A Grand Day Out!

Quite the opposite to a grand day out to be honest, there was a cold SE wind and heavy rain all day, and it was only a bit of afternoon 'local exercise' anyway. But I was determined to make Tuesday the day I renewed my vow of allegiance to the Lune Estuary after a near 11 month absence.

With the conditions being as they were there was little birding done, not a day for standing around to count swans and see if there was any Bewick's amongst the Whooper's, and the walk along the headland was nothing to be called pleasant, but I managed the full circuit of Cockersand to reaffirm my love of the place, its birds and wildlife.

Calling in at Conder Green, I was disappointed that I couldn't find the enthusiasm to get wind blown and a soaking to do the circuit, but I reckon if I had have done, there was the chance of finding a wintering Common Sandpiper. It was pleasing to see 6 Little Grebe here, also a pair of Goosander to note, and 25 Wigeon were quietly grazing.

Snow Bunting Cockersand 17 October 2019. Pete Woodruff.

I was quite pleased to have caught up with a Snow Bunting some of which have been present at Cockersand a few weeks now. The swans were all over the place, with a total of 375 Whooper Swan seen in five fields including a group of around 120 on Jeremy Lane. Otherwise today, Cockersand was a mere ghost of its real self but never losses any of its affection for me.

Golden Plover.

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My video has probably been featured on B2B before, but it's a nice reminder of the therapeutic value of birds like these beautiful Golden Plover. 

In one of my posts at the beginning of December last year, I wrote....Until 1,000 had been reported at Cockersand yesterday Saturday 5 December, the Golden Plover had so far been absent in number from the Lune Estuary to date this winter, counts had only been at around 500. My last combined peak count was of c.3,350 Golden Plover at Glasson/Cockersand on 16 December 2019, probably representing the entire Lune Estuary population at the time. A notable comment on the LDBWS sightings page from one regular Lune Estuary birder last Sunday 29 October....'Didn't see a single Golden Plover'.

This winter the Golden Plover seems to be AWOL again from the Lune Estuary, the best count I could find was of 1,250 on the Lune Estuary at Glasson 20 December. With no figures to hand for 2020, these compare to a WeBS peak count of 3,712 in January 2019 which actually puts my claim of probably representing the entire estuary population on 16 December 2019 just 362 adrift.

Stonechat.

Records of my count for January with no duplication, stands at 46 Stonechat at 24 locations, wintering mainly on the Fylde coast and surrounding area.

Martin Jump's header image of the Robin qualifies for the brilliant category in my book....Thanks Martin.

And finally....

Iceland Gulls! Pete Woodruff.

Marton Mere, Blackpool, many moons ago.

Little Birding Moments.

Thanks to Howard for the excellent header image of the Brent Geese.

My birding moments started on Thursday with a wander through the park before the weather broke down and developed into our share of Storm Christoph. 

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The birds offer a little solace to anyone who wants to spend a few minutes with them at the feeders on Fenham Carr.

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The Nuthatch was the star of the show paying two visits as I watched for around 15 minutes, it was accompanied by at least 6 Long-tailed Tit, 6 Dunnock, 4 Robin, 3 Blackbird, 3 Coal Tit, 2 Blue Tit, and 2 Great Tit. Later, I came upon six thrushes in a fairly tight little group of 5 Blackbird and a Song Thrush, all flicking over leaves on frozen ground.

Walking home through the campus at Cumbria University, 12 Long-tailed Tit moving through the trees.

Little Garden Moments.   

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It might be a while before we see Goldfinch and Greenfinch feeding together again, especially the latter which is seen as a scarcity in our garden.

Common Sandpiper.

Following on from the notes I made about the 'missing' wintering Common Sandpiper at Conder Green not seen since 11 October 2019. 

To add to the three records of an individual seen in November /December 2020 all on the River Lune. There are two records of a bird seen 9 January off New Quay Road opposite Salt Ayre, and one flying downstream on the River Lune at Glasson 17 January. In my view, this is almost certainly the same bird doing the rounds - or more appropriately doing the River Lune - in all five reports of Common Sandpiper since 18 December 2020.

Brent Geese.

As regular visitors from Walney, where the last count was 380 on 30 December, some of these birds cross Morecambe Bay to visit Heysham again this winter.

