Third juvenile tern

Photos:

Yellowhammer, Barrow Lane, Newton-Le-Willows

Three juvenile Common Terns, Rixton

29th July

Called in at Moat Lane pools on my way home from Brum this evening. Amazingly a third juvenile tern has now appeared and there is a significant age gap between oldest and youngest. The latter is tending to keep around the blind side of the island and well away from its two siblings.

A very interesting bit of behaviour occurred soon after I arrived. Both parents were loitering on mud bars when a third adult tern carrying a fish appeared. The parents flew up and all three flew round and round with plenty of noise but no real aggression on the part of the parents. The newcomer landed on one of the islands (followed by the parents) and was then permitted to feed one of the chicks with the fish! Said bird then flew off only to appear again five minutes later and all three adults flew off in a leisurely formation. Is this one of last year’s youngsters or a bird that has recently lost its young? I was surprised by the attitude of the parents of the chicks towards it. A Kestrel flew over the pool and was duly hassled.

A Snipe was on pool 1 when I arrived and later I heard a Common Sandpiper calling from the tip pool on Prospect Lane. There were over 200 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the tip. A Red-legged Partridge and a couple of Kestrels (one with prey) were further down on Hollybush Lane. A late Oystercatcher flew over Prospect Lane.

Took Bill down Barrow Lane late evening. It seemed eerily quiet for a while with only a Grey Heron showing. By the time I reached the bollards, other birds started to appear including a Corn Bunting, a Skylark and 3 Yellow Wagtails. A flock of around 20 Reed Buntings were in the far edge of the oat field. The Quail had been singing in the oat field by the bollards – it seemed to follow me and while I stood on the mound for around 20 minutes it stayed in the field opposite singing. When I walked back down the lane, the Quail again seemed to follow on a parallel course again and stayed that way right up to Parkside Farm. It was a bit weird to be honest and I constantly questioned what the Quail was up to. My only suggestion is that the strap for my scope makes a bit of a squeaking sound when it swings as I walk – maybe the Quail is somehow attracted to this noise? A Buzzard flew over the lane too.

30th July

Up t the van this weekend. Kestrel, Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker around the van. I didn’t do any real birding today – a quick scan of the mud flats at Glasson late afternoon was about it. The light was awful with the sun shining in my eyes. Lots of waders – I estimate 350+ Knot, 170+ Golden Plover and 120+ Bar-tailed Godwit. Five Common Sandpipers were in Conder Creek.

31st July

Set off this morning to the dales – probably not my best idea. The weather over there was poor – low cloud, misty and surprisingly cold. On the way out of Ingleton towards Hawes there was a mile or so stretch of road where loads of birds lined the fences and hedges. Mainly Meadow Pipits and Chaffinches with quite a few Wheatears too. Clearly birds on the move.

When I arrived at the buttertubs I found the place very quiet and a bit eerie. Eventually I heard a Ring Ouzel calling but never saw it. Just one Wheatear was present although there were plenty of Meadow Pipits plus a couple of Kestrels and a Raven. A bit disappointing.

Next I traveled up to Tan Hill. I stopped to look for Black Grouse and found the farmer busy mowing his fields. This probably helped as I picked up four Black Grouse ( 3 cocks and a hen) which had gone into the furthest corner of the field to get out of the way.

On the moors around tan Hill were numerous Red Grouse families – I counted over 40 birds along the short stretch past the inn and a similar number of Arkengarthdale Moor. The moors were noticeable though in the lack of anything else other than Meadow Pipits – no Wheatears and no waders. Migration definitely has kicked in.

Mid afternoon, back in Caton, I nipped over to Bull Beck. In contrast to last week when the bank was covered in geese and the week before when it was covered in gulls, today it was largely empty. A couple of Common Sandpipers and three Little Ringed Plovers (adult and two juveniles) were the only birds of interest. Just one single Sand Martin was left at the colony – I watched it for a while repeatedly visiting the nest site with food. From the frequency of visits I would have guessed it was feeding young – no sign of a mate though!

