Pluggin' Away.



I could easily have gone into Bowland today - the plan - but I didn't quite like the sound of the weather-mans voice so decided to carry on plugging away at you know where.

Common Sandpiper. Pete Woodruff.

I managed a half decent pic of three of the 16 Common Sandpipers I counted at Conder Green today, also of note was the intriguing sight of a juvenile then five hours later on the return an adult Little-Ringed Plover, intriguing because since the bird/s arrived here in the spring I've probably only seen them about six times and not for the want of trying. The last two sightings were of an adult I took to be sitting on 13 June, then two adult and a chick seen on 20 June, now today's adult and juvenile. So, not for the first time the Conder Pool LRP's make a fool out of me....alternatively the birds today are passing through. Also noted on Conder Pool 3 Wigeon, and a Moorhen with three chicks, in the creeks a Greenshank, Grey Wagtail, and 15 Goldfinch of note.

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock, 2 Mediterranean Gull were both adult, c.300 Bar-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank, an Arctic Tern obliged at rest again for my third consecutive visit here, and c.150 Knot of which at least eight were in full summer plumage, I don't recall ever seeing this 'red dress' before on a Knot in my part of the world....or have I been birding with my eyes shut at times!

At Cockersands, Plover Scar was quite lively today with some estimates made, 500 Oystercatcher, 450 Golden Plover, 65 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover, and at least 5 Whimbrel. Off the scar, 56 Eider included three young, 24 Shelduck were all juveniles, and a single Red-breasted Merganser. Along the headland I saw 2 Wheatear, at least 50 Swallows gathering on a fence-line, and from the Caravan Park I saw a Pale-bellied Brent Goose though distant on Cockerham Marsh, and a Black Swan in the Cocker Channel.

Lesser Black-backed Gull. Pete Woodruff.

From my observations I reckon these two brutes made a failed attempt at breeding this year on Conder Pool. A bit of B+W photography which I just have the feeling has made an appearance on here once before.

Ringed Plover. Phil Slade

I have it on good authority that Ringed Plovers were seen today on Plover Scar with young....surely a first record.

Flogging a dead horse!

Waders. David Cookson 



There's a relation to the photograph of the Redshanks and Oystercatchers in that I've been down by the seaside again today. I don't usually use such language when it comes to my birding, but at times today I felt I was 'flogging a dead horse' though a grandad with two grandchildren, two youths who thought they'd have a days fishing, and a woman - my politeness shining through there - with 14 dogs - I'll just repeat that - 14 dogs, all played their part in ruining the day.  I think the first lesson to learn if/when you take up this birdwatching thing is to get used to the 'blank times' of which I had one or two today. 

It only took a few minutes to see that Conder Pool had been deserted and I never even got out my note book. In the creeks I found only 5 Common Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, and saw a juvenile Reed Warbler, having only moments earlier thought they had failed to turn up this year in the reeds upstream from the A588 road bridge, though at least two Sedge Warbler have been heard on my visits. On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock 2 Arctic Tern obliged today, at rest with the waders of which I noted at least 300 Bar-tailed Godwit, 450 Dunlin, 200 Knot, 320 Redshank, 5 Greenshank, and a solitary Golden Plover.

At Cockersands where the 'dead horse' - and the aforementioned 'woman' with 14 dogs - was certainly present. I did manage to get to grips with a count of at least 120 Tree Sparrows today, and a female Sparrowhawk. The only butterflies noted were 2 Red Admiral, but on last Thursdays visit I overlooked posting my records of c.55 Small Tortoiseshell and a Red Admiral at Cockersands.

And finally....

Grey Partridge. Geoff Gradwell

Nine of twelve in this covey of young Grey Partridge, a bird which can lay as many as 20 eggs. Thanks to DC/GG for the photographs.

Interesting bits!

Something about a book, something about Badgers, a couple of 'top of the range' photographs, and another photograph of a rarity in the country with some history about the species.

First the book which is about Nest Monitoring....don't forget to read the comments....interesting.

