Sunday, October 12, 2014

More Goldfinch, More Whoopers

Early Sunday and perhaps too premature for Conder Green where an autumn mist lay across the pool so nothing to look at except the farmer’s two cattle. So I motored slowly up to Glasson where there might be a Kingfisher and a Grey Heron or two. 

It wasn’t misty here on the larger expanse of water. And then right on cue a Kingfisher appeared but didn’t stay. There was nothing doing on the water with just the regular 25 Tufted Duck and similar numbers of Coot. 

Tufted Duck

At Conder Green things had warmed up a little, the mist cleared and so I was able to tot up the waders and the Teal. 3 Spotted Redshank, 70 Redshank, 7 Snipe, 6 Curlew, 4 Lapwing, 3 Goosander and 90 Teal was OK but neither sight nor sound of the regular Greenshank or Common Sandpiper rather took the edge off the count.

One of the Spotted Redshanks has a droopy wing, I noticed it earlier in the week. Two of them were a bit far apart to fit in the frame. 

Spotted Redshanks

On the pool a Kingfisher, 2 Pied Wagtail, 5 Little Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Little Egret. 

Pilling next stop. On the wildfowler’s pools I found 34 Whooper Swan, 2 Mute Swan, 38 Shelduck and 8 Wigeon while out on the marsh were “many thousands” of Pink-footed Geese, and I’m thinking 10,000 plus. The whoopers peeled off in small groups to fly south and over Pilling village - on their way to Martin Mere Wildfowl Trust at a guess. The folk at Martin Mere feed them even better than the Pilling shooters.

Whooper Swans

I gave the woodland a go with little to report save for a Nuthatch, a single Kestrel and 3 Jays but still no sign of Brambling or Yellow-browed Warbler despite my persistence. The weather charts suggest that things might happen on Monday/Tuesday in the way of Redwings and Fieldfares and possibly more.

Later and back at home I noted many Goldfinches in the neighbourhood treetops again plus a good number on the niger feeders. So after a leisurely lunch I set about catching more to add to the 19 ringed since Monday. The Goldfinches piled in and I ended up catching another 22 with no recaptures from Monday, Friday or today, thereby confirming once again that the day-to-day birds we see aren’t necessarily the same individuals, especially in the spring and autumn.

Other bits and bobs came in the form of 2 Coal Tits, a single Blue Tit and a Long-tailed Tit with attitude. A young male Sparrowhawk escaped from the net before I could get there and flew to next door's sycamore tree.

Coal Tit

Blue Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Goldfinch - juvenile

Goldfinch - female

Goldfinch - male

More news and pictures soon from Another Bird Blog.

In the meabtime I'm linking to Stewart's World Bird Wednesday

21 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

love the swans in flight! and beautiful tufted duck, too!

Findlay Wilde said...

Brilliant pictures and birds. We had about 1000 pinkies fly over us at ringing today. From findlay

A Colorful World said...

Loved seeing the blue tit and the long-tailed tit. Have never seen, even photos, of either bird! Great post, as always! Thanks so much for your recent comments on my blog!

Mary Howell Cromer said...

The Long-tailed Tit is one that I always love to see, such a delightful chap, love the face and the feathering, well everything about it. And so, you caught me off guard, must be a British saying, I kind of liked the ring to it, not sure what it means ;) "bits and bobs" ;) Have a great week~

Russell Jenkins said...

Certainly an eventful outing Phil with much to sight from every season. Love the list of portraits to finish off the post.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Sounds like not a bad day at all. Large flocks of birds are always spectacular and I would have loved to have seen your geese.

EG CameraGirl said...

Interesting to see the comparison between the female and the juvenile goldfinch. Nice post!

Fun60 said...

Great photos to help us identify birds in the garden.

Adam Jones said...

Good to see the Whoopers building in number and another super flight shot. The Long tailed Tit made me chuckle though. Looks so cute. Wish they'd stay as still as that in the trees.

Hootin Anni said...

As always Phil, I look forward to stopping by. You never disappoint...with your narration AND your photos. Loved the juvenile finch.

Barb said...

The expression on the Long-tailed Tit is priceless. I like the swans in flight.

carol l mckenna said...

Gorgeous as always ~ Beautiful bird and nature photography!

artmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor) ~ Happy Week to you!

chai-and-chardonnay.blogspot.com said...

Fell in love with the little long tailed tit! And the flying swans are so majestic!

eileeninmd said...

Phil, another great post with awesome birds.. The swans in flight is beautiful. Happy birding!

Powell River Books said...

The Goldfinch and Blue Tit are beautiful birds. - Margy

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Lovely to see all the small birds but my favorite is the Long tailed Tit

theconstantwalker said...

A fantastic post Phil... your images are always great to see.

Modesto Viegas said...

Very good post!

Unknown said...

I love the whoopers and the tits are so sweet.

betty-NZ said...

What lovely birds! I have a pair of your goldfinches hanging around the pastures here in New Zealand! I was very surprised and please to catch them earlier this year!

Rohrerbot said...

Mother of pearls! Nice job on the three tits! That is awesome. They all look different but I've never seen anyone put the three clearly together. A favorite of mine for sure. Just enjoying a break, some coffee and catching up on reading! All my best. Chris

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