Home this evening and three Kestrels were seen from Highfield Lane. One was off to the NW and flew towards the farm – clearly one of the Waterworks Lane pair. The other two were on the pylon and flew off towards HGF so probably the Midhops birds. A pair of Grey Partridges flushed from a newly mown field and another pair with seven young were in the opposite field.

Tonight a Tawny Owl was calling somewhere around Waterworks Lane.

Watching terns

Photos:

Common Terns, Rixton

25th July

A Common Sandpiper was present on HGF early doors – everything else pretty much as was.

Nipped to Moat Lane pool after work and watched the terns for an hour or so. The juvenile was mooching by the edge of the little island it inhabits – the adults mobbed a Buzzard and then a Kestrel in quick succession, both of which had the temerity to fly over the pool. Interestingly the terns don’t bother much with me – they simply fly over when I first arrive, make a bit of noise and then largely ignore me.

Late evening and a fruitful stroll down Barrow Lane with Bill. Plenty of birds in the hedges with 31 Tree Sparrows and 11 Corn Buntings plus at least 7 Yellow Wagtails in the spud patch. The Quail was singing opposite the mound and when I left and walked back, it followed a parallel course, singing all the while. I nipped ahead a couple of times trying to predict its movements and managed a couple of very brief glimpses as the bird crossed tracks left by tractor tyres!

26th July

Two Common Sandpipers at HGF this morning and a couple of Kestrels on the wires by the kennels. No sign of any falcons around the barn or the nest box for a bit now.

On my way home from work I dropped in at Newton Lake – a couple of Gadwalls and a Green Sandpiper were present.

Later on I visited Moat Lane pools again. Interestingly, after only seeing one juvenile on all my recent visits, two juveniles were present tonight. There seems to be a clear gap between them in terms of development (maybe 1 or 2 days). A Grey Heron made the mistake of flying over the pool and received the full wrath of the adults!

27th July

A single Common Sandpiper was at HGF this morning during a very brief visit. No birding for the rest of the day.

28th July

Currently in Brum again most days and no birding at all today due to heavy work pressures. Am now starting to sweat and fell light-headed – also hallucinating. Nearly two full days with no birding…..

Photos:

Various butterflies in the garden (the Buddleia having an effect) with Large White, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Comma and Peacock

Mediterranean Gull, Morecambe

Greenshank and Spotted Redshank, Leighton Moss

Tern chick on Moat Lane pools

July 20th

Coal Tit in the garden today. Later on I noticed an accumulation of Maggies in the large Ash tree – when I went out into the garden to see what they were doing, a Sparrowhawk flew out of the tree. Interestingly the garden was full of birds at that time and nothing else appeared to have seen the hawk or reacted to the Maggies cracking up.

After work I went to Moat Lane. A Buzzard flew over pool 1 and was hounded by one the adult terns. I then wandered over to pool 3 which I have never visited before. I had thought this one was impossible to access but not so. When I arrived there a Green Sandpiper flew off – I suspect this is where the little blighters skulk when the other pools are disturbed. Not much else about here – a Jay and a warbler which flitted briefly into sight and reminded me of Cetti’s Warbler. Completely wrong habitat though and probably a young bird of some variety.

I then went to look at the pool on Colliers landfill site. Two more sleeping Green Sandpipers on here plus the Mute Swan family and the world’s supply of Coots. A Sparrowhawk flew around the tip on Moat Lane. On the way up Hollybush Lane I noticed a pair of Grey Partridges with a single small youngster. A Brown Hare suddenly appeared, spooked when it saw me and ran straight at the partridges, scattering them. I also found another pair with five youngsters further up and a single bird popping into the wheat field just where I spotted the covey of 9 yesterday.