Then perhaps you'd like to help Save the Badger....I did....'cos its morally indefensible, and scientifically claimed to be not going to work, and thats the side I come down on heavily.

And the pics....

Blackcap. Geoff Gradwell

GG doesn't just have the Blackcap visiting his garden lucky him, he also gets an excellent photograph of the bird.

Whitethroat. Phil Slade

And the Whitethroat with thanks to my man from the Fylde.

Stilt Sandpiper. Dan Pancamo 

A Stilt Sandpiper was found at Lodmoor RSPB Reserve in Dorset on Sunday 24 July and still remains there today. The bird is a North American wader which winters in South America, we won't go down the road about 'whats an American wader - which breeds and winters there - doing in Dorset'.

The first record of this species in Britain was of a bird found by two boys in August 1954 at Kilnsea in East Yorkshire, they were staying at the Spurn Bird Observatory and actually saw the bird again the next day. On the 2 September some birders were alerted to the finding and in due course the bird was accepted as being the first British occurrence of the Stilt Sandpiper. This species remains a very rare vagrant to Britain, but an individual visited various sites over a six month period in Cheshire in 1984 and is by far the longest staying Stilt Sandpiper in Britain.

Devil Birds.

A bird about which a volume of books would have to be written to cover anything like the story of this truly amazing creature with wings. But here is a fraction of the many things making this bird remarkable, these are a few of the 'bits' I know about  it.

Swift. Simon Hawtin 



The Swift  - historically known as Devil Birds - must be one of the most fascinating and mysterious birds to visit these shores, a bird which for centuries has lived in close proximity to man, nesting under the roofs of our houses. Yet little is known about this bird which spends its entire life on the wing and flying literally miles measured in millions in a lifetime to the exclusion of the breeding season when they are hidden away in their dark nests. The European Swift spends most of the year in southern Africa, each spring migrating to Europe as far north as Lapland, inside the Arctic Circle, and eastwards to China to breed and to raise their young. 

All bird species have mastered the art of flying, but none so much as the Swift, a bird which can obtain everything it needs from the air, insects, water, and nest material borne on the wind. It can ride on air currents all night whilst sleeping on the wing, it is the only known bird having the ability to mate on the wing, this creature truly is a fascination to us all. As a group of birds Swifts are the fastest of all in level flight, and the Needle-tailed Swifts of Africa and Asia have been claimed by some experts in the field to have attained speeds of up to 105 mph....maybe that sounds even more impressive at almost 170 kph.

For a bird weighing no more than 50 grams the European Swift can have quite a long life-span averaging about five and a half years. But an individual found dying in Oxford in 1964 had been ringed as an adult in 1948 making this bird at least 18 years old, it was calculated to have possibly flown in its lifetime a distance of some 4 million miles, thats equivalent to flying to the moon and return eight times....ponder over that!

It wasn't until 1960 that the first British ringed Swift was recovered in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo. A bird ringed in Yorkshire in 1962 was recovered  five months later in Rhodesia - now Zimbabwe - 5,600 miles away thereby setting the southernmost limit to the distribution of the Common Swift.

Over the years there have been many legends about the Swift, but the real-life story of this amazing bird has slowly been pieced together through some amateur naturalists and professional ornithologists and the truth is, this extraordinary bird is in truth revealed as something much stranger than any of the legends surrounding it.

Simon Hawtins excellent image of the Swift has been featured on Birds2blog once before....Welcome Back!

Moorland Birds/Birding.

The Short List.

On a rare Saturdays birding for me and a good day weather-wise I couldn't resist giving Clougha/Birk Bank a 'going over' to see if it could offer me any surprises. Well it did....at c.400m and two hours into the visit I found a lone male Stonechat, but despite keeping my eyes on the bird and its immediate surroundings for fifteen minutes I found no other bird/s with it. Also of note, 5 Raven, at least 14 Red Grouse, 8 Meadow Pipit, a juvenile Wheatear, 2 Wren, and - taking into account the risk of duplicate counting - up to 8 Kestrel seen.  

