Disaster...Well A Bit Of One!

I called the visit to Harrisend, Hawthornthwaite and deeper into Bowland a disaster, but I have to say that is a bit of an exaggeration, perhaps a disappointment would be more appropriate. But a few hours birding without the sight of a single Stonechat, did tempt me to call it a disaster.

I've not been on these two fells since 18 October, when I found a total of 15 Stonechat. Since then these birds have retreated to the lowlands, mainly on the Fylde coast, including Cockersand where a peak count of 8 Stonechat was made recently as the best ever winter count here. 

I was in the good company of Martin Jump on Thursday, and 2.5 hour on Harrisend has to be labelled a disappointment, but not totally....it never is.

Roe Deer Harrisend. Martin Jump.

Two Roe Deer seen at a range of 80 metres had to take top spot on the visit, they were seen 30 minutes later bounding off in the opposite direction and away from us. Also seen, 2 Raven, 2 Red Grouse, and 3 Buzzard. On Hawthornthwaite, Buzzard and Red Grouse were the only sightings. Martin took note of at least 8 Wren heard on the day.

Star Jelly.

Lets be honest, a frog has to take credit for a first and interesting record made on Hawthornthwaite Fell on Thursday.

Star Jelly. Pete Woodruff.

Void of anything scientific, or the folklore of which there is much surrounding it, here's the simple explanation and the most plausible theory of what we found on moorland on Thursday....This is frog spawn and reproductive organs, regurgitated by a predator that has taken and eaten a frog. On contact with water the mucus jelly has expanded in the stomach and the predator has vomited, leaving a perfect example of Star Jelly.

Black Redstart/Bullfinch/Little Owl.

Black Redstart Cockersand 26 January. Ian Mitchell.

Thanks to Ian for the excellent image of the long staying Back Redstart at Cockersand, and to Colin for reporting another brilliant record of 2 Bullfinch he saw on Rigg Lane on Friday, these follow my record of 2 Bullfinch seen on Rigg Lane on 24 October last year. Thanks also to Martin who found a Little Owl as he drove toward Oakenclough on Thursday late afternoon, seen as a scarce and declining breeding bird in our area.

Thanks also to Ian Mitchell for the brilliant header image of the Golden Plover at Cockersand....Note the stunning plumage detail. 

A Little Soggy In The End!

I went off to do some wandering around the Lune Estuary yesterday, based on the false hope that the weather would clear as the day progressed but didn't, by 2.30pm I was a little soggy. 

Conder Pool was as miserable as the weather with just two species and 35 birds present, seen as 3 Little Grebe and 32 Mallard. It was a different story on Jeremy Lane, in a field at the north end I found in excess of 3,000 birds, the bulk of which was up to 2,500 Lapwing, with 120 Whooper Swan, 12 Pink-footed Geese, 250 Greylag, and 30 Canada Geese, also small numbers of Redshank, Dunlin, Curlew, and the best bird a Ruff. On the canal basin at Glasson Dock, 9 Goldeneye were all drake save one.

I almost abandoned the day at Cockersand but pleased I didn't, as I got out of the motor, at least 4,000 Pink-footed Geese were heard then seen distant coming down on to Cockerham Sands west of the Cocker Channel, the tide put up 3 Snipe off the marsh. It was relatively quiet on Plover Scar, with 120 Oystercatcher, 20 Turnstone, 6 Dunlin, and 3 Grey Plover.

By the time I went through the kissing gate at the abbey, the mist was thicker with light drizzle and anything but pleasant, but I was soon rewarded by the Black Redstart on the shore south of the abbey. The bird was busy and never still, it covers a lengthy area between Lighthouse Cottage and the Caravan Park and has done so for over four weeks. 

There are still at least 300 Whooper Swan located in three fields around Cockersand. In the area around the caravan park I found 17 Reed Bunting, this was a first for me, having never seen a flock of this number before, also 2 Song Thrush and 2 Kestrel.

Stonechat Cockersand 24 January. Pete Woodruff

Five Stonechat seen today, the first on Moss Lane fence posts on the east side of Abbey Farm, a pair on Slack Lane, and a pair foraging the marsh in front of Lower Bank House, from where I saw the ringtail Hen Harrier giving excellent views quartering the marsh.  

Better Late Than Never....Part 3.

