Brown Flycatcher!

Pied Flycatcher. Brian Rafferty.

I always enjoy the almost daily trawl through my blog list and had the added interest in finding BR's latest post was concerning his two visits to Barbondale this week in which - to add even more interest for me - he had included an excellent image of the Pied Flycatcher (PF) above. This bird is the very one about which I made the comment in one of my recent posts 'Rewards of Barbondale' in which I put in a 'beware' comment regarding the likelihood that the unwary would record this individual as a female PF when in fact it is a 1st summer male.

This bird is the first 'brown' 1st summer male PF I've ever knowingly seen and initially fooled me into recording it as another female, but on getting closer to the bird to afford better views I soon noted the white spot on its forehead clearly visible in BR's photograph and given even better views would no doubt have seen extensive white on the outer webs on tertials. So....another lesson learned in that the 'brownest' of 1st summer male PF's are seen as 'very similar' to females and I have to wonder just how many of these might I have previously seen and be unaware of at the time.

Redstart. Brian Rafferty.

BR sang the praises of Barbondale very much as I do every time I visit the place referring to it as a delightful walk along the elevated path to look down into the ancient wet woodland in which I recall once recording thirteen notable species of birds in a single visit. Thanks to Brian Rafferty for the Pied Flycatcher and Redstart photographs.

No sign again today of the Kentish Plover at Cockersands.

The Latest News....

....and a couple of pics from the currently absent PS the first of which is an excellent mugshot of the lovely Linnet, and the second a Red-throated Pipit from a trip abroad.

You will have noticed I'm struggling again today for a title with at least a little originality and as you see failing miserably!!

Linnet. Phil Slade



With JB/BT as is the norm we first went to Aldcliffe and Freeman's Pools where we observed two Little Ringed Plover, it was something of a worry to see these two little creatures running around in a panic as two Carrion Crows appeared intent on finding the eggs one of the birds had only moments earlier been sitting on. So unfortunate that these birds have enough natural predation to contend with in order to succeed in their breeding attempts without the inconsiderate people using the pool and island as a place to 'have fun' as of late. At Aldcliffe Whitethroat and 2 Swift of note.

At Conder Green, a Lesser Whitethroat gave me excellent - if brief - views, also Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Greenshank, and a Little Ringed Plover seen in flight only. A pair of Great-crested Grebe are nesting on the canal basin at Glasson Dock. On Jeremy Lane a Wheatear in the field was presumed with brief views as  'Greenland' given the date.

At Cockersands, another Wheatear, 3 Whitethroat, a male Reed Bunting, 4 Skylark, 2 Stock Dove, and a Black Swan which posed the question....is this the same bird as seen at Glasson Dock and off Moss Lane in November 2010/January 2011. On Gulf Lane yet another Whitethroat, and c.150 Carrion Crows were noted feeding in a field presumably not to the pleasure of Mr Farmer.

On Pilling Marsh c.300 Pink-footed Geese still, a Wall Brown and at least 8 Common Blue butterflies around the car park. At Fluke Hall, 5 Whitethroat brought the days total to at least eleven seen/heard, also Skylark and 5 Wall Brown. At least 8 Swift were high over Bowerham in Lancaster this evening.

And finally....

Red-throated Pipit. Phil Slade  

The Cockersands Kentish Plover I suspect has not been seen today and not since yesterday as reported at 10.40am. 

Back down to earth.

Dunlin. Brian Rafferty

I spent the best part of six hours at Cockersands today - including a circuit - in the hope of a second bite of the Kentish Plover, it was reported on the RBA pager service as being present at 10.40am but be assured it has not been seen since - up to 8.40pm - despite several birders searching. To be truthful I was pretty miffed at having grilled at least 900 Dunlin and 100+ Ringed Plover a 'good few' times to no avail, but....thats the reality of birding and you've just got to keep on plugging away at it.

