Alien Invaders........

Another bright and breezy day down the Parish. Freeman's Pools were a bit quiet, probably due to a great deal of noise coming from a chainsaw chopping down the dead trees next door, shame as they were used by many birds.Not sure as to what extent they are felling, will keep posted. Wildfowlers’ Pool saw Little Ringed Plover and a Green Sandpiper. The Flood finally has some birds on it, a Snipe, Green Sandpiper and 2 Lapwing. 

A few hundred Black-headed Gulls in newly harvested fields produced 1 Mediterranean Gull. Four Little Egrets were on the riverbank. I spotted one Common Sandpiper with a good number of Lapwing.

As I made my way through railway cutting I noticed some Himalayan Balsam at the northern end, I pulled some of it up, but will need to return and pull up the rest, as it is quite hard to get to. If this stuff takes hold it will spread throughout the area in no time at all!  

Steve.

More like Autumn.....

Cycled through the Parish with Dan, a cold chill in the air. On Freeman’s Pool were 3 Common Sandpiper, plenty of Swift, Swallow, House Martin and a few Sand Martin, all disturbed at one point by a Sparrowhawk. 2 Gadwall flew in, Coot and Moorhen with young present. Numerous Pied Wagtail and Goldfinch were seen, and 2 Linnet. The track saw Greenfinch and Common Whitethroat while on Wildfowlers’ there were 2 Green Sandpiper and a Little Egret. On the river were 4 Goosander.
Steve

Sudden Impact. ...

Some work being done on flood defence, so heavy vehicles on the move. Freeman's Pool saw 2 Little Ringed Plover, 5 Pied Wagtails and usual Little Grebe, Grey heron and Coots. Lots of House Martins, inc juv, Swallows and Swifts throughout patch. Marsh Point 120 Lapwing disturbed by Sparrowhawk. Nothing much happening on track or Wildfowlers’ Pool, water levels back to normal, flood is a flood again. Gull Bank, low tide, up to 900 Lapwing, all disturbed by two very acrobatic Peregrines intent on killing a few , made my day. 

Steve 

Changing Times.........

Wild day weather wise. 

Freeman’s Pool was busy, a Little egret was making its way around the edges, while about 20 Greylags were mixing with half a dozen Grey Herons on the island. Little Grebe and Moorhen also present. At Marsh Point there was a Common Sandpiper, increasing numbers of Redshank and Lapwing. On the marsh I saw seven Little Egret and about 165 Greylag. A Raven was causing a stir, being mobbed by five crows.
Steve 

All the threes.........

Bit of a damp plod today, a very welcome change. I was doing my monthly WeBS from Snatchems to the Skerton Weir. Had a stroll round Freeman’s Pool and up to Marsh Point. The pools were very quiet, with just a Moorhen with a family of three young being of interest. Three Little Egrets flew over, followed by three Little Ringed Plover, three Shelduck, three Redshank and finally three Common Sandpiper, was beginning to feel slightly confused until, with relief, I saw two more Common Sandpiper on the mud! Along the river northwards I came across 7 Oystercatcher, 40 lapwings and 4 Mute Swan.

Steve

Evening All.....

 Cycled through the patch the last couple of evenings. The highlight has been 3 Green Sandpipers on the Wildfowlers’ Pool. Plenty of Swifts last night, along with House Martins, Swallows and the Oystercatcher fledgling showing well on Freeman's Pool.

Little Owl was just visible in Admiralty Wood.

Steve.

Opinions, everyone has one…….even me

Interesting wander today, started off walking round the open space behind Freeman’s Wood and lots going on there, Sedge Warblers, Lesser and Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Reed Bunting. Greenfinch, Chaffinch and a few Linnet. On the pool were 6 Grey Herons and no scope with me so not sure about LP. I did see 2 Coot with 4 new red-faced chicks.

I made my way down the track and Wildfowlers’ Pool was very quiet, of note were 3 Collared Doves. Stopped off at the gate onto the marsh and got chatting to some wildfowlers’ which was interesting. They had been busy collecting rubbish and conservation work. One of the chaps had quite a lot to say about conservation and was saying how much the marsh has changed over recent years with all the sea defence work that has taken place. Personally I put it down to the landfill site and the rapid expansion of White Lund trading estate, but then again there are as many opinions as there are mouths! Amongst the debate about RSPB, foxes, birds of prey and farming, get the picture, I could hear the Skylarks, watch the Swifts bombing about and across the way I could see 3 Little Egret. The expression too many chefs spring to mind with this type of discussion, yes cooking, I was beginning to boil, though he was talking about the marsh being like a bank and it needs investment, everyone it seems wants to manage the land with their own agenda, and in the end it seems that what all these various differing groups are doing is managing the mess we have made! 

Should I accept that seeing 2 Skylarks was a worthwhile outing when I consider what would have been around fifty years ago, not really no!!
Steve

Green Day...........

Good yomp round and the highlight was 2 Green Sandpiper on the Wildfowlers’ Pool along with a Little Ringed Plover. Despite the lack of rain there are still wet areas, and saw some young Moorhens. On Freeman’s saw 2 Coots both with young, a Sparrowhawk visited briefly. Marsh Point 80 or so Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, also present were 37 Lapwing, 7 Oystercatcher and 30 Black-headed Gull with a couple of juveniles.  Plenty of Swallow, Swift and House Martins throughout the patch. Bit quiet on the warbler front though plenty of finches, Dunnock and suchlike. In the fields was pleased to see 5 Ravens circling each other as they made their way along the hedgerows.

On the river I was surprised to see the Goosander and three well grown young that I have been observing daily at Skerton Weir, will be interesting to see where they turn up next. Also, there were Shelduck with plenty of fledged young. 2 Little Egrets were on the marsh along with at least 2 Skylarks.

Steve