Apologies for the title, I know it's becoming a little boring and repetitive, but apart from the fact it has been another week since I got some birding done, it saves me scratching my head for another one, and in any case, if I'd have known what was in store for me when I finally did get out again on Friday, I'd never have coped with the excitement....after all I always was easily pleased!

Even if the footage is a bit of jelly on a plate stuff, the Chiffchaff at Conder Pool - although busy and difficult to keep up to - was a delight out in the open and at close range. 

Kingfisher Conder Pool. Pete Woodruff.

Also on the pool, a Kingfisher came on to the outlet for around 5 secs, looked at me behind the viewing screen and promptly flew off, also a lone Little Grebe to note. A drake Pochard is only the second one I have seen on Conder Pool, and seen as nothing better than a rare breeder and declining winter visitor in the Leighton Moss area and Pine Lake, scarce anywhere else. Todays drake Pochard was probably the canal basin individual of late having a trip out.

Lune Estuary Looking To Clougha And The Bowland Fells. Pete Woodruff.

With too much water at near high tide, I collect just a few notes on the Lune Estuary at Glasson. At least 700 Dunlin is a best and low personal count here this winter, 2 drake Goldeneye, 4 Goosander and 3 Little Grebe, 50 Pink-footed Geese were on Colloway Marsh, almost certainly more out of view.

At Cockersand, up to 220 Curlew and a even mix of up to 100 Redwing and Fieldfare in the same field, 14 Greenfinch, 5 Wren and a Song Thrush. Three small groups totaling 12 Snipe, up off the marsh and calling in flight sounding like a muffled sneeze.

Six Stonechat seen today at Cockersand, these two were on the spoil heaps, a pair on Slack Lane by Lighthouse Cottage, and a pair in the rough field by Bank Houses, from where I saw a ringtail Hen Harrier, and later saw it on a return flight but was obstructed by the hedgerow for good views.

As I rounded the path at Lighthouse Cottage, a female Merlin shot by me a little more than a foot above the marsh. AC who I met later confirmed he had seen the bird 15 minutes after me, and had excellent views as it perched on a telegraph pole along Slack Lane.

I had good views of the Black Redstart along the shore south of the abbey, a stunning little bird in some excellent sunlight, and from where up to 300 Whooper Swan could be seen mainly inaccessible at Thursland Hill, but including c.50 on a drive past at the Thurnham end of Moss Lane.

Garden Birds.

The birds served us well yesterday when a male Blackcap spent a little time on the feeders, then one hour later a Chiffchaff made the day by searching the plants for insects a metre outside the patio window. This bird/another visited us on 20 September 2022.

And Finally.

I received some excellent images of an Otter seen this week for which I was truly grateful, it was seen in the east of our area. I also had a good count of 15 Brown Hare during the week at an undisclosed location.

Otter 19 January. Copy Permitted.

With six Stonechat at Cockersand and much more, a bit of birding magic for me on Friday....What next I ask myself!

Better Late Than Never....Part 2.

Another week has gone by before I got only my second days birding for 2023, but having failed to carry out the plan to do a wander around Cockersand - wind and rain put paid to that idea - I did locate a pair of Stonechat on their winter favoured pitch in the rough field behind Bank Houses, so good enough to compensate my early retirement.

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson, there was a relatively small gathering of waders on the south side including a Ruff with uncounted Bar-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Knot, Lapwing and Curlew. A drake Red-breasted Merganser isn't to be as regarded regular here, with 4 Goosander and up to 250 Wigeon.

I have no idea where the Golden Plover are/have been on the Lune Estuary so far this winter. My personal best count was at Braides 31 October, when I saw 1,500 birds, and other best counts I can find on the Lune Estuary, didn't quite match this number.

Two Greenshank can be seen on the left through the gloom on Conder Pool with 5 Goosander, also a Little Grebe, and 52 Mallard was the best count in some time here. In the creeks, c,150 Teal and 2 Little Grebe.

Greylag Geese/Whooper Swans. Howard Stockdale.

Howard sent me the image of a Greylag he found recently, I also found one last Friday in the same field. Howards bird was marked HVX, whilst mine was HVK. When I received this image I had thought perhaps I had made an error in the reading - X misread as K - but on making enquiries with Howard I understand HVK had also been seen in the area recently. Both the geese had been ringed age 4 years, at Millerground, Windermere, 26 June 2022.

Brilliant Brents.