Also of note at Cockersands, 15 Whimbrel, 28 Bar-tailed Godwit, and 4 Knot two of which were in their brick red plumage. On the circuit I noted 3 Whitethroat, 4 Sedge Warbler, 6 Tree Sparrow, a Chiffchaff, and a Skylark is the only one of two I've encountered to date this spring in the Cockersands area. On my way here I saw a Whitethroat on Jeremy Lane along with IT who I've not seen or heard of for some time....good to see you today IT. On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock if I hadn't seen the 5 Eider hauled out of the river I'd have drawn a blank for anything of note.

Whitethroat. Phillip Tomkinson

At Conder Green it took me just a couple of minutes to see that Conder Pool was also void of almost anything though I note a pair of Lesser Black-backed Gull appear to have laid claim to one of the islands, bad news for all concerned. In the creeks 14 Black-tailed Godwit in stunning summer red, a Greenshank, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, and 4 House Martin today appears to be the total so far at River Winds.

And finally....

Dotterel. David Cookson     

Three more brilliant photographs which are much needed to enhance Birds2blog with thanks to BR/PT/DC. 

Before and after....

....the KP discovery.

Whitethroat. Pete Woodruff

I was with JB yesterday and before the discovery of the Kentish Plover at Cockersands we had gone to Conder Green where at least 3 House Martins had returned to River Winds, a single Swift over, and a singing Garden Warbler and Whitethroat were at the picnic area, the latter I even managed one of my almost acceptable photographs. In the creeks it was good to see a Greenshank here still, also a Spotted Redshank appears to have almost completed its amazing and unique transformation to black breeding plumage. 

Whimbrel. John Bateman



At Cockersands up to 15 Whimbrel, 5 Bar-tailed Godwit in stunning summer plumage, as were 2 Knot, a solitary Grey Plover, c.330 Oystercatcher, c.180 Dunlin, c.50 Ringed Plover, and 4 Eider by the lighthouse. Small birds of note, a Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler and Dunnock....The rest was after the KP find and was the continuation of what JB and I had planned for today at the off, but be warned....

If you're proposing any upland birding/walking take note of the sign in the pic above which - if you're prepared to stand by the regulations - will bar you from any open access area in the forest of Bowland until it rains for who knows how long they want it to....this'll be a blow to the Ring Ouzel listers. With hindsight it was an unwise decision to go into Bowland when I already knew the way was thus barred at the entrance to the access track up Clougha/Birk Bank. But I did end up hearing a singing Pied Flycatcher just up from Trough Bridge opposite the track on to Winfold Fell, and also noted a 'classic' White Wagtail on the stream by the cattle grid at Marshaw with one or two Green Hairstreak also of note, otherwise the visit was a damp squid.

Bluebells at Abbeystead. Pete Woodruff.

The Bluebell show is excellent at the moment but there was a big disappointment at Stoops Bridge in Abbeystead where the Pied Flycatchers don't appear to have returned, perhaps we can hope for some late arrivals. A Garden Warbler and Blackcap were both in full voice and competing for songster of the year award....great stuff!

In my book today was a monumental one and including all the above....Long Live Cockersands.

KP....

But this is definitely not nuts!

I'm at Cockersands at around mid-day today and guess what, I have my recorders hat on and I'm even counting the guardians of Plover Scar the Oystercatchers and other birds when two elderly people pass by and ask....'are you looking at anything interesting'....at the very precise time I've got my lamps on a bird which instantly isn't a Ringed Plover of which there are about fifty....'everything is interesting'....I replied politely....'but do you mind if I talk to you without taking my eyes away from the telescope as I'm trying to assess the bird I just found which looks interesting to say the least'.

Now lets be straight about this, if you're looking at Ringed Plovers and all of a sudden you come across a similar looking bird which is obviously not a Ringed Plover or Little Ringed Plover, you're looking at a 'goodie'. By now I have my mobile in my hand and I'm calling a birder who's crossed my mind before in similar circumstances and who I know will probably be 'available' with no traffic to negotiate, and is known - if only to me - as a bit of a Jenson Button at the wheel but most importantly he knows what he's talking about and I love birders who know what they're talking about. 

So whilst having in mind that I don't want to end up the only birder to see this bird before it buggers off, I'm telling this guy he'd better get down the road to Cockersands 'cos I've got a 'plover' in my sights and I need him to agree with me when I tell him what this bird is.

