LANCS: Yellow-legged Gull.

Three Golden-ringed Dragonflies on the stream at Tower Lodge in Bowland this morning was a delightful sight. It was such a shame that the experience was spoiled by the disgusting mess left by those who see fit to use an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as a post-barbecue refuse tip. This disgraceful disregard for one of our natural resources has been highlighted by other local birders (see this post on "Birds2Blog") and is beyond comprehension to me, but "resource" is interpreted in different ways by others I suppose.
Anyway, back to yesterday. Mrs B is getting itchy feet and wants to move. Not far mind you, so we spent yesterday afternoon touring prospective abodes on the Fylde. Not that anything should be read into this as I fear we could well find ourselves in any other corner of Lancs, or just staying here in Preston! Anyway, I digress. There was a Yellow-legged Gull at Cocker's Dyke near Pilling (somewhere Mrs B had earmarked with potential for future dwelling - Pilling - not Cocker's Dyke!) and having paid a cursory glance at one house I persuaded Mrs B that the YLG would be most educational. After a first scan through the gathering of standing Larids (the ones whose legs I could see), I drew a blank. A second sift through loafing Larids (tricky - can't see legs), picked out the gull in the photo above. Mantle tone midway between LBBG and Herring, no bluish cast. Fair start.

Then it stood up. Yellow legs! Time to alert Mrs B who by now has returned to the car overcome by the excitement of yet another sub-adult gull. No need to worry though as I had read the situation, removing all sharp objects and shoe laces etc from the car, therefore preventing any self-harm situations.

Spot the YLG, Cocker's Dyke, Pilling 28 June 2009.

Third-summer Yellow-legged Gull (rear, with Herring & LBBG's) , Cocker's Dyke 28 June 2009.

Yellow-legged Gull, Pilling 28 June 2009. Note mantle colour (between Herring / LBBG in grey tone), "squared-off" head shape and lack of "tertial step" producing attenuated appearance. Oh, nearly forgot - yellow legs!

Now, me and YLG's have history. Date: 14 April 2008, location Loch Arthur in Dumfries & Galloway. Loads of LBBG's, few Herring Gulls, end of the day so better check through them. There, in the middle of the flock of white-headed gulls sat one bird, square headed with a dark grey mantle, tone midway between Herring & LBBG. Spot-on for YLG. It even started preening and showed nice custard yellow feet and legs as it rolled. Knowing this would be a good D&G bird (and a D&G tick for me) I decided to try a few snaps with the digiscope. Mistake! The results of this wise decision can be seen here where a nice clear blue gap on the water shows exactly where the putative (don't you just hate that word?) YLG sat only seconds beforehand. My enthusiasm for securing D&G's first documented record of Yellow-legged Gull wilted somewhat when I realised I'd need the pattern of the fifth primary for record acceptance. As you can see from the above shot, the Pilling bird was a bit more co-operative. I'll be checking lots of white-headed gulls in D&G next week, I can assure you. Mrs B can hardly wait!

"Old Blockhead" at the back shows well at Pilling yesterday.

So there we have it. Plenty of mundane drivel to be going on with and I dare say we'll end up moving about 100 yards down the road.

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LANCS: Reasons to be cheerful ........

ONE: Male Ring Ouzel, Bowland 28 June 2009.

TWO: Ringtail Hen Harrier.

Life is good. I'm saddened by the fact that this morning was my last fieldwork for the season in Bowland, but what a way to go out. Peregrines, Hen Harriers, Merlins, Whinchats (two new territories), Stonechats (including a male in unusual song-flight) and best of all a pair of Ring Ouzels.

The Ring Ouzels were very busy on this muggy morning, male and female travelling in different directions to feed (and greater distances than I imagined). With steady, purposeful flight the male would pass, stopping only on a rowan or atop heather to sing a few phrases. I finally got to grips with him when I noticed some movement in the bracken on a bank, the white crescent on his chest showing in the small gap. Hopping around like an Antpitta (I'm starting to miss guiding in South America - I thought I heard Bolivian Earthcreeper this morning!), then perching to sing briefly he eventually surrendered. What a moment, my favourite Turdus!

