Rossall one...

I was hoping to catch up by posting June, July ... aint gonna happen!

here are some images of Ringed Plover and Turnstone from a trip to Rossall... another post at least to come.

only resting

untouched but looks 'cut-out'!

Summertime...

I did say, I'd try and catch up... I am not doing a very good job!

These swallows, photographed at Newton Marsh in early July seemed to say in pictures, more than we can say in words about this year's summer.

I need to do some checking on my five and six spot Burnet Moths – anyone?

I came across my first Meadow Brown, where last year there were loads of Common Blues, Skippers, Tortoiseshell, Peacock and of course Meadow Brown, this year — zilch, nowt bar one.

I'd been spending a little time on moths, as again I know nowt, moved my recycling bin and found this Scalloped Oak (and a Large Yellow Underwing but too dark to photograph).

My annual sojourn across the border produced a Common Orchid and surprisingly (for me) a number of Ringlet. I say surprising, because they are supposed to be 'common' yet I have not found any over here and these were limited to a stretch of about 20 yards (sod metric) of riverbank. I'm not sure but suspect the two were coupled in mating but can't be one hundred percent sure.

It's NOT a Barn Owl but gold

I have been remiss lately in not posting and much to catch up on, then again you probably would have become bored with constant posts on Common Terns.

I also have to say, I have perhaps become a little disheartened with this bleedin weather, not being able to get out because of the rain, lack of sunshine, poor light and one thing and another (and to illustrate the point further, down at Preston Docks, to the west, heavy dark grey clouds threatening a battering downpour or two and to the east, blue sky and fluffy white clouds and I was right on the edge of the two, neither one or t'other – unbelievable).

It was one of those typical days we have had lately, sun breaking out as I left home yet raining by the time I got to the end of the street and so it stayed all day – couldn't make its mind up (mind you forecast was just 'miserable' so any sunshine was a bonus).

I was homeward bound 'over Pilling' (I know my way around but not detail of where I am! sounds about right!) and I was in a self-imposed conundrum about which way to get home... the fast way, that way or this way... I'd seen a barn owl this way some months ago... sixth sense.

Thankfully the car is automatic, so I don't have to worry about clutch and gear changes, just as well, the sixth sense kicked in again, check road, check mirror, stand on the brakes, find somewhere sensible to pull up – and there on the top of a pole was an Owl, not a Barn Owl but a Little Owl. I love Little Owls – they'd win all the Olympic Gold Medals in whatever event they were in – cos 'we're 'ard'.

So here's the gold medals, a number of images all of the same bird to illustrate what a difference the light makes... it was constantly changing and a bit closer as I did 'trapper' impressions.

is it just me or is 'blogger' interface a bag of spanners now?

Crackin bird tho!

yahoooowl

I've certainly been howling, not just at the moon lately (have you seen the size of it – if you have you've done well with all the cloud cover we've had), but as well as howling at the moon, also been howling at the internet provider, at my web browsers, note plural now reinstalled (having now lost all my ten years of bookmarks), howling with cabin fever with all the rain we've had (and thinking of the wildlife) and a confirmed first for me, which got the loudest howl, 'yahoooowl'; remembering I haven't been at this birding too long.

Back in June, I chose the best forecast day of the week for a trip up to the Trough (of Bowland), to an area I've been visiting since not long after Eng er land won the World Cup (at football, 1966 for you non sport fans).

Anyway, it was atrocious...

A couple of Mippits on the way up, a Buzzard and a distant raptor unidentified, a Kestrel and a male Linnet. I was hoping I might photograph some Sand Martins and I did but they are all rubbish (photos not the Sand Martins which were great viewing). No sign of any Pied Flycatchers, two Grey Wagtail, a number of Common Sandpipers on the beck, calling Curlew and Oystercatchers and a Willow Warbler. A male Common Redstart, my confirmed first, clouds sitting on top of Tower Lodge and surrounding hills. I bumped into the 'two Bills' and was delighted to share their company – I wish them well with the Bowland Raptor Group.

All in all a pretty dismal day that I thoroughly enjoyed!

(as you can see the photos are grim and nothing more than a record, and perhaps of interest to those of you who know the area well)

Is it just me, or have I missed something? I know I have been away for a day or two, but 'Blogger' appears to have gone backwards... typical Google, 'improvements' – that aren't!

