Tuesday......

Freeman’s Pool/wood, 23 Lapwing on the island, 2 Oystercatcher. Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Lesser. Chaffinch with fledged , Greenfinch with fledged. Treecreeper. 

Track, Goldfinch with fledged, LRP at Wildfowlers’ Pool along with 2 Shelduck. Linnet, Whitethroats, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush.   

Steve 

Boogie Nights......

This evening myself, Dan and Guy all rendezvoused near the Wildfowlers’ Pool. Dan had suggested the idea in the hope of hearing Quail.

There was plenty of flying things that none of us could identify, bats, the track being a brilliant tunnel for them. Robins catching moths, LRP, Grey Partridge and pheasants all calling and party revellers near the walled meadow, but no Quail heard. Dan and I then went to Freeman's Pool and heard Grasshopper Warbler; we went onto the old field part and had a fantastic singing display. I have heard these birds in the daytime, but their night time song is amazing, really loud, it just kept going on for minutes at a time. 

Steve.

Flush With Success

Dan here.

My fave find of the year so far was the discovery of a quail on Aldcliffe's hallowed ground this morning.

It flushed out from my feet from the trackside verge between the Wildfowler's Pools and Darter Pond at 0545h. It flew 15 yards up the track before hanging sharp right over the hedge and dropping into the field that contains Frog Pond.

The flight was strong and even, as I suppose would befit something that was recently in Africa. The flight jizz was a little like a small, stripy woodcock.

I'd been in the area from half past three and had heard no Q song, which is a shame since I had a friend's hand-held tascam and had been making good recordings of sedge warbler, whitethroat and reed bunting sounds.

Other birds fresh-in comprised 2 gadwalls, a little egret (not common here mid-summer)... and a black swan, which had obviously just made the commute from Australia.

DH

A Young Dubius Charadr?

Hello. Dan here.


Thought I'd make use of the first calm morning in weeks with a pre-dawn listening session.


An early start (0345-0630) paid some dividends with crepuscular singers including:

Two grasshopper warblers (1 Freeman's Pools, 1 'upper track'), 4 sedge warblers, 9 common and 2 lesser whitethroats.

Other singers heard along the cycle path included 3 reed buntings and 4 song thrushes.

Highlight of the morning was probably the common tern sat by the river underneath the power lines.

As I watched it preening a flock of 14 black-tailed godwits flew quite high upstream, only to head South a couple of minutes later.

Another two blackwits in rather subdued plumage were feeding at the Wildfowler's Pools.

The drake wigeon appears to be over-summering in the parish.

A grey partridge and five hares were welcome sights on the maize field, as were two sitting lapwings and and two incubating oystercatchers.

A fleeting view of what could well have been a three-quarter scale juv. little ringed plover in marginal vegetation was somewhat tantalising.

DH.

Not much going on.....

Freeman’s Pool quiet with a few Coot and Swans. House Martins, Swallow and Swift added interest. Lapwing seem to have given up with the maize fields, one or two only on here, the maize is shooting up. Whitethroats, Blackcaps and a Sedge Warbler on the track. Wildfowlers’ dull. Marsh covered in sheep. A LRP was the highlight on the flood. The railway cutting is gong to be ruined within a few short years because of the Himalayan Balsam spreading. This is a perfect spot for it! I pulled up quite a bit today, if you see any do the same. I also found some Knotweed, which I pulled up. I have seen the damage these two plants cause, Skerton Weir is overrun with the stuff which doesn't leave room for much else. Lancs county council have been contacted but don't hold your breath!

Steve.