Lancashire Birding (1 Viewer)

[Jonny721]

Hi Neal. Knott End is on the opposite side of the mouth of the River Wyre from Fleetwood. You can get there by crossing the Shard Bridge then driving north and following the signposts, not to difficult to find. A few Mediterranean Gulls have been see there recently. Best time to see them is about an hour before high tide. http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast/tides/tides.shtml?date=20090721&loc=0444

 

[jeffwode]

why when i type in the words 'black swan' are they highlighted?

 

[Tao Wild]

I see on Fylde Bird Club alot of sightings at Knott End... whereabouts at Knott End?

This on the tiny promenade or somewhere else and at what tide times?

I'd imagine the sightings are taken from the Lancashire Coastal Way footpath which starts at Knott End (SD3548) and leads to Fluke Hall (SD3850).

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

The sightings at Knott End are generally from the house of a very keen birder who lives there. Med Gulls can turn up anywhere along the beach though, and a tern roost should also form in the near future. Further towards Fluke Hall is Cocker's Dyke, which can be accessed from Pilling Lane, and is another good site for gulls and occasionally terns.

Knott End is certainly worth a visit but there are plenty of other spots on the Fylde that get Med Gulls and the like and aren't as well watched if you wanted to try and find you own stuff. The beach off Lytham would be a good example.

Regards,

Stephen.

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

Regarding Black Swans one or two are occasionally on the Ribble with the Mute Swans. In the winter they are also often quite happy to join up with the visiting wild swans. Always nice to see, especially in flight when they are even more striking with their white wing flashes.

Some of them probably originate from birds released on a pond in Cleveleys, but they are popular as ornamental wildfowl for obvious reasons.

Regards,

Stephen.

 

[gradders52]

Common Tern chicks looking ok, well one is. Other one seems to be having trouble, parents try to feed it but the fish are way to large for it to take down. Going to keep an eye out over the next few days to see how it gets on. Plenty of competition though between the other pair on Morrissons side as they seem to fight each other ALOT. Also got a cool shot of a comorant in mid flight.

Seeing Neils pics sent me down there, grey horizontal rain... until lunch today. Talk about nature's natural breeding programme and dominant chick, check this 'runt' out. Hopefully he'll get fed more when 'big bruv' clears off!... and ... Mum got the fish dad had brought in!

 

[derekg]

Brockholes Quarry

2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Black Tailed Godwit, Teal, LBB Gull, GBB Gull, Kestrel

Derek

 

[derekg]

Great photo Gradders, hope to get myself down there over the weekend to see them again.

Derek

 

[Neil UK]

Seeing Neils pics sent me down there, grey horizontal rain... until lunch today. Talk about nature's natural breeding programme and dominant chick, check this 'runt' out. Hopefully he'll get fed more when 'big bruv' clears off!... and ... Mum got the fish dad had brought in!

Bloody hell he as grown!!! I will get down at lunch, IF it stops raining!!

Still looks like the little lad has shot up a bit so is getting fed well.

 

[gradders52]

Anyone clocked the ring numbers yet? (my camera not good enough). Do we know anything about the ringed birds? What I can't suss is the breeding pair (not sure if female is ringed), seem to be joined (there seem to be 4 adult birds) by the one of the other two adults when the breeding parent (male) turned up with fish... Just wondering if this is an 'opportunist', or in fact 'family', from a family breeding earlier, probably last year? Anyone know out?

 

[Neil UK]

Anyone clocked the ring numbers yet? (my camera not good enough). Do we know anything about the ringed birds? What I can't suss is the breeding pair (not sure if female is ringed), seem to be joined (there seem to be 4 adult birds) by the one of the other two adults when the breeding parent (male) turned up with fish... Just wondering if this is an 'opportunist', or in fact 'family', from a family breeding earlier, probably last year? Anyone know out?

Theres 2 pairs mate, one on the opposite side of the dock. Also the nearest ringing area for Common Terns... wait for it is... BOLTON!!! Yes BOLTON...at Doffcocker http://birdringing.blogspot.com/2009/06/common-tern-ringing.html. Ive sent the coloured ring pics that I got to the ringing peeps but not heard anything back.

