We aim to bring together in one place, the information about Lancashire wildlife published on blogs and websites. To help people discover, enjoy and protect our local natural history.
Below are aggregated posts from various wildlife blogs created by people within Lancashire (lancashirewildlife.org.uk accept no responsibility for any content not created directly by lancashirewildlife.org.uk).
Pied Flys and Things Post Origin "Fleetwood Birder Blog" added here on May 19th, 2012
Ian and I spent the morning checking boxes at three sites. First up was our site in the Hodder Valley in the heart of Bowland. Most birds were sitting tight, either on eggs or brooding small young. We did manage to ring a brood of 5 Great Tits and lifted 2 female Pied Flycatchers off the nest. The first female Pied Fly was ringed at this site as a breeding female in 2009 and each year we have recorded her at the site. It gives me goose bumps when I think about the mileage she has covered flying to and from West Africa each year, and the dangers that she has seen and overcome. Absolutely amazing!
Great Tit
The second female wasn't one of ours and was a control; X932417 anybody? It will be interesting to see where she was ringed. Wandering around the woodland we had singing Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap.
Our next port of call was Rawcliffe Moss to check our Tree Sparrow boxes and we managed to ring 23 pullus here. We then moved on to a friends farm at Nateby to check a further 25 boxes. We ringed one brood of two Tree Sparrows and a brood of four Great Tits. Like our site in the Hodder Valley a lot of females were sitting tight on the nest, so it looks like next week will be a busy weekend ringing.
Pathetic weather….again. Post Origin "Pete Woodruff Blog" added here on May 19th, 2012
But some excellent birding....again.
Pied Flycatcher. Brian Rafferty.
When BT called for me yesterday morning and suggested he'd like to visit Barbondale for the first time this year I was never likely to say no was I, in any case there was birding on the front line to do up there so off we went.
Barbondale has never failed to impress and reward me and this visit was no exception, for starters there are almost certainly four pair of Pied Flycatcher here this year including the singing male of the two previous visit having found a mate for his efforts. It was also good to find at least one Spotted Flycatcher has found its way here again this year.
Redstart. Brian Rafferty.
Also of note, the Bull Pot pair of Stonechat seen again, I reckon the only pair present here in the summer of 2012, a pair of Whinchat, 4 Redstart, a single Tree Pipit, possibly the only one here, at least 8 Wheatear, Dipper, Great-spotted Woodpecker, up to 6 Grey Wagtail, a male Reed Bunting, and an unusual count of in excess of 20 Chaffinch was of note, 2 Buzzard, and a Kestrel.
Whinchat. David Cookson.
Some interesting behaviour observed here today which appeared to be related to poor weather conditions especially for breeding birds, in that several species - not particularly associated with fast flowing water - were seen to be behaving and feeding reminiscent of a bird definitely associated with fast running water the Grey Wagtail, including Whinchat, Pied Flycatcher, Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Willow Warbler, Reed Bunting, and Chaffinch, all spending periods stood on the stones in Barbon Beck before darting off to catch insects on/in the beck. In my view this was seen as opportunism by these birds to find a food source not as freely available as it should be elsewhere on land in mid May, I strongly suspect the emergence of a Mayfly species was taking place here.
As I left Barbondale today I felt convinced that unless the poor weather we are currently experiencing changes soon and for the better, many of the breeding birds we had seen here would be doomed to failure.
Many thanks toBT andDCfor images of three of the species seen today at Barbondale.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
We are now in the 21st century, yet there are a good number of 'uncivilised' human beings who still shoot wild birds for the fun of it, and to make matters worse they're allowed to and they ain't all in Malta. I heard an excellent suggestion the other day when someone said the government should ban grouse shooting on every keepered moorland in England until there are 100 breeding pairs of Hen Harriers on them....What a truly excellent idea.
Montagu’s Harrier at Martin Mere Post Origin "Dave Bickerton Blog" added here on May 19th, 2012
I'd checked the Reservoir last night and this morning - hirundines had certainly started to put in an appearance with over 150 Sand Martins, twenty or so Swallows and a couple of House Martins. A Common Sandpiper was the only wader on the edge of the water now that the levels are just a foot away from their highest whilst the Coots and Grebes are sitting tight on their nests.
A recently fledged flock of Long-tailed Tits was being fed by their parents next to the promenade and the good weather forecast for the coming week mighy well come at exactly the right time.
Then I got a message about a Montagu's Harrier at Martin Mere but didn't think any more of it until John called me to say that it was still there. Nothing for it but a mad dash to see what would be a Lancashire lifer for me. I arrived to the news that it had flown off quite high to the east but undeterred I hung around the in-focus shop with Tony when the bird dropped by again.
It was rather distant but even in the dullness of the late morning it was evidently an adult male. It quatered the fields near the railway line for quite a while being mobbed by Lapwing very regularly and I managed to get some shots but as you can see, it was distant and the heat haze was poor.