There was actually another who ran through my mind but I thought he was in Egypt, Morocco, or somewhere exotic like that, but I was wrong and he came too, all of which was really the icing on the cake for me.

Kentish Plover. Fylde Bird Club

Certainly deja vu for me....It was a female Kentish Plover, like the one at Teal Bay 19 November 1994.

No Go....

....and another four pics, two of a couple of birds,one of which your not likely to ever see unless you intend going off on a trip to Malaysia perhaps.

If you're planning a trip into the Forest of Bowland the 'no go' is related to some info in my comments in yesterdays post where my man RS tells me of a sign at the gate to the access area on Clougha informing the visitor that the area is currently off limits due to extreme fire risk. If there is a fire risk in the Clougha/Birk Bank area it follows there will now be several areas in the FOB which are likewise off limits....Mmmmm!!

As for the pics....

Scaly-breasted Munia.

And....

Brown Shrike. 

The Scaly-breasted Munia I reckon you're not likely to ever see in the UK but who knows. The Brown Shrike does have records in the UK the first one being in 1985 at Grutness, Shetland where an interesting tale is attached to this sighting. A bird found in 1981 at another location on Shetland was thought by the finder to have been an Isabelline Shrike but the BBRC rejected the record whilst considering it to have been a Brown Shrike. Amazingly four years later the same person flushed a shrike with a black mask and bill, and with a bright supercilium, identical to the bird he'd seen in 1981....it was indeed a Brown Shrike having given the same man a rare second chance.

And two more pics with no waffle this time....

Four-spotted Chaser

And....

Large Red Damselfly.

Thanks to Kah Wai for the birds....and to Cliff Raby for the Chaser and Damselfly.

Flux is here.

This is definitely going to be short....and not related to birds into the bargain.



Flux is the title of Richard Shillings new book about which I'm saying nothing more other than you should read about it and the two examples of his art below HERE  

Three Stars For Spring.

Lots of visitors to Birds2blog know about the artwork of Richard Shilling and have publicly and privately thanked me for pointing them in his direction.

Dandelion Sun

Richard has to put up with my remarks about how amazingly creative he is and how he always leaves me speechless when I see what he's 'come up with next'. If you haven't already experienced his works I'd recommend you do so now....it'll be a new experience for you.

Hope I got these titles right Richard.

I'D SOONER BE BIRDING!....but may not be doing so until Tuesday.

The Dotterel.

Dotterel. Mike Watson



Sad isn't it....if you go back in time to around 90 years ago you would find in the 1920's the numbers of Dotterel were beginning to show signs of a slight recovery from the days even further back in time when annual slaughters of the species were taking place in areas like Pilling and Winmarleigh when - according to Mitchell - 'hundreds' were being shot each year. It is interesting that the same F.S.Mitchell reported very few records from the fells, adding to this remark that they no longer appear on Pendle Hill. 

Thankfully today quite the reverse is the case and Pendle Hill plays host on an annual basis to this familiar and amazingly tame spring migrant which shows a remarkable fidelity to its staging areas, sometimes even to the very same field. Ward Stone is another example of an annual - or near annual - area where Dotterel can be found and in fact breeding was reported here in 1983.  

By the end of the 1990's the estimate of breeding Dotterel in Great Britain was put at 630 incubating males, which incidentally represents the sex role reversal of this species of bird where the female takes little if any part in the incubation of the clutch, and rarely if ever assisting in brood-care though she is known to maybe rejoin the family once well grown. The breeding range is largely confined to the summits of our highest and most remote hills most of which are in the Scottish Highlands, though small outposts are also know for example in Cumbria. Some estimates in N.Europe are of 17,000 pairs in Norway, 5,000 in Sweden, and 2,000 in Finland.

Dotterel. Brian Rafferty

As someone who constantly claims to have a passion for birds and birding, I'm pretty well ashamed to confess to never having got off my backside to go and see the Dotterel during the spring passage, always seeming to be 'doing some other birding' at the time. This spring appears to have been a good one with birds seen on Fairsnape Fell, Pendle Hill, and currently birds still on Champion Moor as I write....so whats my excuse this time!  

