Swallows and Aldcliffe.........

Visited Aldcliffe last night hoping for Barn Owl, no joy on that score. Though the evening was not without its highlights. The Flood had 1 Green Sandpiper and a handful of Teal. 3 Snipe flew over. At Freeman's Pools I positioned myself at Marsh Point, it was a very still evening and the sound of birds carried for miles. Suddenly about 200 Swallow flew over, a Sparrowhawk past me at head height and zeroed in, the chase was a very optimistic attack, the Sparrowhawk was out manoeuvred easily, and it could not keep up with the tight twist and turns of the Swallow. A dog fox was watching every move! 

Steve

Teal Total

Freeman's Pool, saw a Little Grebe with 2 very small young, on the upper small pool another with 1 even smaller young. On the island were 4 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret paid a quick visit, 2 Gadwall also present with the usual Mallard, 2 Swan and Coot. Today was very windy which made viewing the Marsh hard work; at Marsh Point were the usual gulls and roughly 900 Lapwing. Wildfowler’ Pool saw 3 Snipe and 7 Teal, which turned out to be about 35 Teal as the farmer entered the fields on his quad bike and flushed them all. The Flood had a Green Sandpiper, the single Lapwing that's been there for ages, 2 Curlew, 4 Snipe and 3 Pied Wagtails. On the Marsh were a few hundred Canada Geese, 3 Little Egrets and not much else. Further down river a large dead cow was making its way to Cadaver Corner! 

Steve

Thursday..........

A Greenshank was making its way around the upper pools at Freeman's. Little Grebe, 3, were on the main pool, along with Coot, and a Grey Heron on the Island. A kestrel was hunting near the river. At Marsh Point plenty of LBB Gulls and a few Herring Gulls. No sign of any Wheatear, 1 spotted yesterday, Wednesday, by Jeff Butcher. A Willow Warbler in the bushes. On the Wildfowlers’ Pool, despite farmers, 2 Green Sandpiper, plus 1 Snipe.

Steve

Charming........

Friday……….

Charm of Goldfinch, in excess of 120, amazing, also more along track. Freeman's Pools were quiet. It then began to rain heavily! On the track were quite a number of frogs. Wildfowlers’ saw 4 Gadwall new in, and a single Snipe. A flock of 25 Snipe then flew over and a Little Egret. The Flood had a single Green Sandpiper and 3 Pied Wagtails and numerous finches. There are an increasing number of Crows in the area, up to 60 present the other day. I walked along the river; at Snatchems were a few hundred Lapwings and a single Black-tailed Godwit. On the Marsh saw a few Curlew and 2 Little Egrets. Plenty of Swallows present throughout the area. Drenched but worthwhile……..I think!

Steve

Happy Warblerings.........

Had a wander about today, went into the woods at Freeman's near the track, which was very rewarding. Saw four Blackcaps, six Willow Warblers, Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and a quick glimpse of a small bird about the size of a Goldcrest, which I think it may have been. There were two Bullfinch and numerous Wren, Blackbirds and Chaffinch, a noticeable lack of tits.

I then walked to Marsh Point where I saw up 500 Lapwing and a good number of large gulls, Common Gull numbers slowly increasing. I scanned the smaller pools and found a Greenshank skulking about, lovely sight.

Wildfowlers’ was a no go today as the farmers were busy in there. The track had the usual Goldfinch and not much else. On the Flood were two Oystercatchers and a single Lapwing. A Sparrowhawk was disturbing the scene on the marsh. At Gull Bank there were plenty of Greylag and a good few hundred Black-headed Gulls.

Steve

Evening.............
Evening stroll from railway crossing along upper path and back round. The Flood was very busy, at least 4 Snipe, 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Curlew, and 9 Mallard. In the fields were hundreds of Lapwing and a good number of Curlew, all disturbed by a dog walker! In nearby fields were a few hundred Greylag and Canada Geese.
The track was interesting, a flock of Long-tailed Tits had 3 Chiffchaff tagging along, and in the hedge were at least 4 Willow Warbler. A Sparrowhawk was busy over Aldcliffe village along with kestrel.
Steve