Bowland: These deep cloughs with heather and bracken seem to suit Stonechats well. Whinchats appear to prefer the gentler slopes, predominately covered in bracken.

Male Ring Ouzel with a "friend" in Bowland this morning.

Ring Ouzels are in serious decline (red listed). Why? Well, upland afforestation and the popularity of leisure pursuits (rambling, hiking) in their breeding areas has been cited. Others have suggested that bracken clearance or the spread of other thrush species (residents that would take up territory in suitable habitat before Ring Ouzels arrive from Africa) may be the cause of the demise of Turdus torquatus in Britain. The Scandinavian population is at a stable level apparently and they are responsible for the majority of east coast records in the UK during passage times. The numbers of migrant Ring Ouzels on the west coast has decreased however so the plight of this charismatic "Mountain Blackbird" may well be in the hands of hunters in southern Europe. Decline has also been linked to reduced food supplies due to high spring rainfall in the Atlas Mountains in N. Africa. Interesting that the same weather in that region has been linked to higher than normal numbers of Painted Lady butterflies ........

So, that's it then. Time for the knees to recover and do a bit of coastal birding.


Oh, nearly forgot:

THREE!


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LANCS: Misty morning.

Up with the lark again this morning and out on the moors once again. With a bit of time to spare I decided to have a look at some likely spots for Ring Ouzels. So far I've seen 3-4 birds this spring, all in "traditional" spots, so I thought I might try some untried sites. One visited this morning looked spot-on: a nice deep rocky clough, a few trees and flanked by heather and bracken with a bit of grazed areas for feeding. It was well off the beaten track too, so not disturbed. The decline of the Ring Ouzel in the UK has been attributed to several factors, involving theories relevant to breeding season, migration and wintering areas. It's thought that some Ring Ouzels have been displaced from nesting sites by the spread of Blackbirds and Mistle Thrushes into moorland areas. So far I had seen very few of either in Bowland this spring, and mainly in plantations in in-bye. Also Cumbrian birders had commented that Ring Ouzels nest alongside Blackbirds in quarries there, so could this really be a prohibitive factor? Well, despite my optimism I failed to find a Ring Ouzel this morning and did see Blackbird (a male) and Mistle Thrush in prime Ring Ouzel habitat. Of course this means absolutely nothing at all with such a small sample, but isn't it ironic that one of our finest summer visitors may be usurped by some of our commonest birds and not because of the much maligned raptors in the uplands? Food for Peregrines......sorry, I mean thought!
Anyway I did see a few birds this morning. Carrying on from yesterday's theme I spent a fair bit of time concentrating on Whinchats, returning to an area where I'd previously found 5 birds. This particular fell slope with large patches of bracken appears to be well populated and at least 7 Whinchats were on show this morning. This included a juvenile (along with 4 males, 2 females) and all were in close proximity of one another. Initially I found this "grouping" of Whinchats rather strange but the latest Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Lancashire & North Merseyside mentions "clusters" of Whinchats and indeed states that "loosely colonial nesting" had been observed. Well, there you go .......
A fine adult Med' Gull, Dipper, a very confused juvenile Stonechat (with the Whinchats, but later reunited with its parent) and Peregrine mobbing a Buzzard all noted in rather dreary conditions, but a Badger running directly at me as I walked along the road was amusing.

Thanks to Steve Flynn and Pete Woodruff for their Whinchat related comments regarding the last post (Chat Room) by the way. Nice to see a bit of optimism and read some positive comments about one of our summer visitors at last.



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LANCS: Chat Room.

Male Whinchat, Bowland 26 May 2009.

Another fine morning to be out and about on the moors. I can't deny it was a bit slow at first - low cloud base and pleasant breezy conditions, but few birds moving around apart from Meadow Pipits (which was lucky as that's what I was counting). A few singing Skylarks lifted spirits a little until I came across my first Stonechats of the morning. In fact I found a single male, then a pair with two young and then a male with one young.
With the clip board safely stashed at the end of the last survey it was time for a bit of birding on the way back to the car. Canada Goose (I've seen a few of these nesting in the damper areas here), plenty of Red Grouse with young and Buzzard kept me amused (not much though), if not satisfied. The soft "wheu-tack" call of a Whinchat had me scanning the bracken and I was delighted to find first a female and then, just behind her, a male plus two young. Proof of breeding Whinchat at last.

