[joncarter]

in reply to: House Martins #7608

Just 2 pairs (very late arriving) at Chancellor’s Wharf, Lancaster – usually several pairs here.
Just c5 or 6 pairs on the Quay (nr Maritime Museum) by the look of it.

[joncarter]

in reply to: Barbondale and Eric Morecambe #7601

Hi Guy – that’s a really interesting question. While the terrible impact of Avian Flu on the gulls will have surely helped the Avocet chicks through reduced predation, there are other factors at work too.
Deliberate water level management in the early part of the breeding season (keeping the Allen Pool levels high to reduce nesting areas) coupled with improved landscaping on the EM Pool changed the densities of nesting birds in small areas. This seems to have worked as planned! It’ll be interesting to see what happens in the future, especially as BH Gulls (hopefully) develop immunity.

[joncarter]

in reply to: Lesser Whitethroat #7545

Good to hear Barrie – lots of common whitethroats but very few lessers on territory there so far this year.
Fits in with the late arrival in recent days of house martin etc.

[joncarter]

in reply to: Chiffchaff song #7157

Singing chiffchaff by the canal by Bath Mill Lane early afternoon.

[joncarter]

in reply to: Aldcliffe geese #6922

Tundra bean goose still present on Monday at least.

[joncarter]

in reply to: LDBWS feeding station at Fairfield #6715

I can add a whopping 5 reed buntings from this afternoon…

[joncarter]

in reply to: Leighton Moss #6062

Osprey was sat in tree at Island Mere at 8:45am
Bearded tits also very vocal below Skytower around the same time.
Probable ruff seen flying off the Flood (from the train) at c8:35am
Hobby showing well from Causeway Hide at 1:30pm

[joncarter]

in reply to: Eric Morecambe Complex & Leighton #5816

6 greenshank on Causeway island at midday.
Spotted redshank reported from there later in the afternoon.

[joncarter]

in reply to: Sabine’s gull #5763

Sabine’s gull present at the Allen Pools mid-afternoon.
At least 2 hobbies at Lower / Causeway throughout the day and min 7 fledged harriers on the reserve.

[joncarter]

in reply to: Lapwing chicks – Aldcliffe #5642

Yep, it’s a mixed blessing really. The repeated destruction of nests every year is possibly harder to swallow than a total absence of attempted breeders I think!
Hopefully these birds will relocate to the far more lapwing-friendly crop field at nearby Fairfield in future years.

[joncarter]

in reply to: Eric Morecambe Complex & Leighton #5572

Drake garganey at Jackson this morning.
Osprey, bittern & otter all seen several times throughout the day.
Bearded tits reported from path to Grisedale.

[joncarter]

in reply to: Eric Morecambe Complex & Leighton #5569

Single drake shoveler on Jackson Pool this afternoon.
2cy little gull still at Lower this morning, plus osprey.
Cuckoo calling again from beyond the top of the Causeway (Leighton Hall end).

[joncarter]

in reply to: Arnside Swift #5438

3 at Leighton Moss this morning

[joncarter]

in reply to: Fairfield / Aldcliffe #4996

Almost an exact repeat event involving single jet skier around 12.30 pm today (Sunday) with geese disturbed again.

[joncarter]

in reply to: Leighton Moss #4627

Single female pochard on Lilian’s Pool today.
Bearded tits by the Skytower at 8.45am, 2 Gw egrets on site & decent starling murmuration over southern reserve late afternoon. Min 5 marsh harriers into roost.

[joncarter]

in reply to: Leighton Moss on 15th #4579

Ring-tail hen harrier seen well mid-morning from Grisedale Hide (15th).
It flew around for several minutes, at one point interacting with a marsh harrier.

[joncarter]

in reply to: Leighton Mos and RSPB Warton Mires #4531

There were also c8-10 redpoll loosely associating with the Lower path siskins.

[joncarter]

in reply to: Aldcliffe Whooper #4438

Whooper still present this morning. c1200 pinkfeet by Frog Pond and adjacent fields – no sign of anything else among them (though some birds obscured by hedges etc).
5 goldeneye on Freeman’s Pools.
Nice to see double-figure flock of greenfinch – a depressingly uncommon sight these days.

[joncarter]

in reply to: Leighton Moss #4424

Barn owl was hunting over the reedbed at the back of Lilian’s pool c3:45pm (seen from the Skytower) – it headed towards Grisedale.

[joncarter]

in reply to: Leighton Moss #4008

The pectoral sandpiper was present in the morning at Lillian’s but played hard to get in the afternoon.
Single knot among the godwits.
Bearded tits are being seen regularly on / around the grit trays.

[joncarter]

in reply to: Pectoral sandpiper #4001

Reported on and off today but some sightings are known to have referred to a ruff…

[joncarter]

in reply to: Pectoral sandpiper #3996

Present again mid-morning (Weds)

[joncarter]

in reply to: Leighton Moss & House Martins #3744

Number of nests at Chancellor’s Wharf, Lancaster are well down this year. Similarly, very few nesting swallows seen in lots of traditional sites.

[joncarter]

in reply to: Green Sandpiper #3550

Presumably the same returning bird (3rd year now?) which was ringed, I think, at Woolston Eyes?

[joncarter]

in reply to: Eric Morecambe Complex & Fell End #3517

Up to 4 spoonbill present at times today (inc 2 flying over main reserve in the morning).
Also, the first marsh harrier fledgling emerged from one of the nests today. How many more to come?

[Author]

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