Across The Bay

I could think of nothing better this afternoon, than a walk along the promenade to Heysham to find 48 Brent Geese off the children's play area.

Better Late Than Never.

It took until 6 January to get my birding off the ground, and not much pen and paper needed to write up my records when I did. Most of the time on Friday was spent chasing chats and a start, but it was all good stuff in the end.

On Jeremy Lane 2 Bewick's Swan, with a Whooper Swan and a Greylag, they were taking advantage of a flood with 225 Greylag in the same field. At Cockersand 4 Stonechat, seen as a male and female in the Lighthouse Cottage area, and a male and female in the rough field behind Bank Houses.

Black Redstart.

I had met a local birder on Moss Lane on my way to Cockersand, he'd had a negative result with the Black Redstart which has been present here a few days now since the later days of December. During my time at Cockersand, I met five other chat hunters who all had negative results. 

Having had to sit out a heavy 30 minute squall in the car, I set off on the circuit hopeful for something more positive than the unsuccessful six.

As I went through the kissing gate at Cockersand Abbey, constantly peering down to the shore as I walked along the headland, a bird took my eye. I'm thinking is this what I'm looking for....Yes, it was a Black Redstart.

It took me 30 minutes to reach the caravan park, and as I did a bird flew on to the gatepost in this image, then to the roof, and promptly flew across the road and on to the marsh....Yes, it was a Black Redstart. 

I called AC to tell him I had seen another Black Redstart, he had just left me to go home, but made a U turn on Moss Lane, and on his return soon had views of the bird flying back off the roof and on to the marsh again. AC and myself agreed if it was a second bird, it was a female/1st winter bird as was the one seen off the headland previously on several ocassions.

Realistically, perhaps this sighting at Lower Bank House, was of the same bird I had seen 30 minutes earlier having flown c.1/4 mile, it has been seen here three times in recent days....Maybe time will tell, but unless we get simultaneous sightings we will never know, but in my opinion it is possible there are/have been two Black Redstarts at Cockersand. 

It was a sad sight for me to find this recently deceased 1st winter Kittiwake on the shingle at Cockersand. Unfortunate that such a beautiful bird should only survive little more than six months since hatching.

Also sad that I should find a Whooper Swan close by, and in the same circumstances as the Kittiwake.

Thanks to Paul Ellis for his excellent image of the Black Redstart in my header, the bird was at Knott End on 3 January.

Stonechat Records 2022 Last Quarter.

I succeeded to collate the Stonechat records for 2022 with the quarter October-December completed and no duplicate counts slipping through the net. This quarter sees an impressive 100 records collected, bringing the total of Stonechat records in 2022, to a count of at least 300 individual records.

This last quarter is broken down to 46 records collected from LDBWS, 49 from Fylde Bird Club, and 5 Pete Woodruff. For the purpose of recording, these figures are as passage Stonechat until we get to November, after which they are wintering, or will move south if weather conditions dictate, commonly referred to as 'cold weather movement'.

Breeding Stonechats totaled records from 10 locations in Bowland. Other than my own records, I am grateful to those who reported them to me.

There have been some quite surprising records, in that birds have turned up in some unexpected locations, the best example of which was, 7 Stonechat at Fairhaven Beach on 10 October including 3 juveniles, the latest I have ever seen. On 15 December, 8 Stonechat at Cockersand was the best ever winter count here. With regard to lowland records seen on the FBC sightings page throughout the breeding season, I have no idea which if any are to be seen as birds at breeding sites. In any case, a good number of summer records are at surprising lowland locations.

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To be honest, the best highlights for me in 2022 have been with dragonflies.... 

36 Golden Ringed Dragonfly 16 June - 8 Aug.

112 Migrant Hawker 30 Aug - 28 Sept.

37 Banded Demoiselle 16 June - 4 Aug.

8 Keeled Skimmer 30 June - 13 July.

2 Emerald Damselfly 4 Aug.

51 Gatekeeper with 130 butterflies counted canal Conder Green - Galgate 1 Aug.

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Selected Bird/s Of The Month....All my birds except *

Barn Owl Fell End Farm Hawthornthwaite 20 Jan.

Bullfinch pair Rushy Lee 11 Feb.

Bullfinch (3) Lancaster Cemetery 27 March.

Whinchat Cockersand 25 April.

Redstart Holme Wood 29 April. 

Whinchat Harrisend 29 April.