Juvenile Whinchat, Bowland 26 June 2009.

Having seen Whinchat previously on a nearby slope and suspected they were breeding, I thought I'd check to see if maybe they were the same birds on a bit of wander. So it was a pleasant surprise to find the male still in place here and, even better, another juvenile.

Bowland is the Lancashire stronghold of this attractive species. They were extinct as a breeding species in the 'lowlands' (mirroring a national trend attributed to the loss of marginal farmland habitats) and on the coast by the end of the 80's. Birds of Lancashire estimates the county population as low as 100 pairs with BTO Beeding Bird Surveys indicating a 15% national decline between 1994 and 2002. Whinchat is amber listed in Birds of Conservation Concern by virtue of this decline.


It's of no scientific value, and of little comfort (given their recent change in status) that I've encountered more Whinchats than I expected in Bowland this spring. After all I've trudged over some areas I've never visited before and covered familiar sites (to me) far more thoroughly due to fieldwork. But it's been great to see them (maybe a dozen pars) and get to know the Whinchat a little better.

Finally back at the car I was greeted by another male Whinchat. Definitely a favourite of mine and hopefully the downturn in fortunes of yet another of our summer visitors can be arrested.


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LANCS: Flaming June.

Travelled out for the last (planned, at least) visit for the foreseeable future to Bowland Knotts this morning. I must admit it's not my favourite bit of Bowland (hope I haven't offended any of those patch-working Bowland birders). It's a long way from Preston and I haven't seen too much out there. But one thing it has got going for it is Skylarks. I like Skylarks - cheerful little blighters that just seem to be so happy they have to get high in the air and sing their hearts out. Strangely scarce on my survey squares west of Slaidburn, there seems to be more in the cushion bog dominated terrain above Stock Reservoir. Green Woodpecker was the only noteworthy bird for me on the moor, with Nuthatch singing as I trudged back to the car along the road.


I decided to take the route through the Trough of Bowland on the way home and stopped off at Tower Lodge. It took me about ten minutes to find a Golden-ringed Dragonfly as well as a Spotted Flycatcher and a few Grey Wags with recently fledged young. Wish I'd had a bit more time here but there'll be other opportunities I hope.
Gavin Haig recently commented that "June is rubbish" in a recent post on his excellent blog 'Not Quite Scilly'. This provoked a bit of discussion (none of it at all contentious) including a response outlining an excellent day in the field for a couple of observers tallying a number of scarce birds in a single June day. Gav capitulated a little, admitting June could be OK for rarities but generally birding (ie. patch-working or "on-speck" excursions) was a bit "rubbish". Without thinking, I immediately agreed but then thought about my recent experiences, giving me so much pleasure - all in June. So, it's all relative isn't it? The less you have to choose from (there are fewer species out on the moors than say, coastal marshes), the lower your expectations I suppose. Low expectations - wallowing in mediocrity? Me? Nah - bring on July!

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LANCS: Back on Bowland.

Early morning from the source of the Hodder at White Greet in Bowland, 23 June 2009.

Classic Whinchat habitat (bracken covered clough flanks) this morning in Bowland.

Another cracking morning on the uplands. Three male and a single female Whinchat in the White Greet area, 3 pairs of Wheatears (4+ juvs seen) and 5 juvenile Stonechats in one tight group on a dry stone wall. Peregrines calling somewhere over the fell, a female Merlin and 5 Ravens circling together.

Stopped off at Jeffrey's Hill at Longridge Fell on the way home to take in the view over Chipping Vale in glorious sunshine. Just one week of fieldwork left now - gonna miss it ........

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LANCS: OK, got the egret now where's the Curlew?

One of the Daggers (I think?) on the house in Fulwood, Preston.