Dark-bellied Brent Goose with Pale-bellied Brent Geese Heysham 23 January. Malcolm Downham.

The first of the winter, a Dark-bellied Brent was with a peak count of 51 Pale-bellied Brent at Heysham yesterday. Thanks to Malcolm for the image and details.

From the B+W File.

Red Deer. Pete Woodruff.

The Chats Have It....Again!

Thanks to Martin Jump for the excellent and appropriate header image for this post about the Stonechat. It is the view looking NE from Hawthornthwaite Fell to the eastern edge below Ward's Stone, with Mallowdale Fell taking centre stage.

I was in touch with John Callion regarding the 'Ward's Stone Chat', to ask if he had any wintering records for Cumbria that might dispel my claim that this was the highest altitude bird in our area if not England. If John didn't have the answer to this question, nobody else would....

'Many of the Stonechats that breed in the high fells tend to nest in the steep angular valleys that,  after the autumn and the onset of the low arc of the sun, become sunless and unsuitable for survival during the winter.

There are however some of the wider and shallow valleys that offer 'full sun' during the winter and retain territorial birds; to my knowledge they include the upper Mosedale valley near Skiddaw House, and upper Borrowdale at Dock Tarn. Both of these sites are around 400m asl, so not as high as the one you have in Bowland. There may be others, perhaps higher, but l have no knowledge of them, so l think it's fairly safe for you to suggest your bird is likely to be the highest that we have information for?' John Callion.

Map Courtesy of Simon Hawtin

During the summer, keen fell runner Simon had seen two Stonechat (Green) in the same area as the January Ward's Stone bird (Red), one of which may well have been a female to the male, thereby making an excellent 420m wintering pair. Perhaps if Simon can find a pair in the shadow of Ward's Stone on Tarnbrook Fell during this winter, we can then put an end to conjecture.

Stonechat Male. D.G.M'cGrath

Since 1 January, to date I've noted 35 Stonechats, recorded at 18 locations and mainly found on the FBC website, including an excellent 6 Stonechat at Lytham Moss 3 January. You just don't usually see six Stonechat at any one time in winter, and certainly not lowland/coastal birds. Thanks to Dave for this little beauty he found at Marton Mere. 

Wood Mouse.

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I've previously paid little or no attention to the Wood Mouse - sometimes referred to as Long Tailed Field Mouse - and had no idea it was probably the most common mammal in the UK.

From the B+W File.

Brown Hare in the long grass at Cockersand....Well, being I took the photograph, where else!

The Ward's Stone Chat.

Ward's Stone is the highest peak in the Forest of Bowland, the trig point stands at 560m. An interesting fact about Ward's Stone, is that another 50m would make it a mountain to join the only other two in Lancashire, Green Hill at 628m, and Cragareth at 627m.

Last Wednesday saw the report of a male Stonechat on Ward's Stone on 6 January.

But checking the grid reference given in the report, I found the sighting of the Stonechat had been at around 420m which gives the record to be on Tarnbrook Fell and not quite the high altitude record as at first thought. However, I have noted this to be the highest altitude of a wintering Stonechat recorded to date in England this winter....ever in my little black book.

I never went any higher than 400m during my years of observations of the Stonechat on Clougha Pike where I found Stonechat breeding at that altitude, but never recorded a wintering bird. 

Of note, the highest altitude record for breeding Stonechat in the UK stands at 590m in Cumbria in 1996....(J.Callion) Stonechats. A Guide to the Genus Saxicola. Christopher Helm 2002.

Obituary.

I was sorry to hear Peter Cook had died on 5 January. 

Unknown to me at the time, his love for the Stonechat started at an early age, he had developed an interest in birds at the age of 12. Peter was watching Stonechats, and found some nesting on Heysham Barrows, but went on to write in an article for the LDBWS Annual Report, that he was disappointed they were no longer a regular breeding bird in coastal areas in the area, including Heysham.

Peter took on the role of Secretary for the LDBWS in 2012, where he remained until his death. The Society and birders will miss his presence, and I would like to add my personal sadness at the news of Peter Cook's passing.

From the B+W File. 

I managed to stalk this Sparrowhawk down to 50m at Cockersand in September 2015.