Late evening I walked Bill down Barrow Lane. He still falls over every so often and the look on his face is a picture – he clearly has no idea how this is happening. Fortunately he landed in patches of wheat which cushion his fall. The Quail was singing in the middle of the oat field, three Corn Buntings were singing and at least 14 Yellow Wagtails were flitting around the potato patch. Good views from the top of the mound – you can see a long way from here.

21st July

No birding today.

22nd July.

The long-sitting pair of Great Crested Grebes has abandoned their nest at HGF. The nest was flattened today and no sign of any young. I now suspect the flattening of nests is down to Coots resting on it when the grebes leave. A couple of Pochards were present plus 2 Kestrels hovering together over the east side – probably a juvenile copying its parent.

23rd July

HGF early morning produced 2 Common Sandpipers. Three Kestrels were present – two perched on wires near the kennels and a juvenile on the barn roof. Around 35 Swifts were feeding over the pool and the highest count of Great Crested Grebes with 27 birds present. It is very noticeable that these grebes like this shallow water – they had much lower numbers when the pool was a lot deeper. Conversely the Little and Black-necked Grebes don’t seem to like this place when it is shallow water or maybe the disturbance is driving them off or both?

Late afternoon, having headed north for the weekend, I wandered over to the Morecambe groynes just after high tide. The highlight was an adult Med Gull on the beach nr Broadway. A Whimbrel was present on the groyne here. At Teal Bay a flock of 35+ Eiders was swimming away (mostly sub-adults) and there was a sprinkling of Knot (some in breeding plumage) and Bar-tailed Godwits.

A Nuthatch was hanging around the van today.

24th July

Set off for Bull Beck this morning. The pebble bank in the middle of the river was covered in geese – 276 Greylags plus some Canadas and some Heinz 57’s. Five Common Sandpipers were also present, 5 Coal Tits and a Treecreeper were in the nearby trees. Only around 10 Sand Martins were left at the colony.

I then headed off to Barbondale, arriving late morning to find the placed rammed on a sunny Sunday. Consequently most of the birds kept high up on the hillside, out of the way. The first good bird was a Spotted Flycatcher which was feeding from a tree near the first gate. Other birds seen included;

2 Buzzards (one landed on the hillside and suffered repeated swooping by a Kestrel)
2 Kestrels
2 Ravens
1 Whinchat (male)
10 Wheatears
2 Redstarts (juveniles)
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Dipper
1 Garden Warbler
1 Blackcap
9 Willow Warblers

It was an enjoyable couple of hours just ambling around in the sun and watching the scenery and the birds. On the way home a Lancaster bomber flew overhead near Hornby.

Late afternoon I headed to Leighton Moss. The sun didn’t help at Morecambe pool but there were plenty of waders present. A Peregrine doing a high-speed dash through spooked everything at one point. Highlights here were 2 Spotted Redshanks, 10 Greenshanks, 278 Redshanks (bored again) plus 3 Little Egrets and 91 Dunlin.

Routine bits and bats

Photos:

Roadkill Sparrowhawk at HGF

Kestrel at HGF

Common Tern chick at Moat Lane pools

Sparrowhawk being mobbed by adult tern at Moat Lane

15th July

Bill continues to improve. He can almost walk straight now for short distances but still has to be hand fed – he cannot match the orientation of his head to the position of his dog bowl.

Got an e-mail from Jonathan about a Channel Wag at Barrow Lane so I headed over there for a look late morning. The male Channel Wag was at the far end but remained distant. I found a male Channel Wagtail two years ago at HGF which paired up with a flavissima female. It stayed there for a couple of weeks and then disappeared – I wonder if this is the same bird or perhaps an offspring?

It’s difficult to assess the number of Yellow Wags here but I estimate there are at least three nests. The Quail sang briefly nr the back of Oven Back farm and a single Grey Partridge exploded out of the potato patch just a few feet away and made me jump! I later saw a covey of ten running down the hedge side to the south.