Back in the garden, Lesser Redpolls are feeding on dandelion seeds in the lawn - a good excuse not to cut it? The nest box on the side of the house has Blue Tits sitting whilst Dunnocks and Blackbirds are busily taking food to their offspring.
A Bit Of Everything Post Origin "Phil Blog" added here on May 18th, 2012
It’s all very well this going on holiday but there’s an awful lot of catching up to do eventually.
I spent this morning checking Tree Sparrow boxes at Out Rawcliffe: without much luck as it happened because a couple of broods had obviously fledged, three adults were on eggs and the remaining boxes were occupied by either Blue or Great Tit. No joy with two owl boxes but the visit was productive in other ways as I met a neighbouring farmer who would like both Barn Owl and Little Owl boxes on his own farm – a job for Will when he returns from Scotland. Also here, 2 singing Yellowhammer, 2 Whitethroat, a singing Willow Warbler and a singing Lesser Whitethroat.
Whitethroat
A visit to our ringing site was overdue, mainly to see how much the vegetation had encroached on net rides during wet and windy May, but all was quite good with a netting session on the cards soon. Walking through the plantation I came across a couple of nests, a Chaffinch one with 4 eggs and then 25 metres away an unfinished and as yet empty nest which looked very Chaffinch-like.
Chaffinch Nest
Chaffinch Nest?
Other birds here, 8 Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Blackcap and 6 Willow Warbler, 1 Buzzard overhead, 6 Yellowhammer and 3 Corn Bunting.
Again this year in Menorca I was struck by how common the Corn Bunting still is as a result of the islander’s traditional farming methods. Another prominent feature of the Corn Bunting in Menorca is their apparently large bills compared to ones I see locally in Lancashire. There are some shots below, and maybe I just captured pictures of particularly large Menorcan males in the unyielding Menorca sunlight, but the bill does appear very hefty.
Birds of the Western Palearctic (BWP) suggests that although both Menorcan and UK Corn Buntings are of the nominate race Miliaria calandra, the Balearic Corn Buntings are if anything marginally smaller than their UK cousins.
Corn Bunting - Lancashire
Corn Bunting - Menorca
Corn Bunting - Menorca
In Menorca the fields of summer flowers are left as winter fodder for the local cattle, a system which inevitably leads to an abundance of arable seeds for wintering Corn Buntings, finches and larks.
Pied Flycatcher reacquaintence Post Origin "North Lancs Ringing Group Blog" added here on May 18th, 2012
Perhaps predictably, the first Pied Flycatchers off the mark with full clutches in upper Hindburndale were these two old stagers:
T367170 – This was ringed at Colleyholme Wood, nr Stock's reservoir, Slaidburn as a nestling on 10/6/08. Its whereabouts during the 2009 season were unknown, but in 2010 and 2011 it nested in the same box – in Box 21 at the top of the wooded section of road between Botton Mill and Summersgill. The current (2012) box is about 350m from Box 21.
V470146 – This was ringed at Wray as a nestling on 5/6/07. Its whereabouts in 2008 and 2009 were unknown, but in 2010 it nested in Box 24 Botton Mill and in 2011 it switched to Box 25 Botton Mill. . It is currently (2012) in Box 36, about 250m from Boxes 24/25
I have not had time to check any other 'family tree history' of these two, but V470146 was the mother of X947707 in 2010. This was a nesting female in Box 31 in 2011, but unfortunately deserted a hatched brood. This was presumably due to it being predated, rather than all the young dying for another reason as there was no obvious food shortage/temperature problem affecting any other tit/PF boxes
Picture This! Post Origin "Pete Woodruff Blog" added here on May 17th, 2012
If the truth be known there are as many birders who take excellent photographs and who visit Birds2blog as there birders who don't take photographs at all, these photographers are always pleased to find a decent pic or two on here whilst I share their brilliant work with everyone. So we have an all winners situation here and that's really good and just what I like the blog to be, a show-ground, an advertising tool....Oh, and I also get out birding on occasion's and can then pass on my records.
So here are four of the most recent photographs I have found on the various websites, plus one sent to me by a birder who often helps me out of some of the holes I find myself in from time to time....it ain't what you know, its who you know!
Some birds display some truly amazing colours and the Bee-Eater must be one of the most colourful to be found in the UK on occasion's, I have seen multi reports of them today including two in East Yorkshire.
Our own Knot changes from its less colourful winter plumage into the red summer coat as shown in this excellent image which includes the very smart Grey Plover also in its summer breeding plumage.
The Red Kite is one of a few magnificent birds of prey resident in this country and has been the subject of a successful reintroduction scheme in recent times as opposed to other species of raptor some of which are staring extinction in the face....just for being birds of prey.
Back Passage? Post Origin "Jon Carter Blog" added here on May 17th, 2012
Dan here.
Although it could be considered the back end of the passage period for hirundines, today's visit turned up more sand martins than any other day this spring.