Thanks to Ana Minguez for the delightful Penduline Tit header....Couldn't resist it.

Confined To Barracks!

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We had a Song Thrush yesterday, a mega in the garden with Nectar Points equal to a White's Thrush on the Scillies as far as I'm concerned, but....

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....it beat the snow which came down today.

I haven't been to Cockersand in a while now, but I met this disgruntled up and coming birder one day last autumn, he had a good old whinge about being told Cockersand was the best place to find a Yellow-browed Warbler and was a bit miffed he hadn't done after several days on the hunt, I could tell he wasn't happy....so I told him he'd been mislead and should make haste to the Heysham/Sunderland area where YBW finders abound!! 

A day without a smile is a day in your life wasted.

The First Bit!

Made my first venture out on Sunday, into the pandemic wracked world of 2021. A walk in pleasant sun along the promenade with KT, from Sandylands to Half Moon Bay and return, to have two enjoyable birding experiences along the way.

At least 2,000 Knot had assembled on the beach by the Sunny Slopes groyne.

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It was an absolute delight watching these birds, the pleasure only dampened by someone with a large black unleashed mutt, both charging across the beach to the groyne to disturb every bird in sight. What annoyed me most about this unacceptable behaviour, was the fact his attitude was that it was always his intention to set the mutt off ahead of him to put the birds to flight and ruin everyone's enjoyment of the spectacle being observed by a small group of people.

Edit.

If you have already read this post, you will see that I have edited it to remove some unacceptable language used in my account of this appalling act of disturbance of birds in Morecambe Bay.  

But I found a little relaxation at Half Moon Bay, with a view of the Lakeland mountains across Morecambe Bay.

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On the return leg I found a Black-headed Gull in an inland field off the promenade. 

Black-headed Gull Heysham 3 January 2021. Pete Woodruff.

The bird was ringed A690 in Germany in March 2013, it had been previously seen six times at Heysham.

11.08.2018 GB - Lancashire, Heysham 54 2 N -2 55 E Farbring abgelesen Marsh, P.

31.12.2019 GB - Lancashire, Heysham 54 2 N -2 55 E Farbring abgelesen MCClelland, G.

29.01.2020 GB - Lancashire, Heysham 54 2 N -2 55 E Farbring abgelesen Downham, M.

05.02.2020 GB - Lancashire, Heysham 54 2 N -2 55 E Farbring abgelesen Downham, M.

12.02.2020 GB - Lancashire, Heysham 54 2 N -2 55 E Farbring abgelesen Downham, M.

12.11.2020 GB - Lancashire, Heysham 54 2 N -2 55 E Farbring abgelesen Downham, M.

03.01.2021 GB - Lancashire, Heysham 54 2 N -2 55 E Farbring abgelesen Woodruff, P.

I'm grateful for the help of Sönke Martens with historic details for this bird. 

Last Chance Saloon.

Today was a complete disaster for me, when the last chance for birding in 2020 was thwarted for more reasons than one. But here are some bits and pieces to fill the page....

I found a file buried beneath a mountain of other files, it contained a good number of black and white images that I submitted over a couple of years, to a photographic website appropriately named 'The World In Black & White'.

So I decided to feature one or two in some forthcoming posts on B2B. The first is in the header, not all that original in it's title I must confess. The pictures are only loosely connected with birds and birding, some not connected at all perhaps.

The occasional Wren visited our garden yesterday. I happened to be looking through the kitchen window when it appeared, and having my camera to hand managed a bit of footage of the delightful little creature offering us a moment of pleasure.

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I'm thinking of taking up a bit of birdwatching as a pastime next year. Meanwhile, to all B2B enthusiasts....

Conder Green. Pete Woodruff. View Full Screen 

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR

Tier 3....The Great Escape.

 

It was a full house at the car park on Rigg Lane on Tuesday. One family group told me they were just glad to be out of the house for a while. For me it was much the same, but with the added pleasure of finding 4 Stonechat at Birk Bank today, by coincidence the same count as my visit here on 16 October, though not necessarily being the same birds again.

Along the way I saw 8 Red Grouse, but this image is more to highlight the limestone structure than the bird, it's alcoves and why it stands alone puzzles me. The only other birds encountered, 2 Goldcrest and a Robin. A Buzzard gave me an excellent photo opportunity had I stopped the car, it was perched on a fencepost  as I drove approaching Quernmore.

