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