Duelling Pieds

Nearly did it again then with 'Duelling Banjo's' (which film? answers on a postcard please).

On 'walkabout' I came across two Pied Flycatchers singing (duelling) at either end of a small wood and as they were my first it seemed rude not to stop and study. The photos are really only record images as I don't have ANY and pushing the limits for publishing on a blog. I was 'well made up'.

While I was busy watching the Pied Flycatchers, three Pied Wagtails decided to have a barney (duelling) and I was left with this one, erect on the wall wondering where the opponents had gone, I had to smile as they'd dropped off the wall, still scrapping. What, where, who what?

I've included the image of the Wheatear, far from being a great photo of the bird, I rather liked the concrete and natural vegetation and the colours of the bird itself.

As the Pennines reach skyward from the west Lancashire river plain I spotted the odd bird flitting about and finding a suitable place to stop, I was disappointed it was a male Chaffinch, then a couple of Linnets and surprised to see a Willow Warbler. Excellent.

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

what, where, who, what? Pied Wgtail left wondering what the fight was all about

matching colours, Wheatear

male Chaffinch

Linnet

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler

Bits and Pieces (again)

I have been somewhat remiss in not keeping up-to-date, but days pass and become weeks and I'm sure you don't want to be bored with the same old subject. Anyhoo here are a selection of images from recent weeks from me on me travels. A Linnet at Knott End is enclosed as I have seen several reports of Twite, yet I have seen non, but I have seen Linnets – but no sighting reports of Linnet and thought it odd. On 20 October over at Eagland HiIll I saw my first influx of Pink Footed Geese estimated at about 6,000 and the sky was full of skeins of about 150 dropping in, hence the photos, taken as always as the light was failing. A Sparrowhawk flew past hunting the hedgerows and about 2,000 Starling were flocking before moving on to roost in Blackpool no doubt.

On my local patch I came across a buzzard being harassed as they so often are, sadly I haven't seen it since and those wing tips are so distinctive. Autumn is the time for reaping the nut harvest and windfall, this Jay was reasonably obliging while a Great Spotted Woodpecker has set about stripping the bark off one of the trees.

The Pied Wagtail I caught just taking-off along the esplanade at Knott End (on a very miserable day, but the flat light produced an almost monochromatic Japanese print effect) and included the Chaffinch as the colours of the bird reflected the colours of autumn and the moss and lichen on the branch.

Trying to catch up...

Here' we go... some older reference I haven't had time to post yet. I'm not sure it needs too many words, other than the later images are taken in poor light, as you can see!

Garden Blue Tits

Waiting to be fed

Knott End juvenile Starling

Knott End juvenile Starling

Male Linnet

Female Linnet

Whitethroat

Snipe with Redshank, Newton Marsh

Snipe with Redshank, Newton Marsh

Marshside Avocets — a la Gene Kelly

I couldn't help but think of Paul Simon's song 'Mother and Child Reunion', but just showing my age.

Yes another fine summers day on the coast in North West England.

With a half hour lunch managed a few bandits in the rain (I'm a laugh in, I'm a sing in... in the rain, hence the title! Nevermind).

A family of young Avocets (3) growing up and feeding for themselves while mum and dad went ballistic with aerial gymnastics if any gull dared to approach. So Avocets in the rain, sedge warbler singing his head off, Swifts bombing the footpath (looking for insects in a sheltered location), Linnet and Meadow Pipit, (near the car park) while a Grey Heron took on an eel for lunch. Eventually being pursued by another. Godwits, Redshank and a lone Wigeon. Swallows and of course Black-Headed Gulls et al. There was a Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint apparently, but I couldn't really see it, even through the RSPB scope in the grey, sodden, overcast conditions. There was a smudge on the horizon... does that count?

A Godwit or Two

Another early start, before the sun was up properly, but grey and overcast, so flat light again just for a change.

At least now I know why they are called Black Tailed Godwits. She doesn't look very happy (or well) at all. He was strutting his stuff and 'looking after her', on patrol. A Little Grebe disappeared off into the reeds on arrival, then again, they always do. A pair of dunnock called by and the Shelduck were in evidence. A Grey Heron feeding at the margins. Redshank too and one female mallard has eleven young with her. The ever present Coot was feeding a newborn. The 'cow' image gives one some idea of scale! A male Linnet keeping a lookout from the vantage point and declaring his territory by song.

One of those evenings

One of those nights when the light was fading and it was a quick visit.

Redshank were present and Moorhen fighting until big brother the Coot came along and split them up. The male Gadwall was on his own and he looked sorry for himself. I'm not sure if she has been lost or is nesting somewhere. May have gone off with someone else! I attach a rather poor record shot of the Little Grebe, just so you know there is a pair on site, honest!

Again a pair of Godwit were around the margins but it was too dark to obtain a photo, the sun casting long dark shadows. The lapwing was in the winter wheat field and subsequently raised a brood here. A few weeks later, I watched with great trepidation as the parents led them across the road, with 32 tonners hurtling along! (I ended up playing some sort of school crossing warden, advising a couple of cars of the circumstances. A pair of Grey Wagtails pooped in for a wash and brush up as the sun set. (too much 'ello 'ello!)

On the fence a male Linnet was looking singing away, protecting his territory and looking after his Mrs who was feeding on the dandelion seed heads.

Dan de lion and Goldfinch

Another early visit in poor light.

A male Chaffinch, a pair of Blue tits, two or three Goldfinch, a Whitethroat, a pair of Linnet, a pair of Gadwall, a pair of Shelduck, 27 odd Herring Gulls of various ages, Coot and Moorhen, a Mute Swan on a nest and a Mallard with 11 young. They looked they had only just hatched and she was walking them across the field to the water, so the nest must have been well hidden, and just in time with those marauding gulls about.

One or two Goldfinches were feeding on dandelions in the roadside verge, see photos. You can see the yellow nectar on the crown of the bird. The bright yellow on Goldfinch has always been a wonder, yet when feeding on the ground on dandelion, the perfect camouflage.

Later that day, over at St Annes a Dunnock popped up as I was parking the car at the tax office! The Whitethroat pic is only so you know, I know what one looks like and it was still about on the way home later in the afternoon!

Hghi in the sky, I thought there was a Swift but on closer(!) inspection it wasn't a Swift. A couple of brief snaps at considerable distance, and not big enough for a Peregrine I am leaning towards a probable Hobby. What do you think? (see below)