Meadow Pipit. Phil Slade

It isn't really all that long ago that I would have steered clear of ever going up and onto the moorlands having never been attracted to what I used to refer to as dull places void of birds in particular during the winter months. If you do visit the moorlands in winter you'll probably end up being dismayed at the lack of birds, and its perfectly possible you'll see almost nothing for hours on end. But the key to any birding - and particularly moorland birding - is patience, and there are one or two moorland birds up there which I'm quite attracted to, and in a brief season during the summer months the moorlands are in fact quite rich in bird life. 

During the summer the bird you are likely to encounter most is the Meadow Pipit, a bird with the serious misfortune of always being on the agenda of the Merlin and its next meal, this bird of prey is my most favourite one and - along with another moorland bird the magnificent Hen Harrier - takes the Meadow Pipit by the hundred at this time of the year on their daily hunts for food. Not surprising then, the Meadow Pipit is a bird that I see as one with little ability to deal with a crisis, immediately it sees you it will go into panic mode fluttering up into the air whilst blurting out its series of sip, sip calls, flies this way and that way, giving the impression of never really knowing what to do or where to go next, but eventually dives into cover on the ground and in all possibility won't then calm down for some time to come. So, if you're a small moorland bird you really only have two options for survival, you either skulk all day long in the heather, or venture out and stay on guard, but not many birds are up to this latter strategy, but I know one that is, and I happen know it very well....    

Female Stonechat Brian Rafferty

The Stonechat has the habit of 'sitting' on elevated perches the reason being, it can scan the ground below for the movement of small insects to pounce on. For a small bird the Stonechat has large eyes which I reckon are capable of spotting a Merlin from a mile away and probably only falls victim to one very rarely. The other birds take advantage of this little beauty and its ability and willingness to stand guard whilst they live their lives knowing that if danger is imminent the Stonechat will give them the warning to take the cover needed to escape. 

Red Grouse Brian Rafferty

Another moorland specialist is the Red Grouse, this is the bird that often surrounds me on my regular visits to Clougha which is a stronghold of the species where I've counted in excess of forty birds on one occasion during a five hour visit here. Not liking my approach, they 'chuckle' away at me as they fly off, they are a bird whose ecology is so tangled up with heather that it is actually heather-coloured itself.

So, as opposed to about twelve years ago plus my knowledge that the Stonechat is now always present on our moorlands in Bowland - though much declined and absent in many areas - since the past two harsh winters - I always enjoy my regular wanders into the areas I once dismissed as bird-less and boring places to find the birds mentioned here plus the excitement of hopefully finding yet another of my favourites the declining....

Whinchat David Cookson   

Note once again the excellent photographs on Birds2blog, with many thanks to PS/BR/DC. 

Hit for six!

I gave Conder Green/GlassonDock/Cockersands a good six hours today and deserved better than I got for the effort....but enjoyed every minute of it.

Little Egret. David Cookson

With the exception of one seen from the Grisedale Hide at Leighton Moss on 10 May, I saw my first Little Egret since 1 April today, it was on Conder Pool, also on here, 7 Greenshank, a single Black-tailed Godwit, and a pair of Moorhen were feeding three young. On the circuit I counted 8 Common Sandpiper, heard a Sedge Warbler singing like it was the beginning of May, also a singing Reed Bunting, a Dunnock, House Martins still visiting nests at River Winds, and a Grey Wagtail seen was my first at Conder Green in at least two years.

Common Tern. Geoff Gradwell

At Glasson Dock on the Lune Estuary I found an Arctic Tern conveniently - though distant - at rest with 250-300 Bar-tailed Godwit and c.200 Knot, also noted a similar number of Dunlin. A Peregrine Falcon on the left over of a tree trunk on Colloway Marsh was waiting patiently to change the landscape once it took to the wing. Whilst searching for an Arctic Tern photograph I came across the above Common Tern, a rather impressive result for the effort. Thanks GG....nice one.