Oh and some numptie decided to come and park and sit next to my motor parked in a secluded spot, when I had disappeared out of sight, he couldn't see me but I could see him – I returned fairly quickly to the car – you can't be too careful, decidely dodgy! Maybe he was just another birder... I don't think so! Just bear it in mind when out and about.

Oh and don't ask me why, I don't know why, but I chose not to use the accelerator from just above Calder Vale and 'coasted' (it's automatic) all the way down to the A6, only stopping at junctions and slowly using the 'gas' pedal again where necessary, mostly doing about 30mph and only braking once for a tight turn. I don't know how much petrol I saved, but it was an interesting experiment. (I wouldn't recommend 'coasting' without the engine switched on, everything is going to seize up, if you know what I mean, oil pump, assisted brakes, assisted steering etc). I spent most of my life racing from one meeting to another, not any more... it didn't do me any good!

Meadow Pipits (on heather, despite their name!)

looking er, west, you can see my house from here , or one I used to live in,
(well not far off, just to the right and below the water tower at Warbrck Hill, just off frame, adjacent to Bispham Marsh)

cloud cover on Grisedale Fell and Hawthornthwaite Fell

incoming Sand Martin

bouquet of barbed wire and Spotted Flycatcher

Willow Warbler

Common Sandpiper

typical vista, Common Sandpiper on the beck

Male Common Redstart... yahoooowl, my confirmed first

I was just getting back in the car, when I spotted this beauty

above Tower Lodge!

Meadow Pipit

'canyatellwhatitisyet'? The sun came out for literally two minutes, ALL DAY! Sand Martin with fecal sac.

archetypal image of the Trough at 'lights out'. Goodnight all.

Storyville – West Africa to Preston Dock! Part 2

Hi... I did say sometime ago that I 'wanted to tell you a storwie', and there was a part 2; my apologies it has taken me some time to get around to it – I wish I could say because of the birding, but afraid not. Anyhoo, here we go, part 2 – the images are taken over several days in May (sometimes when the sun was out!)

The Common Terns disappear off fishing, returning with their catch for their mate (or youngsters depending); which can result in aerial antics not only from other Common Terns but other gulls as well and sometimes more than one pursuer. I've included images that demonstrate, this can happen at some distance and some height, indeed the Common Terns climb until out of sight (or my poor eyesight)... but eventually they return.

Occasionally something upsets the terns, in this instance a barge too close to the roosting site, whereupon they ALL take off and the air is full of raucous screaming terns, generally going ballistic.... before returning to base. More noise, posturing, greetings and disputes.

The male seems to do most of the fishing, understandably (although aren't women supposed to be better at catching fish than men?) and as they leave they appear to wash-off the lipstick; leaving someone on their lonesome.

Throughout, different pairs are at different stages, I guess it makes sense for the colony as a whole, some may fail but by spreading the development over a period of weeks, someone will succeed. The male shown mounting the female sat there for about five minutes, perfectly balanced on her back before copulation.

Nests appear at different times, Fylde Bird Club have assisted and encouraged the colony with the painted tyres and supply of pebbles (I think we need a few more but understand the access problems). The birds will leave their nests to greet and grab any incoming fish before returning to brood the eggs or swap, the male does do his turn at brooding sometimes. Some of the nests are in the tyres, others among the pebbles and the odd one on virtually nothing. This year a couple of nests are at the end of the pontoons, quite close to the edge and in a decent wind I have seen the waves lap this far up, so it will be interesting to see if they succeed.

I haven't been out for a while but I know the first few eggs have hatched and a number of young are in the colony. Another update to follow I guess.

For all those who know, and those that don't, these images are taken from a distance on the public promenade with no disturbance to the birds and as you know, double-clicking an image enlarges a slideshow.

retuning from fishing trip

areobatics

in pursuit

time to return

we are not amused

time to return, but still making a point

returning

is never straight forward

local dispute

tyres seem to be the safest place

'lipstick'... yuk!

"are you lonesome tonight, do you miss me tonight, are you sorry we drifted apart?"

ya got ya fish!

five minute balancing act, central axis of gravity?

a personal moment

eggs in pebbles on the right

greeting, same nest, eggs in pebbles on left

returning to brood

the male was rearranging pebbles with his bill

a single egg

too close to the edge?

"Does your memory stray to a brighter summer day".....

 "shall I come back again..."