The Silver Birch trees made attractive silhouette patterns in the late afternoon light....

....and spending a few minutes on the boardwalk around the bog gave the pleasure of reminding me of summer months, when I found the Keeled Skimmer at Birk Bank for my fourth year.

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Thanks to Howard Stockdale for sending me an appropriate seasonal image of the Sanderling, one of my most favourite waders for a Christmas header.

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Birding Unplugged....

....well badly fractured anyway!

I had to taxi a family member to Dolphinholme on Tuesday, to be picked up again in three hours to return to Lancaster. The perfect opportunity for me to go a few miles up the road for a couple of hours to Hawthornthwaite, to prove that I had missed the Stonechats wintering here on my last visit 10 November.

The trip wasn't the success I had hoped for as I had made the effort to make a video of the visit, but when I got the sequences on my computer, I found the wind had drowned out most of the commentary, and three of the sequences ended up in the bin. However, I salvaged the three remaining sequences, and made a little sense of them.

Three species are mentioned in the footage, a pair of Stonechat, a Merlin, and a Hen Harrier. Two species not recorded, 12 Red Grouse, and a Wren.

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I note a Common Sandpiper reported at Conder Green Friday 18 December (LDBWS). This is the first Common Sandpiper to be recorded at Conder Green in winter since the last sighting of a long wintering bird of the species on 11 October 2019. Another wintering Common Sandpiper was found at Skerton Weir 25 November, was probably the same individual seen two days later from Carlisle Bridge 27 November.

An ID puzzle was these eight footprints found in the mud on the bank of the River Lune in Lancaster. I more or less immediately thought Otter, but me thinks too small....Perhaps Stoat?

 

A Little Success.

It was great to hear about the success of breeding Little Tern at Blakeney Point off the coast of Norfolk, where the terns had their most successful season in 2020, fledging in excess of 200 chicks, and being the best result for more than 25 years.

Little Tern. Martin Jump.

The Little Tern is one of the UK's rarest seabirds, and has been in serious decline nationally for up to 40 years since the 1980's, it's status in the country stands at less than 2,000 pairs, with up to 155 pairs nesting at Blakeney Point this year. 

This wonderful good news story is believed in part, to be the result of fewer homo sapiens visiting this location earlier in the breeding season during the first national lockdown, due to the terrible pandemic which is currently a world-wide scourge. Another contribution is that the Little Tern chose to nest at the far end of the point this year, further away from the mainland, with fewer visitors deciding not to go to the trouble of walking the distance. Added to this, is the fact that the birds nested in a tight group, with fewer predator's affecting the terns this year too, seeming to add credence to the strategy of 'safety in numbers'.

As a rapidly declining species, what a sight it must have been to see so many of these tiny seabirds fledging the nest as creatures still very much at risk in a year that has - and still is - a challenge to us all. 

Thanks to Martin Jump for his image of the Little Tern that made a brief appearance at Preston Dock in July 2018.

Diversion Ahead!

So there's going to have to be some diversions on B2B, 'cos I ain't getting out as much as I can and would like to. Monday's visit to Heysham was on a brilliant day weather-wise, wall to wall sunshine and a flat calm sea, but didn't bear much fruit. 

Great Tit. Martin Jump.

But I was thankful for small mercies, with a wander along the seawall and foreshore to Ocean Edge salt marsh. Bird of the day in my book was a Song Thrush, not seen daily by any means, and a bird the conservation status of which is in the Red. Other birds to note, Dunnock, Wren, and Great Tit.

A Peregrine Falcon showed perched high on the power station, which prompts a word of caution to birders tempted to poke a camera through the fence at anything within the grounds....DON'T!

Robin. Pete Woodruff.

By the time I got back to the car I'd seen 6 Robin, including this one that kept returning to see me by the car as I drank my coffee and biscuits.

The sunset at Heysham was stunning, as seen by the children's play area off Knowleys Road, creating a scene of peace and tranquility.

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Gold & Green.

A treat recently in our urban garden, was one of our regular Goldfinch feeding opposite a Greenfinch which is at best scarce and irregular. 

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Thanks to Martin for helping to salvage B2B with his header and Great Tit image.