At Cockersands I found my second Little Egret on Plover Scar and noted at least 3 Whimbrel with others heard during the visit, also c.250 Golden Plover all appeared to be of European origin, c.250 Oystercatcher, 50 Dunlin, 74 Eider, and 5 Greenfinch were a 'must' to be noted. I saw my second 'early' returning Wheatear of the autumn here.

Gannet. David Cookson

More impressive stuff with the Little Egret and Gannet, with thanks to DC. I found a 'not too long' dead adult Gannet this afternoon on the shingle at Cockersands.

Clement. Courtesy of BTO.

Are you keeping up with Clement and Co.

Med up not fed up!

Sanderling. Brian Rafferty.

No accurately appropriate pics today, but an excellent mug shot of the delightful Sanderling is good enough for me to head the post. JB and I had a good look at the coastal areas of Conder Green/Glasson Dock/Cockersands today but the day was cut a little shorter than planned for more reasons than one, not least of which was the clock, and a road diversion if we wanted to go south beyond Cockersands.

A look in before the tide at Conder Green, and another five hours later at high tide produced an excellent count of 11 Greenshank, and another one of 18 Common Sandpipers which JB reckons is his highest count of the species at this location, I'd need to check my records to know if this applies to me too. Also an adult Spotted Redshank, 82 Redshank, 3 Wigeon, a Red Admirable was the only butterfly seen on the day. On the Lune Estuary from Glasson Dock, a 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull, up to 300 Bar-tailed Godwit, 275 Lapwing, and 200 Redshank all had the area beginning to look like autumn in terms of a small build up of numbers.

From Bodie Hill an adult Yellow-legged Gull gave nothing like the excellent close views I would have appreciated being the worlds number one novice when it comes to tricky or immature gulls. On Jeremy Lane a single Grey Partridge had its head just above the long grass for JB to see it in the field as we drove by. At Cockersands an adult Mediterranean Gull was off Crook Farm with c.150 Black-headed Gull, 25 Eider, and 2 Red-breasted Merganser noted, Plover Scar was unusually void of birds.

And finally, another excellent photograph....

Kestrel. Phil Slade.

....of the female Kestrel. Thanks to BR and PS for the photographs. I use the word every time I post on Birds2blog without fail, and always mean it when it comes to the images I use....Excellent.

The Goldfinch.

Goldfinch. David Cookson



The Goldfinch is a widespread species in Britain, absent only from the highlands and islands of Scotland. The bird appears to have been able to adapt to the changes brought about by agricultural intensification through the 1970' and 80's which led to a reduction of thistle and other weed seeds, but following a struggle for a while it seems to have sought to move into gardens with bird tables and feeding stations.

Earlier in its history the Goldfinch has suffered at the hands of 'bird-catchers' who netted and limed them, their downfall was that they were amongst the most attractive and therefore most popular of cage birds being of such beauty in their plumage. By the end of the 19th century Mitchell claimed they were almost extinct, and by the mid 20th century Oakes claimed the species to be 'by no means common' and went on to state the estimate for the County of Lancashire stood at a mere 10 pairs in 1946. Thankfully the Bird Protection Act of 1954 meant that it was prohibited to be in possession of a wild-caught finch and soon after this the Goldfinch was gathering momentum in numbers and by the 1970's had become a common and widespread species in Lancashire. 

In our recording area of North Lancashire September/October is the best time to see the Goldfinch sometimes in impressive numbers, for example my records at Conder Green show up to 400 seen on 22 September 2008, up to 300 seen on 14/24 September 2009, and up to 220 on 21 September 2010, with a similar number again on 2 October. The Goldfinch is hardly affected by harsh winters and these birds at Conder Green were possibly on their way south to the Mediterranean region where up to 80% of the population winter. 

When there are so many bird species in decline, it is always a pleasure to hear the sound of the cheerful notes of the beautiful Goldfinch which can be enjoyed much more frequently than any other of our 'finches'.

Clement. Courtesy of BTO.