Early afternoon I popped round to HGF. Two adult Black-necked Grebes were in residence as were all six Kestrels with mum and dad hunting while the juveniles perched on the end of the barn. The adults arrived back simultaneously with prey and the youngsters immediately split with two birds chasing each parent! An adult Little Grebe and a Ringed Plover were also there. A third Great Crested Grebe is now incubating – the pair which had tried to nest on the SE corner of the pool have rebuilt. Of the other two pairs, one started incubating on 19th June and the pair which failed earlier restarted on 28th June.

I spotted three lads in there late teens ferreting the bank at HGF so I headed over to talk to them. I commented on the old saying about only ferret when there is an R in the month. One confessed he had heard that, then said there were no young rabbits in this bank before contradicting himself when he justified rabbiting at this time of year by saying that rabbits breed all through the winter. I argued with them until I was blue in the face but each time there was a different excuse – trying out a new lurcher, followed by trying out a new ferret….I left them wondering where their ferret had got to. F***ing tossers!

Next I nipped over to Rixton. Just as I pulled in at the top end of Holly Bush Lane I saw a falcon dash over the fields to the east. My immediate impression was Hobby, however when grabbing the bins the strap caught around the camera and snagged. By the time I freed it the falcon had gone. I did spot a Yellow Wagtail there which looped over to the lane and then flew into the fields over the other side of the A57. Around 100 Swifts were feeding over the fields.

At Moat Lane pools I found Mute Swan JP4 is now alone. Perhaps the 2cy bird which has stayed with him for several months didn’t like the jet skiers? Both Common Terns were present and mobbed me – they went bananas when a male Sparrowhawk flew over the pool. Scanning the island I eventually found one tern chick which looked in good condition and had obviously survived the jet skis from a week earlier. When I wandered around to pool 2, a male Kestrel flew out of the hedge and right across me, making me jump for the second time today.

At home this evening while we were having dinner a Sparrowhawk was engaged likewise on the lawn with the meal being a juvenile Blackbird. This is the third bird (and second juvenile Blackbird) killed here by Sparrowhawk(s) this week.

July 16th

Early morning in the rain I nipped over to Newton Lake after taking Karen to the hair dressers. The pool was well full and a single Green Sandpiper was probably the best bird, however just as nice was the return of the old Pen Mute Swan. She disappeared several weeks ago in the company of another bird. Perhaps she couldn’t forget her home or even her mate that died during the winter? Who knows what birds think – I do suspect they are a lot more advanced than most people give them credit for. She has been here for years anyway. The Cormorant (a 2cy bird) was still present plus singles of Teal and Tufted Duck.

Late morning I headed over to HGF. A single Black-necked Grebe was present plus a Little Ringed Plover. As it was raining (some contrast to Thursday when it was a scorcher) there was a large flock of Swifts, Swallows and even a few House Martins feeding over the fields nr Midhops. Five Kestrels were in evidence – both adults and three juveniles. They are clearly roosting in the barn now. While I was watching the pool edge through the scope a bird flitted into view and just as quickly disappeared – the glimpse I got suggested juvenile Yellow Wagtail. Another visit late evening produced a Yellow Wagtail perched on the wires by the kennels.

July 17th

Green Sandpiper still at Newton Lake this morning in heavy rain. It was pleasing to see a pair of Blackbirds feeding two juveniles on the lawn in the garden – at least 50% of the brood are still alive despite the attentions of the Sparrowhawk. A single Black-necked Grebe was present on HGF, however nothing much was moving in heavy rain. Miserable day.

July 18th

Back working in Brum and am travelling there and back each day. I arrived home late evening absolutely kackered. I was pleased though that Bill has managed to walk to the pool at HGF tonight – he improves steadily.

On the pools were 21 Great Crested Grebes (the nest in the SE corner has been flattened again), 27 Coots and 30 Tufted Ducks plus 2 Common Sandpipers, a Little Ringed Plover and a Ringed Plover. The male Kestrel and a shadowing juvenile were hovering over the south field. Sadly I found a Sparrowhawk dead in the road – a juvenile or possibly a moulting female I think. Nearby was a partially plucked Woodpigeon.

