[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: Whatsapp roundup 7/4/2024 #8597

I also think this is a good idea, and echo the earlier post about how to join? Thanks.

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: Blackcap #8535

Ditto in my neighbour’s garden (Scotforth) – presumably the bird that’s been visiting feeders in my garden off and on all Winter.

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: Gadwall Lancs Canal 21 Feb #8408

I’ve also recorded a solitary Gadwall drake where you describe and also half a mile further South, where the footpath from Ashton Road joins the towpath, during WeBS core counts this Winter – presumably the same individual.

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: Blackcap in Lancaster garden #8328

I’ve had regular visits since early December to suet ball feeders in my garden in Scotforth, male and female blackcaps, but never seen together.

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: Canal kingfisher #7996

Ah, thanks for that insight Jeff.

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: LDBWS feed station and area #7267

The field where the feeding tables are located was being ploughed and drilled when I arrived at 10.00 am on Sunday 9th and the tables moved into the long grass. Only two Mallard drakes and one Blue tit in evidence, the former possibly because they’d over-indulged to the point of being temporarily flightless.

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: Collared goose? #6257

Thanks for the info.

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: Conder Green/Lancaster Canal #5653

Thanks Luke, most enjoyable. As demonstrated yesterday, the combination of the pools, estuary and canal make for a great compact birdwatching triangle. Sorry I had to leave early and missed the Hobby!

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: Fairfield feeding station #5381

Sunday 24th, 09:30, 12C mainly sunny, with a chilly NE breeze.

Linnet 2 (1m, 1f)
Reed bunting 1m
Stock dove 2 (feeding from the table today)
Robin
Blackbird
Blue tit
Great tit
Magpie (also feeding from the table)

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: Aldcliffe / Fairfield various #5108

LDBWS feeding station: 6C at 08.50 this morning (Sunday), dry, mainly cloudy. Little breeze. The following were present during a brief period of observation:
Linnet 5
Reed bunting 3
Chaffinch 2
Stock dove 1
Mallard 2
Pheasant 1
Carrion crow 1
Blue tit 1
Robin 3 (still apparently content to share the space)
Dunnock 1

An immaculate pair of bullfinches visited my garden in Scotforth briefly yesterday – first time I’ve clocked them this Winter / Spring. At least 2 blackcaps were “giving it laldy” in Piccadilly yesterday morning.

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: LDBWS feeding station at Fairfield #5044

Sunday 27th: 11C at 09:00 (BST), dry, overcast, lightest of breezes. Quite a bit left over on the tables from yesterday and very little activity while I was there – just one chaffinch, one blue tit, two robins,two mallard and a stock dove.

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: LDBWS feeding station at Fairfield #4945

Sunday 13th, 8.30am: 9C, dry and breezy.
Chaffinch, ca. 15
Linnet, 5
Reed bunting, 3 (1m, 2f)
Brambling, 2 (1m, 1f)
Robin, great tit, blackbird, dunnock 2 each
Blue tit 1
Hen pheasants (3) made short work of the larger grains on the ground
Male goldfinch present in the hedgerow but abstaining from breakfast
Mixed flock of redwing and fieldfare again present in the trees towards Aldcliffe

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: LDBWS feeding station at Fairfield #4927

Friday 8am 10C, dry, light Southerly breeze. Business was slow on my admittedly brief visit this morning. Very few “farmland” birds in evidence, just 3 chaffinches and a male reed bunting. The “flock” of robins was back, along with 3 blue tits, 2 great tits, a blackbird, a dunnock and a couple of passing magpies. I removed a well-fed but dead brown rat from the grass adjacent to the lower table. Last reminders of Winter (for now, at least) were a flock of ca. 300 pink-feet geese grazing in field A7 and a mixed flock of ca. 40 redwings and fieldfares (the latter ID’d by their chuckling)that alighted in the strip of woodland between Fairfield and the houses at Aldcliffe.

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: LDBWS feeding station at Fairfield #4783

Sunday 13th February: 9C, dreich!
Chaffinch ~ 30
Linnet 11
Reed bunting 3
Brambling 1 male
Goldfinch 5 (alighted in the trees adjacent but didn’t come down to feed)
Robin 4
Blackbird 4
Dunnock 2
Blue tit 2
Great tit 1
Magpie 2
Pheasant 1

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: LDBWS feeding station at Fairfield #4690

Sunday 8.00 2C and lots of impatient birds waiting! Chaffinch 30, Reed Bunting 20, Brambling 10 (including some males), Linnet 1, plus robins, blackbirds, blue and great tits, song thrush and dunnock. There were 2 great spotted woodpeckers drumming in the vicinity and a vocal nuthatch in Pony Wood. Single mistle thrush and redwing in the field leading towards Aldcliffe village. Several hundred frightened pinkfoot geese over, fleeing from the artillery down on the marshes.

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: Dockacres& Eric Morecambe & Brambling #4657

What a revelation! Many thanks Jeff – as you can tell, I’m a bit of a dunderheid when it comes to using websites….

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: Dockacres& Eric Morecambe & Brambling #4646

Great, many thanks for that Pete!

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: Dockacres& Eric Morecambe & Brambling #4635

Can someone give me a grid reference for these locations please – can’t find any of them on the online OS app! Thanks.

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: Keer Estuary/Warton slag tips. #3688

I’d like to add my appreciation of Nick’s leadership on Friday morning. Thanks so much for sharing such a great (and accessible) spot Nick! Will definitely be returning later in the year.

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: Various sites #3473

I heard one yaffling in Aughton woods in April this year.

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: Desperately Seeking Curlew Lovers!!! #3336

I’m afraid I don’t qualify on either count (primary school teacher or expert on curlews), but a good person to make enquiries through might be Jean Roberts, who is the local organiser for the BTO, and if you do manage to get some activities organised let me know, as I do think curlews are pretty ace. Good luck!

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: Canalside Cetti’s #3335

I heard another “Atkins’ bastard nightingale” along the Glasson branch of the canal Wednesday evening.

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: Local swallows #2915

Couple of swallows in evidence in Scotforth this morning, also one seen over the canal between Galgate and Brantbeck bridge while doing the WeBS count.

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: Whimbrel at Bare #2816

Don’t apologise – that’s a smashing photo, with the oystercatcher for scale – thank you!

[Alasdair Taylor]

in reply to: Aldcliffe / Fairfield this morning #2540

I quite understand that OS references are necessary for the serious science, but can you spell out the other reasons for me? Thanks.

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