Ring Ouzel Hawthornthwaite Fell 27 May.

Common Sandpiper (10) Tower Lodge 13 June.

Redstart Marshaw 13 June.

Redstart with juvenile Holme Wood 21 June.

Greenshank (19) Conder Pool 14 Sept.

Little Stint Plover Scar 11 Oct.

Curlew Sandpiper (3) Braides 28 Oct *

Bullfinch (3) Lancaster Cemetery 13 Nov.

Wheatear/Snow Bunting Cockersand 25 Nov.

Purple Sandpiper (2) Morecambe 13 December *

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Take a look at This

Deterrents are in place to stop 270 Kittiwake pairs breeding on Spa Bridge in Scarborough....Please consider contacting North York's County Council and make your voice heard via the link Scarborough Bridge Kittiwakes

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

It was good to see the birds had reclaimed their habitat from the ice during the week following the thaw. Even better news was, at least 400 Whooper Swan have finally set up camp at Cockersand. I had seen the swans as I drove along Moss Lane on my way to Cockersand, but seeing them again 2 hours later as I left, they were seen in fields at Clarkson's and Tomlinson's Farms and Jeremy Lane from where I noted up to 350 Lapwing.  Last Sunday 4 Bewick's Swan were reported (FBC) on Jeremy Lane.

Almost certainly 28 Twite seen on Plover Scar were the same as seen here 25 October and again on 1 December. I found 4 Stonechat, seen as one in the rough field behind Bank Houses, one along Moss Lane, and two around Light House Cottage. Worth noting is the report of 8 Stonechat at Cockersand 15 December (FBC) seen as 3 male and 5 female, the best ever winter count of Stonechat at Cockersand.

Conder Pool 15 December. Pete Woodruff.

It was good to see everywhere around the Lune Estuary had been reclaimed by the birds again, although 2 Goosander were the only birds to note on Conder Pool, with 8 Little Grebe seen in the creeks.

Black-headed Gull.

On 13 December I found a ringed Black-headed Gull at Teal Bay. The bird was ringed AE44 9 years ago at Ellerbeck Shipyard, Kiel, Germany in 2013, and has had seven sightings, five in the UK and two in southwestern Poland. The history of the bird promptly followed my submitting it, for which I am grateful to the ringer Sönke Martens 

The Port of Kiel is one of the most versatile ports in the Baltic region, although this isn't relevant to the question....Why would a Black-headed Gull ringed in Germany in 2013, want or need to fly huge distances to be seen in the UK on five ocassions, and in Poland twice in 2018 and 2020. What's the purpose, it's not strictly related to migration, and AE44 has been observed in six different winter and summer months of the year in the UK and in Europe.

Black-headed Gull 6CY. Pete Woodruff.

Black-headed Gull 6CY was ringed in Denmark the same year of 2013 as AE44. I found this gull 3 times all at Glasson Dock, in Sept 2014, Nov 2017, Jan 2020. This gull also returned to it's natal site in Gentofte, Denmark twice, in March/April 2015, and March 2016. 

Garden Birds.

A male Blackcap in the garden made our day on Thursday, it was with a Wren for bonus.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE

Iceland!

It wasn't the plan when I set out to do my estuary thing on Thursday, but the day soon became one that took account of how some of the birds I found where struggling with the freezing conditions of the past couple of weeks....Thankfully conditions have eased a little now.

The day started with my finally finding one of the Stonechat currently residing at Conder Green, with a bird seen at Conder Pool. 

These 8 Little Grebe - and a passing lorry on the B5290 - were taking advantage of an ice free area in the creeks, though I have to say, these grebes from Conder Pool have usually taken to the ice-free waters of the Lune Estuary by December.

The waders and wildfowl were really struggling with the frozen Conder channel and mud banks, and a small group of Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit together with a Snipe out in the open, appeared to be making futile attempts to find food on the now frozen marsh.

Along Jeremy Lane, up to 40 Whooper Swan of which notably, probably 25% were juvenile, they were with c.50 Mute Swan also desperately prodding at the grass in an attempt to feed....I saw not a single other Whooper Swan at Cockersand today.

At Cockersand, 3 Song Thrush seen, this one was with a Redwing searching the shingle. Also to note on a wander, 4 Stonechat, 9 Meadow Pipit, and 4 Wren.

Of 82 Pink-footed Geese in a field north of Bank Houses, 45 took to the wing to circle before settling again in the field.