To begin with, there were seven or eight as part of an impressive aerial assembly over Freeman's Pools which also comprised 15 house martins, 50 swallows and 60 swifts.
This gathering dispersed as the rain eased up just before noon, but at half past one I noticed a pronounced northward push of sand martins (45) and swallows (40) in ten minutes over Stodday picnic area.
At 2PM, 25+ of these migrating sand martins had found Freeman's Pools, where they were the only hirundine present, as a locally notable 18 house martins were feeding over the Wildfowler's Pools.
In aberrant pigmentation news, this more or less entirely sandy-pink starling was eclipsed by a lesser whitethroat with a mottled white mantle which proved harder to photograph.
I suspect the striking starling was recently fledged- this would explain why we haven't clocked it before- and there were several juveniles around today.
Other young seen included a family of dunnocks, some quite independent robins and two lots of long-tailed tits.
In contrast, the breeding season hadn't yet begun for two wheatears and a whimbrel which still have some way to go. Judging by the amount of racket it was making, the sedge warbler at the Western end of Freeman's Pools has yet to attract a mate.
In the non-breeder category, an immature male goldeneye (presumably the same as last month's) was seen, and two lame pink-footed geese are still on the river. I hoped these geese aren't too tormented by zugunruhe.
Eight eiders were on the estuary where the pylons cross.
A morning of Spring-like weather Post Origin "Dave Bickerton Blog" added here on May 17th, 2012
On Wednesday morning I awoke to blue skies and sunshine at last; still cold but I grasped my chance at getting to grips with a few more summer visitors around Stocks Reservoir before work. It was one of the nicest mornings I've ever spent there - as soon as I trundled up to the causeway I could hear the Wood Warbler that had been there for a few days. This bird gave really close views, singing continuously but I didn't have my camera of course! I just love the Wood Warbler song and managed to get a recording on my iPhone - just need to figure out a way of linking it to blogger.
Just over the wall, a pair of Redstarts cavorted in the willows whilst at least three Garden Warblers were singing. A Cuckoo could be heard in the distance and Common Sandpipers and Red-breasted Mergansers we on the shore line.
Wandering up to the hides, I came across a Grasshopper Warbler as well as lots of Willow Warblers, Reed Buntings, Redpolls & Siskins. The only waders in the inlet were LRPs and Oystercatchers but it was such a lovely morning, I just soaked up the birds and the sunshine! It was so peaceful that even teh Roe Deer were showing well and seemed not to be too bothered about my presence.
Over the weekend, I checked Brookside Lodges at Oswaldtwistle - Sedge Warblers were very much in evidence whilst I was delighted to see a Little Grebe as well as Great Crested and Coots on nests. One pair of grebes on Rishton Reservoir have built on the small section now that the water is high so with a bit of luck they should manage as I can't see it getting much drier in the coming weeks with the water table so high! Unfortunately the edge is much reduced and I haven't seeen any waders for over a week now.
CES – Constantly Extracting Sedges! – 17th May 2012 Post Origin "Zac Hinchcliffe Blog" added here on May 17th, 2012
Arriving on site at 04.40, the weather didn't look as though it was going to be kind for the 2nd CES of 2012. After a couple of drops of rain before set up, it did however clear up and made for a nice morning's mist-netting, catch 70 birds, with the main species of the day being Sedge Warbler, of which I ringed 12 new birds. A mixed bag of ringing with: Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Blue Tit, Song Thrush, Reed Bunting and Dunnock. In addition to the ringing, we were treated to another view of the Glossy Ibis at 04.40 when we stepped out of the car as it flew low overhead and then landed on top of a scraggy bush sticking out the water about 40 feet away! If it was any lighter, it would have made for a fantastic photo. It soon moved off its presumed roost and flew across to suitable feeding habitat. A real bonus to waking up very very early indeed!
Home Post Origin "Phil Blog" added here on May 17th, 2012
After 19 days in Menorca we arrived home Wednesday pm and to rain today.
Soon I will get out for some local birding and ringing but in the meantime here are a few words and pictures for loyal blog readers - I promise to catch up with everyone later today after some essential homecoming chores.
One of our favourite places in Menorca is Cap de Cavallaria a rather remote but beautiful spot on the north coast of the island, the furthermost parts and difficult rocky terrain so inaccessible and free from disturbance that it is home to large numbers of breeding shearwaters. Of course the shearwaters are impossible to see in the daytime except somewhat distant out to sea but the sparsely vegetated rocky landscape is home to Raven, Stonechat, Thekla Lark, Short-toed Lark, Tawny Pipit, Corn Bunting, Greenfinch, Linnet, Booted Eagle, Blue Rock Thrush and Kestrel amongst others.
Short-toed Lark
Tawny Pipit
Coffee Stop
Information and distant lighthouse
Route to the lighthouse
After the trek to the lighthouse and a welcome coffe stop there are Larks, Greenfinch and Spotted Flycatchers usually close by, and very often, migrant Bee Eaters on the roadside wires.
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