Buzzard with a bit of carrion in the grass!
Buzzard number two!
Buzzard number four - noisy bird!
Buzzards number one and three
Whimbrel, Morecambe
Note the size difference between Whimbrel and Curlew
Red-breasted Merganser, Morecambe
Mediterranean Gull, Teal Bay
Curlew, Morecambe
Bar-tailed Godwits, Morecambe
Yellowhammer, Waterworks Lane, Winwick
Juvenile Common Whitethroat, Inner Marsh Farm
Peacock around the van, Crook O'Lune HP
Osprey, Leighton Moss
The feeders next to the van
xxxxx Thursday morning I had a quick visit with Billy to HGF before Bill then spent all day in a specialist veterinary hospital undergoing virtually every test on dogs known to science. Anyway at HGF the four Black-necked Grebes were still present and 2 Common Sandpipers round the shore. A Buzzard also flew over the pool in the rain. Early afternoon I visited Risley Moss to while away the time until I could pick Bill up. The first summer male Hobby was present on its perch – not much else about though. I was a bit restless and soon became bored so I decamped to Inner Marsh Farm as this was only 15 mins from the vets.
Xxxx
On arrival at IMF, the volunteer warden told me that a birder had reported hearing a Wood Sandpiper a short time earlier. On my way down the hill I scanned the pools in the hope that I might pick up the bird. On one of the back pools I spotted a Green Sandpiper preening and then on the pool behind that one three waders asleep in a row with the two outer birds clearly Green Sandpipers. The middle bird however was smaller and appeared to be more slender and was a brownish colour. I decided to focus on this bird just as a birder appeared up the hill asking if I had seen a Wood Sand. This was the guy who had heard one calling earlier. I pointed out the bird I was watching and as it woke up and began to move around it became clear it was indeed a Wood Sandpiper. A bloody long way off though!
Xxxxx
Down from the hide where a small flock of Black-tailed Godwits, many in stunning summer plumage. A Ruff was also here and to the right of the hide another Green Sandpiper was feeding along the shore. On the way back up the hill the field was full of finches flitting around and a few Whitethroats. A Green Woodpecker was also calling. Thursday evening after rescuing Bill I made a quick trip to Rixton. The adult and two juvenile Redshanks were on pool one and an adult Little Ringed Plover on pool two. Otherwise quiet. The Little Owl on the barn opposite Chapel Lane was being scolded by a female Blackbird – on Lady Lane an adult Little Owl was perched on a telegraph pole.
Xxxxx
Friday morning and the four Black-necked Grebes were still present and correct on HGF. A single Common Sandpiper was there and a Sand Martin was feeding over the water – the first in a while and perhaps a sign of return migration. Around 150 Swifts were also feeding over the fields west of the pool. A quick side trip to Newton confirmed that the three Green Sandpipers were feeding on the mud flat at the back of Newton Lake. With Bill coming round a bit I headed back north to Caton.
Xxxx
Friday afternoon we didn’t move from the van, however entertainment was provided by four Buzzards. Pure speculation but based on behaviour I guess there was an adult and three juveniles which spent all afternoon and evening in the field behind the van. One of the meadows had been cut and the presumed female kept finding bits of dead stuff – various parts of anatomy which I guess could have been minced rabbit. The three juvs perched on nearby posts or other perches and called for food – one in particular was very noisy. A female Siskin was on the feeders today, as was a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Two Tawny Owls were calling in the early hours.
Xxxxx
Saturday morning I had a wander over to Heysham. Three Eiders and a Turnstone were all I got for my troubles. I then proceeded up along Morecambe front as the tide came in. Two Whimbrels were spotted somewhere near Broadway Groyne and at least 72 Eiders were picked up in various places. Oodles of Redshanks and Curlews. At Teal Bay around 22 Bar-tailed Godwits were joined by 6 Black-tailed Godwits with quite a few Dunlin and a single Knot. Eventually a Med Gull drifted over and plonked itself on the beach past the sports centre. I walked over to view it whereupon the Med drifted back to the car park which I had just left! Another Whimbrel (or perhaps one of the earlier birds) flew over calling and dropped in past the sports centre. A single Red-breasted Merganser was also in Teal Bay. On the feeders today were three Siskins, 2 Coal Tits and a GSW. I suspect the numbers of birds visiting the feeders are quite considerable – at any time during the day there seemed to be at least 20 birds on or around them.