This Robin was one of 10 Robin and at least 40 Blackbird I saw on the day at Glasson/Cockersand. I have no idea what it was up to walking around my feet. In the header image, the bird looks in good nick on the old iron railway bridge, but maybe it was on the lookout for a snack. 

For the wrong reasons it was a good days birding for me, though it wasn't good to see the struggling icebound birdlife. I hung around for one of those amazing Cockersand sunsets, to end the day with a mindful moment....Sound On!

The Colour Purple.

The Purple Sandpiper is a mega rarity in our area these days, in fact the last LDBWS Annual Report 2020 reads, 'no records this year for the first time in many years', but the Lancashire Bird Report 2021 reads, 'one at Heysham in August and November, with two on Seaborn Road, Morecambe on 23 November'.

Having seen reports of them recently, I made good use of a couple of hours to spare in Morecambe to make contact with two Purple Sandpiper on the groyne opposite Park Road.

The footage I managed is OK for the record, but isn't all that good in quality for a couple of reasons, the first bird wasn't at all obliging in that it remained at rest in the shadows, despite two Turnstones almost flying into it. In the second section of the video, I miss-judged the target with the camera, but one can be seen in the water at the foot of the groyne, the second bird is in view to the right and above the first.

Purple Sandpiper Morecambe 13 December

The Purple Sandpiper is a scarce winter visitor from Arctic Canada and Norway. I read that in excess of 17,000 of the species that winter in Britain are found overwhelmingly in the Northern Isles, the Outer Hebrides and on the coasts of eastern Scotland and north-east England. In Lancashire it has always been rare....Rehfisch et al 2003

In his book The Birds Of Lancashire first published in 1953, Clifford Oakes wrote  'A regular winter visitor in small or moderate numbers to the shores of Walney Island, scarce and infrequent on the Lune Estuary, rare elsewhere.

There have been only two recoveries of Lancashire-ringed Purple Sandpipers, both informative. At Seaforth a bird ringed in March 1978, was on Hilbre Island at the mouth of the Dee 25km away in September the same year, and a bird ringed at Heysham in April 1977, returned there every winter for 12 years until 1989, the bird actually summered at Heysham in 1987....The Birds of Lancashire and North Merseyside 2008

The Purple Sandpiper yesterday made my total of just four records in the little black book in 150 years of birding!!   

Finching It Again!....Episode 5.

It was to say the least exciting to have my fifth sighting of Bullfinch again in Lancaster Cemetery this week.

This sighting was particularly interesting in that, not only are these excellent records for the location, but the Bullfinch is known to be a shy bird, and doesn't usually show itself on the ground, hardly ever feeding more than a few metres from cover. I'm more acquainted to seeing the Bullfinch extracting seeds from fruit on trees or bushes, small seed-heads and fruits are removed when fallen to the ground which is what was going on here. 

The ground feeding Bullfinch was certainly a first for me, with both male and female collecting seeds found on the grave and surroundings having fallen from the tree which is as yet unidentified beyond it being of the genus Sorbus....Probably Sorbus aucuparia

Fieldfare. Ian Mitchell.

Also in the cemetery a lone Redwing, briefly atop of a tree before flying off. It joins its lone cousin the Fieldfare which I saw at Cockersand 1 December, being the only two winter thrushes I've seen this winter to date.

Williamson's Park.

Birds of note as I wandered through the park, 2 Song Thrush took top spot for me, Mistle Thrush, a Jay, Nuthatch, Goldcrest, Wren, a few Wood Pigeon, at least 20 Blackbird, and a similar number of Magpie. To note at the feeding station, up to 5 Dunnock and 5 Coal Tit.

Ashton Memorial. Pete Woodruff.

There there was some attractive colours on the fallen ice covered leaves of the Canadian Maple in Williamson's Park.

Community Spirit.

The Robin putting in an appearance, the Blackbird having a go at the apple, and the Starling and House Sparrows, all showing a little harmony in the garden.

Many thanks to Steve Graham for the header image of four of the eight Caton Moor wind turbines with heads above the mist to create an atmospheric scene, along with the excellent record of 3 Stonechat reported to me whilst up there.

And Finally.

Yes, another Stonechat image....Well what do you expect, this is B2B, and this is a 1st winter male Stonechat at Conder Pool. Classic the bird, excellent the image, thanks to Howard Stockdale.