by Abbey Farm. A Snipe was over too, the Kestrel was hovering, 17 Greenfinch were at the Caravan Park end, and 52 Whooper Swan were still distant in the field NW of Bank End with obvious Bewick's Swans still present with them.

Dusky Warbler. Martin Lofgren.

News via the RBA pager service was of a Dusky Warbler found yesterday at Marton Mere LNR, Blackpool. A notoriously difficult bird to observe with it's secretive habits. It is a rare vagrant....

Radde's Warbler Martin Lofgren @ Wild Bird Gallery 

....and has to be separated from the 'lookalike' Radde's Warbler. 

The last Dusky Warbler seen in Lancashire was a little over 11 years ago at Fairhaven Dunes, Lytham St Annes in October 2003. Thanks to Martin and Warren for the excellent images, and to Geoff Gradwell Gallerie for the header of the long staying juvenile Pomerine Skua on the Fylde Coast.

I'm looking forward to a 'Good Monday' hopefully....I don't do weekends!   

A Bit Too Mutch!!

Meet the very nice Mr Mutch....

Well you wouldn't want to meet him, and he's not very nice either. In fact George Mutch holds the distinction of being the first gamekeeper in the UK to be jailed for persecuting birds of prey.

Goshawk Arkive 

On Monday Georgie boy received a pitifully short four months in prison after being found guilty on four charges of, illegal use of a trap, illegal killing of a Goshawk, illegal taking of a Goshawk, and illegal taking of a Buzzard. The offences took place in 2012 on a 5,500 acre estate in Scotland where hidden camera footage was obtained and allowed in court as evidence. 

And this is how nice Mutch really is....The footage revealed that Mutch had killed a juvenile Goshawk by removing it from one of the traps and beating it on the head several times with a stick, he could also be seen putting a Buzzard and another Goshawk in sacks and walking off with them in his hands. The video is available of Mutch finishing off the juvenile Goshawk when he removed the bird from the trap by repeatedly beating it's brains in with a stick.

I reckon this guy got off lightly, I find it difficult to refrain from suggesting other sentences he should have been given, but I think a couple of days on the top of a mountain in the Cairngorms locked inside the same trap he set for the birds of prey in Aberdeenshire wouldn't have done him any harm....Well hopefully it would have done him a lot of harm.

On the other hand, a commentator - obviously with a fondness for gamekeepers - suggested a prison sentence was incorrect as....'Mr Mutch already stood to loose a lot by his actions here, his job and his home tied to it, his gun licence, membership of the Scottish Gun Association, and his family will suffer'....Will he really, get real Mr Commentator. 

We need to remember there are many George Mutch's out there to continue what he did, we can't sit back and relax, nor can the birds of prey. So now, what about vicarious liability....The monkey dances whilst the organ grinder plays the tune....who owns Kildrummy Estate?