I am yet to fathom out why I don't seem to have the time to blog as frequently as I used to do. I have reduced my workload drastically, so in theory I should have lots more time, but I seem to fill that time with time out in the field. So, perhaps that is the reason. I do apologise for my lack of putting electronic pen to paper, but I suspect that I can't promise to do better going forward, because I probably won't! I think I have said before, that I post regular updates on the Facebook page Fylde Nature Notes, so please feel free to drop in there.
November started with one of our frequent visits to Jubilee Quay. There were 26 Redshanks feeding out on the mud of the quay, and 44 Wigeon were in the mouth of the dock channel where it joins the river. Common Knapweed, Smooth Sow-thistle, Common Ragwort, Dandelion agg., Red Clover, Common Carrot, Common Toadflax, and Yarrow were all still flowering, providing a late pollen and nectar source for insects. Talking of insects, we had a lovely, little, furry Ruby Tiger caterpillar making its way across the expanse of the concrete desert of the quay, presumably to find somewhere to pupate.
On the 7th I was at Rossall Point under three oktas of cloud, with a light south-easterly wind. I recorded some visible migration, including a Reed Bunting, a Brambling, a Rock Pipit, 22 Chaffinches (22 call registrations that should be), three Meadow Pipits, six Linnets, two Skylarks, 95 Jackdaws, 17 Starlings, an Alba Wag, three Greenfinches, and two Carrion Crows.
Out on the shore, one of the regular Little Egrets that forages in the tidal pools, was joined by five Curlews, 119 Oystercatchers, 157 Ringed Plovers, 28 Grey Plovers, 41 Dunlin, 116 Sanderlings, and 39 Turnstones.
I'm getting fed up with saying the sea was quiet, but it was, and on, or moving over it, were 45 Knot, 149 Eiders, 21 Wigeon, three Shelducks, 11 Cormorants, a Lapwing, an Atlantic Grey Seal, 11 Common Scoters, a Golden Plover, and two Great Crested Grebes.
I called in at the cemetery on my way home, to see if there were any late, grounded migrants, but unfortunately there wasn't. There was some nice fungi, however, and I have to admit I struggle with fungi, and need to spend more time looking. I tentatively identified Golden Waxcap, Meadow Waxcap, and Galerina clavata.
I then had a look in The Mount, and again there were no grounded migrants, other than perhaps six Long-tailed Tits, and three Chaffinches, foraging in the tops of some Sycamores. There were some more fungi here, probably a Parasola sp. In the sward on the southern slope there was quite a lot of Common Stork's-bill flowering, all 'dwarfed' from constant mowing.
I then called at the Quay, and the tide had nearly filled it, with just a small amount of mud remaining with 25 Redshanks frantically feeding before it disappeared. A male Red-breasted Merganser had floated in on the incoming tide, and was a good record for here.
Still flowering were Dandelion, Common Toadflax, Common Carrot, Red Clover, Smooth Sow-thistle, Evening Primrose, Yarrow, and Flax.
The following day we had our Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) count, and one of our count sites is Jubilee Quay. We were there a little earlier in the tide cycle, and Redshanks numbered 81. We then went to our other site, the reservoir adjacent to the river, and walking down through the scrub recorded 12 Blackbirds, four Song Thrushes, two Goldcrests, three Redwings, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.
On the reservoir were four Little Grebes, 12 Coots, a pair of Gadwall, 28 Tufted Ducks, four Moorhens, eight Mute Swans, and a male Pochard.
We had a walk across the saltmarsh to our watch-point overlooking the river and had 652 Wigeon, 201 Redshanks, 20 Teal, 5 Knot, and a Rock Pipit.
On the 13th, we made one of our many visits to our good friend's farm near Nateby to top the feeders up at the feeding station. Out on the wetland were two Marsh Harriers, a female/immature type and a 2CY male, causing mayhem among the wildfowl!
During the month an adult male Sparrowhawk has been regularly visiting our garden, and I have come to the conclusion that he is a 'mouser'. I haven't seen any ambush tactics against avian prey from him, his attention has always been drawn towards the ground under the feeders. On this occasion mid-month, he flew into the Apple tree, and perched up in a position where he was close to, and could easily see one of the feeders. He was constantly looking at the ground, and then he suddenly dropped into the vegetation, then out and off, presumably with a mouse! More of this guy in a later post.
On the 19th we were back at the feeding station, and the first thing we noticed was an arrival of Thrushes. Feeding in the mature Hawthorns along the lane were 45 Redwings, and 70 Fieldfares. A Grey Wagtail was present as usual, and two Ravens croaked overhead. No Marsh Harriers on the wetland this time, just 39 Mallards and 40 Teal.
A couple of days later I headed to Rossall Point for a look on the sea and hopefully record some late visible migration. I had clear skies with a light south-easterly wind, and frustratingly a heat haze!
On the shore were five Redshanks, three Turnstones, 41 Sanderlings, 273 Oystercatchers, four Curlews, and 96 Ringed Plovers. Just as I was going to try and photograph some of the Ringed Plovers, a female Sparrowhawk shot over the sea wall from the dunes, flew over the beach, and flushed the RPs!
The best bird that I had on the sea was an immature Shag that flew west and landed on the sea. It then proceeded to feed, but I lost it as it drifted behind a stone groyne.
From a visible migration perspective, there was next to nothing, until I was back at the car park ready to head home, and I could hear the calls of Chaffinches overhead, but I couldn't see them! Once again, they were beyond the range of my vision, but from the flight calls, all I could tell was that they were heading east.
On the 25th we had a ringing session at our feeding station, and ringed 42 birds as follows (recaptures in brackets):
Chaffinch - 7
Great Tit - 5 (1)
Coal Tit - 1
Blue Tit - 13 (4)
Greenfinch - 15
Robin - 1
At least ten Tree Sparrows were present at the feeding station, but we didn't manage to ring any.
The following day we had a walk along the shore and through the dunes adjacent to the Marine Lakes. On the Marine Lakes were four male Goldeneyes, three Cormorants and three Little Grebes. On the way home Gail wanted to call in at the Affinity shopping area next to the marina and docks. As we were sat in the car, I was on the phone to Ian who was in Scotland looking for Bean Geese, when a Kingfisher flew from right to left, and headed towards the river! On the other side of the main road there is a dyke, and I suspect that it got flushed from there, or it was frozen, as there had been a hard frost.
On the last day of the month we were back at our feeding station topping up the feeders again. Tree Sparrows, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Blue, Great and Coal Tits were all visiting the feeders, and on the wetland we could see 40 Mallards, and just 20 Teal. There were obviously more Teal than this, as we could hear plenty calling from among the rushes.
We found some spectacular, well we think they are spectacular, Birch Polypore on a fallen Birch, and as we walked past one of the Tawny Owl boxes, a Tawny flew out. We thought we were being quiet!
And that was November. I just wanted to take this opportunity to send you all Solstice greetings, and may the light of the Winter Solstice always shine on you.
No comments:
Post a Comment