A Stock Dove was present in the garden this morning.

July 19th

Had a wander to Rixton after work. On the lawn at the top end of Hollybush Lane were 19 Pied Wagtails – four adults and the rest being juveniles. A crèche? There were some more by the tip too. On the way down the line I spotted a pair of Grey Partridges with seven youngsters plus a Corn Bunting and 3 Yellowhammers. At least 80 Lapwings were in the field at the bottom.

I turned up at Moat Lane pools to find number one pool was being drained. I had a chat with the foreman in charge – basically the jet sky bunch had caused a major disturbance of the peace and consequently the council had asked for the pool to be drained to put off the scrotes from coming back. The foreman was also under the impression that the terns had either not bothered breeding this year or had finished breeding. Fortunately he was interested in wildlife so I showed him the tern chick in my scope (he was chuffed) and he agreed to leave plenty of water around the island.

Later I nipped over to HGF. It was raining by now and not much about – a single Little Ringed Plover being the only bird of real interest.

Just one man birding for now...

Photos

Marsh Sandpiper, Spoonbills, Avocets, Little Egret and eclipse Garganey at Blacktoft Sands

June 11th

An adult Black-necked Grebe was present on HGF this morning along with a juvenile Little Grebe. I saw only one Kestrel – the male hunting.

June 12th

Early morning visit to HGF today. The male Kestrel was hunting in the corner near the kennels and two juveniles were mimicking him. Two Little Ringed Plovers were at the pool edge and a covey of 29 Grey Partridges was seen in flight over the south field.

June 13th

Got called home at lunch – Bill had collapsed. I found him in a right state, constantly falling over and clearly distressed. I thought that was the end for him, however when the vet finally got around to looking at Bill he diagnosed something called Vestibular Syndrome. In the past this condition has resulted in many dogs being put down when in fact most recover. No known cause and no known effective treatment – just wait for the animal to recover.

June 14th

What a difference a day makes. Bill was clearly miles better this morning although he still can’t walk straight, falls over regularly and has to be hand fed because his coordination is all over the place - he can't figure out how to put his mouth near his food bowl! By lunch I was happy to leave Dorothy looking after him for a few hours so I headed over to Blacktoft Sands.

I headed straight for the Ouse Fleet viewing screen where the Marsh Sandpiper was still in residence. The views were disappointing and there was a queue so I decided to head off elsewhere. I spent a while wandering with a bloke whose name I didn’t get but I do know he found the Kentish Plover at Bowness earlier this year. I picked up a calling Yellow Wagtail which soon materialised as we wandered back to the next hide and a fly over Marsh Harrier. There an eclipse drake Garganey was in residence amongst a small flock of Teal.

I spent the next couple of hours just casually wandering around the hides where at least five more Marsh Harriers, two 3cy Spoonbills plus Little Egrets, 15 Spotted Redshanks, 2 Greenshanks, 6 Ruff and various other waders (inc 6 Green Sandpipers) were in residence. I also saw a juvenile Yellow Wagtail chasing one of its parents for food. At one point I was one of six birders sat in the Marshland Hide watching the waders when the flock of Black-tailed Godwits and everything else was spooked into the air by a Marsh Harrier. They soon returned though, accompanied by the Marsh Sandpiper! It gave good if distant views for an hour or so but spent a lot of the time asleep.

On the Spoonbills – aging them can be tricky and am not 100% convinced on these. I used the link below to review these birds:

http://www.surfbirds.com/mb/Features/spoonbill/ageing-spoonbill-0402.html

I age these birds based on small plume, little black on wing tips and dark grey legs. The large yellowish patches on the end of the bills though hints more of 2cy though so not completely convinced.