There are two Cuckoos now in Africa, they are in the middle of the Sahara Desert the crossing of which is one of the major sources of mortality for many migrant birds. Of the five birds tagged Lyster is the only Cuckoo left in Britain and remains in Norfolk, but an update on all five birds is/was expected sometime today. Be prepared to be amazed and take a look at whats happening on the 'Cuckoo Scene' including news on the Two in Africa 

Never a dull moment!

Sand Leek. Pete Woodruff.

If I can be excused I'd like to start this post with a commemoration to my good friend and mentor John Leedal. Perhaps its becoming a little too regular that I mention JL on Birdsblog, but just this once again because of my finding the Sand Leek Allium scorodoprasum at Witherslack yesterday after a period of probably 12-15 years since JL and I first found it here, a few days after which it was cut down to which - as I recall - JL 'went to town' on the appropriate authorities responsible for the crime. So as I drove up to the corner yesterday were it was found all those years ago it was quite a nostalgic moment for me as you will appreciate when I saw it there as a memento to JL. I would welcome anyone who thinks my claims are inaccurate about this plants status and distribution which is confined to the North of England and Scotland and not too common. 

With BT we first went to Foulshaw Moss which didn't produce the hoped for Hobby or Osprey. However, I did find to my pleasure a male and juvenile Stonechat which showed distantly and briefly as viewed opposite the parking area here, but despite a thorough and closer search of the area wasn't seen again. Also of note were a few fly-overs of Lesser Redpoll and Siskin, the latter of which three females gave good views feeding, a Great-spotted Woodpecker was also seen in flight, good numbers of Swallow were feeding over the moss with House Martin and Swift seen, two Red Deer appeared one of which was a pure white albino and is possibly the same individual we saw here last year. I think we needed to be on the 'hunt' for dragonflies to collect some comprehensive records but one or two Emperor Dragonfly, a 'few' Four-spotted Chaser, and Blue-tailed Damselflies were noted. A brief visit to Latterbarrow gave us c.25 Meadow Brown butterflies and little else posing the serious question....what is the general status of the butterfly in the UK in 2011?....must do some reading up on this. 

Silver-washed Fritillary. Steven Cheshire



A visit to Witherslack gave some recompense for NO butterflies seen at Foulshaw Moss - to the exclusion of a very few 'whites' - when at least 4 Silver-washed Fritillary were seen with a Dark-green Fritillary, 5 Small Skipper, and 2 Comma all noted. Birds were represented by a nice sighting of the very localised Marsh Tit, and three Peregrine Falcon over Whitbarrow were seen initially in some sort of altercation.

A decent and enjoyable day with BT, though the title of the post isn't quite accurate....but reasonably so!

And finally....

Adder. David Cookson.

A couple of non-bird 'Cookson Crackers' with the excellent image of the Adder and....

Fox. David Cookson.

An equally excellent portrait of the Fox, a creature persecuted as much as many other forms of wildlife and more than most. Thanks for these....much appreciated DC 

The Irresistible Blog!

Well....I can't resist posting this evening for one or two reasons and a pic. The reasons not least of which is the excellent and intriguing news about a Cuckoo having reached Africa much sooner than anybody ever thought they did, having left the UK sooner than anybody ever thought they did too. This bird is now apparently on the northern slope of the Atlas Mountains in the Sidi-bel-Abbes region of north western Algeria having migrated via Spain, something else nobody ever thought they did, of course I'm talking about....CLEMENT THE CUCKOO

Heath Fritillary. Paul The Tortoise Man

OK....The photograph is an excellent one of the Heath Fritillary with thanks to Paul, but a Large Tortoiseshell has been found today on the Scilly Isles. The Large Tortoiseshell is officially extinct in Britain, though previously seen in the largest concentrations in the south and eastern England, it has never been recorded in Ireland.

And finally....

Take heart once again all ye who have suffered at the hands of a mis-ID....Oh come on, we all suffer at the hands of mis-ID, I certainly have and probably will do so again. A Greater Yellowlegs reported yesterday in N'hants has turned out to have been a Greenshank....Whoops!!