Warton Marsh on the Ribble Estuary, 2 August 2009.Not much time for birding lately with just a couple of "estuarine excursions" producing very little of note. A quick stop at Cocker's Dyke near Pilling in the week (I forgot to do my notes and can't remember what day it was!) in windy but sunny conditions was pleasant enough. Small flock of 100+ Dunlin, few Redshanks and 49 Golden Plover were the pick of the waders but as always an adult Mediterranean Gull made it worthwhile.
This morning I decided on a quick dash out to the Ribble to get away from office chores for a couple of hours. It was a bit early to go straight to the inner estuary as the tide would be right up but I miss-timed arriving at Granny's Bay and the waders were already well out of range. Nevertheless I gave the 1000+ Dunlin a bit of a grilling with the 'scope but couldn't make out a squat, dumpy stint shape or a stretched-out "white-rumped" one so full marks for trying I suppose. It did look as though it'll be worth another go though with numbers building up and 7 Bar-tailed Godwits, a summer plum' Grey Plover and single Sanderling out there too.
I did get it right on the north Ribble Marshes on the way back though (on with the wellies) - 237 Lapwings, 200+ Dunlin, 20+ Oystercatchers, 2 Curlew, 12 Redshank and 2 Greenshanks all in view. Yet another Med' Gull (a juvenile this time) made the top bird slot once again.
Here's a flock of Dunlin I photographed just before they all flew off at Newbie on the Scottish Solway shore in July last year. Or are they all Dunlin ......... ?Exciting stuff eh?
PS. Just remembered it was 30 July when I went to Cocker's Dyke (had to check on Pete Woodruff's blog!).
What day is it?
Who am I?
Nurse!!!!
4 comments:
Another enjoyable read Colin to which I'll only add......nothing to worry about forgetting what the date/day is. Kathleen often shouts me back from the car as I'm leaving on my birding missions to ask 'have you got everything Peter' whilst she holds my mobile or pager in her hand. But I've always maintained I'm not going to let it bother me until the day I get up for breakfast and put the cereal in the tea pot and the tea bag in my cereal bowl...... I have my eye on a good Care Home!
Yes, it's The Home for the Bewildered Birder for me. I've reserved a room (padded) in the Dodo wing overlooking a landfill site so I can at least misidentify Yellow-legged Gulls as part of my therapy.
CB
Like the sound of your choice of 'Home'. A sense of humour is one of anybody's best characteristics, keep it up Colin.
My next comment on your blog will be a serious bird/birding one......promise.
Pete.
No problem Pete. Be nice if I could post something with a bit of "substance" at the moment. Bit quiet (he says as a R B Fly is reported down the road!).
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