What, no Wheatears?

The Safari has been wearing a track along the promenade in the hunt for an early Wheatear for days now. The weather has been mostly pants for migration but in between the bouts of rain and strong winds, usually from the 'wrong' direction, there have been short interludes of decent weather. Our 'cliffs' with their (artificial) rocky face are an ideal stopping off area for any hungry Wheatears to stop and feed after passing the habitat free zone of the town centre promenade.

Looking South

Looking North

They like to perch on the upper wooden rail and the concrete sea walls but are very rarely spotted perched on the steel handrail for some reason. The grassy areas provide the foraging area, obviously. Twice a day, day after day we've searched to no avail. What we have seen is somewhat disconcerting; the cliffs are designated a County Biological Heritage Site on account of them being some of the only remaining soft cliffs in Lancashire and having a unique and county-wide scarce vegetation community and that's despite them being cut off from the beach so their natural processes of erosion and re-deposition has been stopped. In the pre-seawall days erosion meant there was continual slumping and a corresponding dynamisism (is that word?) of the vegetation. Now the vegetation community is fairly stable...until earlier this year when someone has started encouraging their dog to dig massive holes. Some areas of Sea Thrift and Yellow Meadow Ant nests have been almost totally destroyed.

Some bio-purturbation is a good thing, breaking up the sward allowing the seed bank to germinate or new incoming seeds to settle and providing different niches for a multitude of invertebrates, like solitary mining bees, and even basking areas for reptiles (if only we had some along this bit of coast). But if this dog is digging say 10 holes a day, that's 3500 a year and it tdoes this for (assuming it's a young dog) another 7 years thats 24,500 holes on an area only a few yards across and a mile and a half long, some will recover in that time but how many won't? We've never seen the culprit and it remains to be seen how well any areas recover and which do and which don't, certainly some of the badly damaged Yellow Meadow Ant nests will be decades old. We know it's probably a case of 'forgive them as they know not what they do' but it's still Ecocide.

Anyway rant over, did we see any Wheatears in all the miles we've walked up n down there...yes, we spotted two on a grotty day when we had no camera and a few days later caught up with a very flighty male when we did have the camera with us. #126 for our Challenge.

Later in the week we did another stint of volunteering at Marton Mere, coming in from the north east again. A good walk in with lots of Chiffchaffs still singing, and we almost got on a Cetti's Warbler out in the open.

It was perched in full view but someone approached from behind and distracted us for a fraction of a second and when we eventually pressed the shutter button the bird had flown. Drat! Our spirits were lifted a bit further on when we heard our first Blackcap of the year, their fluty rich song is a joy to hear. Couldn't find it in the trees though and there's still no foliage for it to hide behind.

Coming into the reserve we heard another unseen one and then another, they'd arrived in force and a WhatsApp message told us there was a Willow Warbler singing at the top end of the reserve, which we wouldn't be visiting but it's all starting to happen now! 

We joined the volunteer group and started to get stuck in to the last of the dead hedging of the year. A guided walk was being led by other volunteers and they even caught us working when they passed by, blue jumper. We must have been really grafting - our sleeves are rolled up!

While we were working a Jay called a few times from the scrub on the other side of the path behind us but never showed itself. What did we say about them being this year's bogey bird? A gull commotion over the mere drew our attention to a north-bound raptor which turned out to be a Buzzard rather than the hoped for Osprey. The gulls at Base Camp have so far ony been able to find us the local Sparrowhawks too.

The following day started well in the garden when a male Blackbird showed up and began to find some worms.

They have a nest in the shrub just over our back fence so we're hoping for some good worm collecting shots in due course, assuming the local cats (of which there are far too many), Grey Squirrels and Magpies don't find them.
Then we set off up the coast to Rossall Point to see what might be about, including some more Wheatears, fingers crossed. The tide was coming in but there was still enough beach for the new sea defence works to continue, at least for another half hour or so.

After we passed the noisy machinery we saw the first of the morning's Wheatears perched on the next groyne along the beach but too far away for a pic. Skylarks sang from high above the golf course but other than that it was fairly quite, no Stonechats, no Meadow Pipits, no Linnets to be seen nor heard. We tried to get a pic of a Wheatear on the beach at our furthest point of our walk, there were two there but both were very flighty spending much time flying up to catch airborne insects on the breeze so we failed miserably. Far easier to get a snap of was a flock of Sanderlings that flew in from the east and landed on the beach.

83 of them all told. We counted them back at Base Camp from the photograph.

A few more yards furtheron a small group of Ringed Plovers were very vocal and doing display flights as well as displaying on the ground, lovely to watch. One of them broke away from the group and came much closer.

We really hope they'll be able to nest this summer with all the disturbance going on.

That's about it for now apart from to say we were out on the prom with the camera again this morning hoping for another Wheatear after the rain had stopped and the sun had come out but no luck...however we did get our first Sandwich Tern of the year, and we think the first for the Fylde coast - we've not seen any other reports so far. We did get a pic but you really don't want to see it it was beyond awful.