Xxxxx
Sunday morning I took Bill for a quick mooch on the Lune past Bull Beck. A Common Sandpiper and two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers were on the pebble stretch while nearby a Garden Warbler sang very briefly, as did a Whitethroat. I then drifted off to Leighton Moss. I decided to park up on the road above the reserve, set up my scope and almost on cue an Osprey flew in and perched in the dead tree. I spent a nice while chatting with a guy called Colin Nash and watching the Osprey. Twice it flew off on hunting circuits and returned empty taloned. I suspect the wind was disturbing the surface and making it harder to see fish. A juvenile Marsh Harrier drifted around – also seen were a Buzzard, a Green Woodpecker, two GSW’s and a Raven. Oh and we watched a spectacle which made our week – will publish these photos separately!!! By the van today two Siskins were on the feeders plus the Coal Tits and a juvenile GSW. A Peacock also paid a visit, foraging on the spilled seed.
Xxxx
On arrival at IMF, the volunteer warden told me that a birder had reported hearing a Wood Sandpiper a short time earlier. On my way down the hill I scanned the pools in the hope that I might pick up the bird. On one of the back pools I spotted a Green Sandpiper preening and then on the pool behind that one three waders asleep in a row with the two outer birds clearly Green Sandpipers. The middle bird however was smaller and appeared to be more slender and was a brownish colour. I decided to focus on this bird just as a birder appeared up the hill asking if I had seen a Wood Sand. This was the guy who had heard one calling earlier. I pointed out the bird I was watching and as it woke up and began to move around it became clear it was indeed a Wood Sandpiper. A bloody long way off though!
Xxxxx
Down from the hide where a small flock of Black-tailed Godwits, many in stunning summer plumage. A Ruff was also here and to the right of the hide another Green Sandpiper was feeding along the shore. On the way back up the hill the field was full of finches flitting around and a few Whitethroats. A Green Woodpecker was also calling. Thursday evening after rescuing Bill I made a quick trip to Rixton. The adult and two juvenile Redshanks were on pool one and an adult Little Ringed Plover on pool two. Otherwise quiet. The Little Owl on the barn opposite Chapel Lane was being scolded by a female Blackbird – on Lady Lane an adult Little Owl was perched on a telegraph pole.
Xxxxx
Friday morning and the four Black-necked Grebes were still present and correct on HGF. A single Common Sandpiper was there and a Sand Martin was feeding over the water – the first in a while and perhaps a sign of return migration. Around 150 Swifts were also feeding over the fields west of the pool. A quick side trip to Newton confirmed that the three Green Sandpipers were feeding on the mud flat at the back of Newton Lake. With Bill coming round a bit I headed back north to Caton.
Xxxx
Friday afternoon we didn’t move from the van, however entertainment was provided by four Buzzards. Pure speculation but based on behaviour I guess there was an adult and three juveniles which spent all afternoon and evening in the field behind the van. One of the meadows had been cut and the presumed female kept finding bits of dead stuff – various parts of anatomy which I guess could have been minced rabbit. The three juvs perched on nearby posts or other perches and called for food – one in particular was very noisy. A female Siskin was on the feeders today, as was a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Two Tawny Owls were calling in the early hours.
Xxxxx
Saturday morning I had a wander over to Heysham. Three Eiders and a Turnstone were all I got for my troubles. I then proceeded up along Morecambe front as the tide came in. Two Whimbrels were spotted somewhere near Broadway Groyne and at least 72 Eiders were picked up in various places. Oodles of Redshanks and Curlews. At Teal Bay around 22 Bar-tailed Godwits were joined by 6 Black-tailed Godwits with quite a few Dunlin and a single Knot. Eventually a Med Gull drifted over and plonked itself on the beach past the sports centre. I walked over to view it whereupon the Med drifted back to the car park which I had just left! Another Whimbrel (or perhaps one of the earlier birds) flew over calling and dropped in past the sports centre. A single Red-breasted Merganser was also in Teal Bay. On the feeders today were three Siskins, 2 Coal Tits and a GSW. I suspect the numbers of birds visiting the feeders are quite considerable – at any time during the day there seemed to be at least 20 birds on or around them.
Xxxxx
Sunday morning I took Bill for a quick mooch on the Lune past Bull Beck. A Common Sandpiper and two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers were on the pebble stretch while nearby a Garden Warbler sang very briefly, as did a Whitethroat. I then drifted off to Leighton Moss. I decided to park up on the road above the reserve, set up my scope and almost on cue an Osprey flew in and perched in the dead tree. I spent a nice while chatting with a guy called Colin Nash and watching the Osprey. Twice it flew off on hunting circuits and returned empty taloned. I suspect the wind was disturbing the surface and making it harder to see fish. A juvenile Marsh Harrier drifted around – also seen were a Buzzard, a Green Woodpecker, two GSW’s and a Raven. Oh and we watched a spectacle which made our week – will publish these photos separately!!! By the van today two Siskins were on the feeders plus the Coal Tits and a juvenile GSW. A Peacock also paid a visit, foraging on the spilled seed.
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