Meds and Lizards

Photos

First summer Mediterranean Gull, Bull Beck, Caton

Distant record shot of two adult Meds on the far bank of the Lune from Conder Green

Adult and juvenile Common Lizards, Foulshaw Moss

Black Darter dragonfly, mating Emerald and Common Blue Damselflies

July 9th

Very early am I took Bill to HGF. A few waders present today with 6 Common Sandpipers, 3 Little Ringed Plovers and a Ringed Plover present. The Tufted Duck flock had also increased to 32. Three juvenile Kestrels were on the barn roof again. We then headed north to the van.

After lunch I took Bill for a wander. First we went to Forge Bank weir at Halton, however the river was well up and there was little to see, a single Common Sandpiper being the only noteworthy bird.

I sussed that Bull Beck was probably the best bet with the river fairly full as the shingle bank tends to get covered in birds and I was right. A largish mixed flock of Lapwings and Oystercatchers covered the far end of the bank along with a flock of Black-headed Gulls. I immediately scanned the gulls and the nearest turned out to be a first summer Mediterranean Gull. Nice one!

A pair of Little Ringed Plovers were present with two young juveniles. An older juvenile which had fledged some time ago seemed keen to try and join the family, the adults were having none of it! Three Common Sandpipers were also scurrying through the shingle.

Back at the van later in the afternoon I heard a Tawny Owl calling from somewhere nearby. Very few birds around the van though. The feeders are empty because they attract the local Rooks and Karen was not chuffed about being woken up at 4am every morning by 50 odd corvids on the roof of the van!

July 10th

Set off for Conder this morning. First I headed off down the coastal path which I assume was an old railway and which runs roughly parallel to the west bank of the Lune. There is usually a lot of warblers in the hedgerows down here, today the only bird of note was a male Chaffinch which was making a noise which sounded like a hiss combined with a croak and confused the hell out of me for a few minutes!

Approx a quarter of a mile down the path the hedge opens out and looks out over the salt marsh toward the Lune. I noticed a small group of Black-headed Gulls on the opposite bank and scanning them revealed two adult Med Gulls. A group of three Ravens were perched on a fencepost a little further down and a few Bar-tailed Godwits were feeding on the mud bank.

Next stop was Glasson. From the hill I could see a flock of large gulls in the distance – how anyone can pick a Yellow-legged Gull at this distance is beyond me. I couldn’t and gave up. From behind the bowling green I could see plenty of waders on the opposite mud bank which included around 250 Bar-tailed Godwits, many of them stunners in breeding plumage.

At Conder Creek there was a Greenshank along with 6 Common Sandpipers and a few Redshanks feeding away. There was also a flock of 60+ Redshanks roosting on the far bank of Conder Pool – too far away and too asleep to see if anything more interesting was with them.

Late afternoon I wandered up to Foulshaw Moss – very hot and sunny! I spent most of my time there watching dragonflies and lizards, trying to photograph them and marvelling at the battles between male Emperor Dragonflies. A small group of Lesser Redpolls kept buzzing the pond area.

I wandered over to the viewing screen where two couples in residence (not serious birders) commented they had been watching a Merlin. I got my scope out and soon found a 2cy Hobby which was busy catching dragonflies. I wonder what would happen if it wiped out the White-faced Darter colony? A male Marsh Harrier soon appeared shortly after and gave good views while a family party of 4 Ravens flew repeatedly back and forth over the screen. One of the couples spotted 6 Roe Deer which turned out to be Red Deer and then I found another group of eight. As I wandered away I spotted a Tree Pipit out on the moss.

We arrived back home late evening from the van but just in time for a quick trip with Bill to HGF. One of the juvenile Kestrels was wandering through the potato patch – suddenly a rabbit popped out of a grass tuft it was stood next to and a staring match ensued. I thought this Mexican stand-off would go on for ages, however the rabbit eventually became bored. Suddenly an adult appeared carrying prey with three juveniles in line astern chasing their supper. A covey of 25+ Grey Partridges flew out of the south field.