Oh and we got our first butterfly of the year this week too, a Small Tortoiseshell nectaring on a neighbour's Dandelions so it's a good time to remind you not to get the hoe or sprayer out, our bees and butterflies, and a  whole host of insects need the early nectar provided  Dandelions, they're not weeds but very important wild flowers.

Where to next? A safari with CR is coming up tomorrow, venue still weather dependent at the mo.

In the meantime let us know who's digging the holes and witrh what in your outback.

Broke a few ducks this week

The Safari spent much of last week at Marton Mere where we broke a few ducks. The first was our first ever pic of a Great White Egret grounded there. Shame it was obscured behind the reeds.

The following day we saw it again stood on the correct side of the reeds but we were at the wrong ens of the mere so had to quickly walk down to the Fylde Bird Club hide for a closer look but as CR was unlocking he door it flew off. how annoying!

Our next duck was broken a few minutes later when at long last we stumbled across the pair of Stonechats (PYLC #78) that have successfully evaded us so far this year.

The male was a bit of nightmare for facing away almost all of the time.

After a while the pair sat up together on the edge of the marsh.

The males are bright but the females are quietly striking.

On our third visit we bumped in to a small group of House Sparrows (YLPC #79) bathing in a puddle.

More excitement followed when we let another birder in to the Fylde Bird Club hide and while we were chatting he called out "Bittern". A lifer for him and year bird for us as it flew past the hide

And then turned to land in the reds close to our right but unfortunately in the shade of the trees beside the hide.

Bittern - PYLC #80

Round corner the Stonechats were sitting high up at the top of one of the few bushes along the embankment - duck well and truly broken.

The female soon dropped down in to the tall grass below the embankment and disappeared but the male did the same and stayed on show.

With time short today we headed straight back the way we came rather than doing the full circuit. Getting back close to the feeding station we heard the first Great Spotted Woodpecker we'd had on site this year. A quick dart in to the hide and a short wait later and Bingo it hopped on to a tree before getting a feast of peanuts from the hanging feeder nearby.

The next day there was a high tide and a really strong wind so we headed to the coast to see if the wind had blown anything out of ordinary inshore. Not a lot over the sea but the tiny bit of beach left was the haunt of Turnstones.

And Sanderlings both of which where perpetually disturbed by dog walkers letting their mutts run on the minuscule bit of beach left uncovered by the waves. We'll risk the wrath of everyone with a dog but suggest that on any designated site like a County Biological Heritage (Local) Sites, Nature Reserves, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Ramsar Sites, SPAs, SACs etc etc and a dog is out of control chasing, or even encouraged  to chase, the wildlife or causing other disturbance it should be shot just like farmers can do with livestock! Constant disturbance can be a real life threatening problem for some species if it interferes with their ability to feed or provide for their young.

In the few quiet times a couple of the Sanderlings made time to have a proper bath, even though it was in saltwater.

Also on the beach was this Pied Wagtail (PYLC #81)  hopping around looking for Sandhoppers and Seaweed Flies disturb by the incomiing waves.

The wind was still strong on Saturday so we had a family day out along the coast to watch the waves and see what else was about. On the marine lake a lot of the Turnstones were roosting out of the wind on the small island but they were skittish moving around a fair bit.

A good sized flock of them wanted to feed on the roadside grass bank at the edge of lake and they were to-ing and fro-ing from the island when people passed by.

They should have been easier to get better pics given how often they were flying round our feet but our lens was playing up something rotten - it's got one last chance back at the repairers before it goes in the recycling and we have to fork out for a replacement.

Where to next? We've had a short safari out on a wild goose chase to tell you about

In the meantime let us know who's doing the duck breaking in your outback.

Gee tha's a cold wind

The Safari had a quick shuffy at our spreadsheets and discovered we'd not seen a Woodcock on Patch 1 before the other day making it the fortieth species we've found on the Patch so far this year. Not only that the Ring Necked Parakeet that flew over Base Camp on Wednesday was the 33rd species for the garden this year and the first of its kind ever! it came from the north...but from where??? We've heard one up at Monty's walkies field which is to the north of us, could it be that one and just how many are there around town now; three have been in Stanley Park now, an increase of two in recent days.

Yesterday we joined the Wildlife Trusts Living Seas team for a rather chilly and very blustery two seawatch from the top of Rossall Tower. Storm clouds gathered and the sea tossed and turned but there was a good turn out despite everyone realising there'd be very little chance of seeing any blubber, still there's always a chance of a seabird or two when staring out to sea.

Thankfully that big black cloud missed us, as did all the others!

It was a bit like hard work, but we found a distant flock of Kittiwakes perhaps the same as came right beneath our noses in a tight flock a little later. From our position tucked in behind the wall at the back of the tower we didn't see them until very late and they'd passed by the time we'd grabbed the camera.

Just one out of perhaps 20 - where'd the others go?