Also at lunch had the pleasure of seeing a Little Grebe next to the Terns nest, first for me!! Pics will be added later.

 

[gradders52]

Theres 2 pairs mate, one on the opposite side of the dock. Also the nearest ringing area for Common Terns... wait for it is... BOLTON!!! Yes BOLTON...at Doffcocker http://birdringing.blogspot.com/2009/06/common-tern-ringing.html. Ive sent the coloured ring pics that I got to the ringing peeps but not heard anything back.

Also at lunch had the pleasure of seeing a Little Grebe next to the Terns nest, first for me!! Pics will be added later.

Yo, I understand their are 4 'adults' down there, what I don't understand is a brooding pair of adults, that are very aggressive and seeing off 'GB Gulls' and all-comers, tolerate other Common Terns. See pics. Dad comes home with tea and apart from mum, junior and baby... we seem to have an interloper. Now is it just being opportunistic, friendly... or tolerated as part of the family (from previous?). Haven't got a clue. Just odd! (also seen image (not mine) with one bird with yellow ring (and two others)... no sign of this bird or yellow ring has been lost). Just wondered...

 

[ivywall]

Dad comes home with tea and apart from mum, junior and baby... we seem to have an interloper. Now is it just being opportunistic, friendly... or tolerated as part of the family (from previous?). Haven't got a clue. Just odd! (also seen image (not mine) with one bird with yellow ring (and two others)... no sign of this bird or yellow ring has been lost). Just wondered...

We have a pair of Bull finches that often have a young male in tow.

I reckon the female may encourage a bit of back up and the Male tolerates it as it's a bit of pressure off him as long as the youngster knows its place. Meanwhile.....
Females are notoriously fickle - she's probably not only playing the youngster along as a bit of strong arm but also has him as a back up.
I was taught as a youngster that birds paired off and were faithful....HAH!! I think not regarding the recent scientific research using DNA.
Those females (just what I've seen with our blackbirds) are arch manipulators .
I really can't tell you on a family forum what they get up to - it's terrible. Our recent BB father probably isn't the father of the chicks in our bushes that he's losing his tail (and other) feathers over :smoke:


Pat

 

[derekg]

Brockholes Quarry tonight

Whimbrel breifly flew around the main pit and left, Green woodpecker in trees by top layby and Barnacle Goose amongst flock of Canada Geese.

Derek

 

[The Actor]

I paid my first visit to Leighton Moss today and it was Ok. The weather held and it wasn't that busy.

I saw the Marsh Harriers from the public hide and one at rest (for ages) from the lower hide. This was a first for me, the Harriers. I also had a proper look at a Marsh Tit (at the feeding station).

Oh, I also saw a red deer but it wasn't flying.

Overall it was a good day but my bag weighed a ton in the crosswinds on the motorway on the way home.

 

[Boom]

2 Hobbys at Risley Moss this afternoon-great views of flying and perched birds.

Were in view most of the afternoon.

cheers

 

[ivywall]

Saw one of the king fishers at the Rufford hide, Holmeswood last Saturday - plus lots of insects (my macro's getting some use these days). I heard there were many huge lenses with men attached to them earlier on so there's probably been a flood of Kingfisher shots in the gallery?
I hope no one tries to sell any if they didn't have a licence.. ..

My more distant efforts - as the light was fading a little too

Pat

 

[kwyll]

Nice pics ivy wall........Was at mere sands the other day watching kingfishers .....where they have put new posts in.Peace

 

[The Actor]

I was going to Rufford today but it didn't stop raining for long enough. I'll try again tomorrow but the forecast is even worse so it could be Thursday. We'll see.

I really do need a good Kingfisher photo. What lens did you use ? Sorry, forget that question as I've just re-read your post.

 

[kwyll]

[email protected] longton brick croft nature reserve, north pond........amongst the tufted!no idea if this id is correct........but the guy who id this pic........well experienced and is usually 100%correct !Make your own mind up....!Pic taken on 28/07/09........!