Thanks to Mike for his photograph of the Dotterel on Champion Moor, and to Brian for his on Fairsnape Fell. Please use the links to visit their websites.

Rewards of Barbondale....

....and other locations.

Black-crowned Night Heron. Kah Wai  



But first a good compositional photograph of the Night Heron at Kinta Nature Park in Malaysia with many thanks to Kah Wai.

It was a good day weather-wise for me to make a visit to Barbondale, and if you relish the aesthetics of the places you visit to do your birdwatching then Barbondale is a must, I spent an excellent six hours there today and was rewarded handsomely.

Fingers crossed for more, but today I found 4 Pied Flycatcher, three of them males two singing, but beware, one of them is a 1st summer bird strongly resembling a female. Also of note here today, at least 10 Redstart, and 12 Wheatear, I heard only 2 Tree Pipit, and found a nice surprise in 2 Lesser Redpoll, noted barely a double number of Willow Warbler, found just 4 Great Tit and 2 Blue Tit though Barbondale never seems to be 'tit' country according to my records, 2 Reed Bunting, at least 15 Meadow Pipit, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Linnet, 2 Dipper, a Kestrel, 2 Buzzard, and a Raven. I struggled to find a solitary Grey Wagtail today, a bird I'm not seeing anywhere these days. It goes with saying I found no Stonechats in six hours spent searching here today, collectively the sixth upland location I've visited recently void of the species this year.

Common Sandpiper. David Cookson

I had some choices now and eventually decided to walk down the River Wenning from Hornby to find at least 35 Whimbrel at the confluence, also the inevitable - uncounted - but no more than 50 Sand Martins with 3 Common Sandpiper, a Goosander, 2 Redshank, a Song Thrush, and singing Skylark. I was running out of time now but still had choices, this time I called in on Rigg Lane to hear the very bird I'd hoped for the Cuckoo on Birk Bank, I noted 'some' Green Hairstreak and heard a Chiffchaff. Thanks for the excellent CS pic DC.

Some National interest....The Barolo Little Shearwater is apparently still on Lundy, and three more Vagrant Emperor Dragonflies have been seen in Dorset, Pembrokeshire, and off the coast on Skomer Island. 

Butterfly Diversion.



Brimstone. Steven Cheshire

On Monday I found 5 Brimstone butterflies which - believe it or not - is an all time record for me, not being a butterfly hunter the only ones I see are those encountered on my birding days and the Brimstone has always been a species which has escaped me, though I do have some quite good butterfly records over the years, like the 100+ number of Painted Lady from the Allan Hide path a Leighton Moss a few years ago now, the other memorable count of this species was made during the mega influx in 2009 when I counted 149 on Clougha/Birk Bank on 30 May, another two excellent records  - void of searching my records - were both of the Clouded Yellow seen in numbers in the mid-teens in different years at Cockersands and along the coastal path from Fluke Hall towards Cockers Dyke. In Britain, any bright yellow butterfly seen in early spring is likely to be the male the Brimstone butterfly, the female may catch you off guard and think it's a 'white'....one did me for a moment on Monday. It is a common belief that the Brimstone was once known as the 'butter-coloured fly' a description which gave rise to the word 'butterfly'.

Red Admiral. Linda

A brilliant photograph of the Red Admiral showing to excellent effect the pattern of this beautiful butterfly's under-wing. The Red Admiral at rest is unmistakable, with its red and black wings outspread, it is a strong migrant and may appear anywhere in Europe, it moves north in the spring from its breeding grounds in the south, but few - if any - survive the northern winter.

Green Hairstreak. Linda   

The Green Hairstreak is the butterfly I usually find on my upland birding days during April-June in places like Clougha and Birk Bank though it occurs in a wide range of habitats, if this creature lands on the greenery of any of its many suitable food-plants it is then perfectly camouflaged and easily overlooked.

I'D SOONER BE BIRDING!....but thanks for the photographs to fill the gap Steven/Linda.