Not much else was out there. The new shingle island was almost covered and all we could see roosting on it was a handful of Eiders and a couple of Great Black Backed Gulls. After while a Red Throated Diver flew by but most of the action was right below us on the beach as the tide began to drop. First in was a fly-by of a nice flock of Ringed Plovers followed by a good number of Sanderlings which pattered up and down the beach on twinkling black legs dodging the incoming waves.

From time to time a larger wave would send the closest ones to the water fluttering skywards.

Best find of the session was actually as we were leaving when we spotted a Purple Sandpiper roosting with a few Turnstones.

Once we'd found one we found a second, and then a third and then two more; five! That's a really good count for this stretch of coast and most unexpected.

This morning we had a wander round Marton Mere for a couple of hours with Monty. We came across a couple of female Bullfinches and we were almost able to gget a decent pic of one until the usual plague happened - a couple of unleashed dogs (two of far too many this very chilly morning) miles away from their idiot human ran in front of us and flushed it seconds before we could press the shutter button...sooooo frustrating and infinitely annoying.

Not too much else to be seen, a Goldcrest and perhaps a bit of a cold weather movement with a bit of an influx of Fieldfares and Blackbirds, we heard at least a couple of Redwings too. 

At the platform a flock of tits came by some of which stopped to take a few pecks out of the remaining Apples still hanging from the branches.

The light wasn't good for looking at the water from there, but at least 200 Coots were sat in the middle of the mere.

A bumblebee buzzing past was a complete surprise, although it was sunny it was no more than 4C out there and there are lots of Bluebells popping up under the trees behind the platform.

We will get that Bullfinch pic one day (idiot dog owners permitting) but it won't be this weekend as we're elsewhere.

Where to next? Not sure and there might me snow...watch this space.
In the meantime let us know who's bitten off more than they can chew in your outback.

A much better day but only poor pics

The Safari went a few miles north to meet up with GB and JH for a mooch along the prom again.

The tide was well down and there were two ferries at anchor waiting for the tide to rise before they could get into Heysham dock, they have a 5.5m (18ft) draught, with our very long lens we couldn't get both of them in frame together.

In front of the ship and stretching to the left is the 'new' shingle island King's Scar which has arisen about a mile offshore since the dredging of our smaller port has stopped. Looks good for nesting sea/shore birds like Ringed Plovers and terns (hopefully to include Little Terns). It isn't totally covered by most high tides now but how much higher can it get? Maybe that's what the ancient village of S(h)ingleton Thorpe was built of that was a good way off the current coastline. The village was lost in a storm in the Middle Ages the residents surviving but becoming refugees  and given a plot of land to relocate too, now known as Singleton.

All the while during our walk we were listening to the exhaulting songs of Skylarks, we kept looking up waiting for a photo opportunity. At the same time a flock of about 50 waders was continually disturbed by a multitude of dog walkers as they tried to settle to roost as the tide rose.

Most were Dunlins and Sanderlings with a few Ringed Plovers thrown in for good measure. What a shame, these birds need to conserve their energy for their imminent long migrations to higher latitudes, not waste it every two minutes as yet another dog walker comes along. Maybe they should have headed out to the new island but even that gets over-run by jet-skiers if the sea is calm enough for them to get that far.

As the tide rose they were forced closer to the promenade.

Swallows were moving through both out to sea and behind us over the golf course all afternoon. Never in bog groups but by the time we got back to the car we must have had well over 50 and a small number of Sand Martins too.

Concentrating on the golf course we did eventually get a pic of a Skylark (YBC #112) both singing and on the ground although the latter was too far away.

Surely we'll get better pics than this before 31st December

There was a wagtail briefly on the mound too, which had a hint of White Wagtail about it but it disappeared over the back before we could get a proper look at it.

One of the reasons we went up that way was to look for Harbour Porpoises seeing ass how the sea was calm enough to spot them. We didn't manage to find any but did see a Grey Seal not too far offshore. We were very surprised to learn that it was the first local lad GB had ever seen here especially seeing as how he more or less grew up on this beach as a nipper - he did say it was far too polluted in those days to support creatures like the porpoises and seals.

Our pic but GB's processing

This morning we were out early with Monty when about 200 Pink Footed Geese flew over on their way to Iceland.  When we put them on the website we saw that Young Un AB had seen them over his house some 20 minutes earlier and then probably the same flock was counted at 230 at the coast we were at at the weekend.

This evening we took Monty round the new woodland where we found some Cuckoo Flowers blooming.

There are Oak leaves unfurling all over the place but we only saw one Ash tree with anything like open buds, some had a hint of green showing but most were still fast asleep. A drier summer coming up?

Not much on the sea at Patch 2 today in a time constrained lunchtime watch, just three Shelducks going south and a lone Sandwich Tern until we started trying to count the Cormorants lined up on the dry outer sandbanks. It was then we saw two flying out to sea, one was distinctly smaller and didn't look as black as the other, we'd like to say it was a Shag but it was just too fr away to be positive. In the end we didn't count the rest of the Cormorants.

Where to next? Little chance of doing any safari-ing tomorrow but there's always Friday.

In the meantime let us know been avoiding the limelight in your outback.