[Alasdair]

in reply to: Dotterel #9851

Lovely shot!

[Alasdair]

in reply to: Orange Tips and warblers – please read #9836

That sounds like a stock response to winter hedge cutting. If the flora aren’t coming into their natural beauty in May, when the hell are they?

[Alasdair]

in reply to: Great Northern Diver – Pine Lake #9386

GND still present on Boxing Day at lunchtime, showing well at N end of Pine Lake.
Great photo, Muhummed!

[Alasdair]

in reply to: Recent Damsels and Dragons #8863

At Foulshaw on Sunday we also had a Downy Emerald and on Friday there was a newly emerged female Black-tailed Skimmer at Gait Barrows.

[Alasdair]

in reply to: Freehold waxwings #8171

17 Waxwings in Sycamore on N side of Rydal Road at 15.15 just E of Grasmere Road. Had been feeding in White Rowan on Rydal.

[Alasdair]

in reply to: Freehold Swift Boxes #5934

I don’t think any boxes were used by breeders this year, but heard that bangers were responding to the callers and checking out boxes, so fingers crossed for next year.

[Alasdair]

in reply to: Ken Harrison #4985

Thanks, Jon. Very sad news. I knew Ken for 25 years, working with him at the university. He made a huge contribution to the RSPB and LDBWS. He’ll be missed.

[Alasdair]

in reply to: LDBWS feeding station at Fairfield #4933

12 noon today

Chaffinch 12
Brambling 1 F
Linnet 10 in tree
Stock Dove 2 – pair courting, then another male turned up and was chased off.
Reed Bunting 8
c200 Pinkfoot on Drumlins

Plus fleeting appearances from Robin, Great, Blue and LT Tits, Dunnock, Wren. Song Thrush singing in Pony Wood.

[Alasdair]

in reply to: Conder & Glasson #4906

SE Owl spotted at lunchtime hunting around Conder Pool.

Cycled down to Cockersand.
c150 Whoopers in two herds in fields by Moss Lane.
25 Linnet by Lighthouse Cottage.
20 Eider off shore.
1 F Snow Bunting reported beyond abbey.

[Alasdair]

in reply to: LDBWS feeding station at Fairfield #4540

1 F Brambling still mooching around at the feeding station 13.00 today along with a posse of Chaffinches and about half a dozen Reed Buntings.

[Alasdair]

in reply to: Painted Ladies #3412

At least 6 painted ladies near Clougha on Friday evening.

[Alasdair]

in reply to: Feral Snow Geese – Stodday #3396

That’s not a flock, Pete, that’s a blizzard.

[Alasdair]

in reply to: Freehold swifts #3299

Swifts will fly hundreds of miles to avoid bad weather so they can keep feeding. Chicks go into a torpor while parents are away, lowering their body temp from 105 to 70. Amazing birds. Log then on swiftmapper.org.uk if you have a chance.

[Alasdair]

in reply to: Lancaster swift survey #3186

Still looking for swift surveyors. Drop us a line at lancaster.swifts@rspb.org.uk
Ta!

[Alasdair]

in reply to: Lancaster canal #3184

Haverbreakwater?
Main Cetti’s ship canal?

[Alasdair]

in reply to: Lancaster ravens #2631

Wonderful stories, Eddy. Thanks for sharing them. And interesting to learn that you were the first to use social distancing to reduce the risks of corvid.

My favourite raven tale was of a pair seen in the Welsh mountains hopping up to the top of a frozen slope then flipping onto their backs and sliding down head first before repeating the process. Sheer playfulness, like their victory rolls in the air.

[Alasdair]

in reply to: Arnside Raven Nest #2602

Thanks John. I remember seeing a family of ravens mooching around the shore in Arnside.

[Alasdair]

in reply to: Arnside Raven Nest #2594

I wonder if the Arnside pair are the ones that nested at Foulshaw for a few years – quite close to the osprey nest, which led to the odd fracas.

[Alasdair]

in reply to: Lancaster ravens #2593

I’ve heard ravens around Greaves and Haverbreaks a few times.

Eddy’s brother’s knowledge of medieval Scottish literature is impressive. It reminded me of the Scots nonsense songs we would sing as bairns of Three Craws sittin’ on a wa’.
The first craw fell and broke his jaw
The second craw was greetin’ for his maw
The third craw went and flew awa’
– and this is where it enters the realm of abstract philosophy and ontology –
The fourth craw wasnae there at a’.

I appreciate the literary and cultural history of corvids might be better discussed elsewhere, but hey, lockdown. Take it where you find it.

[Alasdair]

in reply to: Aldcliffe / Fairfield this morning #2535

And there was me thinking you were just playing Birding Battleships. “You’ve just sunk my little grebe! No, there it is again.”

In all seriousness, it’s an excellent idea. The more we can do to protect this area the better.

[Alasdair]

in reply to: Blackcap #1874

1 male blackcap in front garden in Greaves, Lancaster this a.m.
(Breaking concentration while looking out of window during work phone call.)

[Author]

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