Time for a bit of Ribblesiding at last as I spent the last two mornings surveying the saltmarsh, grazing and tidal creek systems of the proposed Ribble Estuary Regional Park. Helping out with WeBS counts on the Banks Marsh (part of the National Nature Reserve) yesterday I was reminded just what a rarity magnet the whole area used to be. The famous Freckleton Sewage Farm (sadly no longer with us) boasted records of Broad-billed Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope and many others, whilst the south shore hosted Lesser Yellowlegs and Stilt Sandpiper. Of course good birds such as these must still occur. Finding them on the Ribble is another story though, with restricted access and distant viewing. Not too many notable sightings on the WeBS apart from female Eider with 3 chicks, 800+ Shelduck, 20+ Common Terns and a Peregrine. A Corn Bunting at the car park was probably bird of the day.
Is this all about to change though with the development of the RSPB's Hesketh Out Marsh Reserve and opening scheduled for September? Surely all this area needs is a 'focal point' where birders can concentrate their efforts and former glories will be resotored?
This morning's birds on the south shore opposite Warton during a breeding bird survey included 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Little Egrets, Arctic Tern, 3 Avocets, a Common Sandpiper (autumn's here!) and best of all a pair of Yellow Wagtails.
Oh how things have changed. Struggling for Yellow Wags and Little Egrets little more than a "padder". Seeing these graceful birds this morning reminded me of a situation in the hide at Leighton Moss at the weekend when one birder located some Curlew for some newcomers.
"They're next to the Little Egret, at the edge of the marsh": I never thought I'd see the day when Little Egret was used as a reference point to day-tick Curlews .......

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LANCS: Fells to Coast.

Looking north from Waddington Fell, Lancs 20 June 2009.

Super day out today started with a bit of fieldwork in Bowland. Out early I managed to find a few "windows of opportunity" between the showers and counting Meadow Pipits (whoopee!) was tolerable due to the fine selection of birds in Bowland this morning.

My first hour or so was pretty quiet admittedly but livened up with the appearance of Green Woodpecker, then Cuckoo and Snipe "chipping" over some damp grazing and juncus before perching in full view on a nearby fence post. Last time I walked this patch 4 or 5 Redstarts could be heard, but nothing from them this morning. Summer is here then, or was it just the weather (if you see what I mean).


A Short-eared Owl was without doubt bird of the morning though on my way back to the car at the end of the final survey of the morning. A Tawny Owl sang as I watched the Shortie perched up on a fence post for ten minutes or so. Surreal stuff indeed.
Mrs B decided she'd like an afternoon out and as we hadn't been out to Leighton Moss for a while we thought we'd give it a try.

Little Gulls on the Allen Pool, Leighton Moss, Lancs 20 June 2009.

Two Little Gulls were on show from the Allen Hide alongside 70+ Black-tailed Godwits. A Peregrine bombed in and caused mayhem with the Blackwits and Redshanks, flushing everything as it swooped through including another 150 or so Blackwits from the Eric Morcambe Pool.
We could see a few more Little Gulls feeding over the Eric Morcambe Pool so we moved to the next hide. Little Egret, a couple of Greenshank, single (!) Avocet, 70+ Teal, several Shoveler and small numbers of Gadwall were present. At least 6 Little Gulls were out there too but a superb adult summer plumaged Spotted Redshank came out from behind an island, started to preen and bathe frantically and then fell asleep with the other waders. Tough life.

Little Egret, Eric Morcambe Pool, Leighton Moss 20 June 2009.

Spotted Redshank with Black-tailed Godwits and Redshank, Leighton Moss 20 June 2009.

Male Marsh Harrier was the next in the all star cast this afternoon spooking everything from the pool as he passed in front of the hide. Slowly quartering the reeds and plopping down every now and then, he finally crossed the back of the pool being mobbed by the Avocet and scattering all the Teal before heading off across the saltmarsh. A fine performance indeed.

Male Marsh Harrier, Leighton Moss 20 June 2009.

The coastal hides had kept us busy for most of the afternoon but it we thought we'd take a quick look at the reserve before returning home. A Lesser Whitethroat singing just outside the Morcambe Hide as we left delayed us a bit, although he failed to show well in the breezy (but pleasant) conditions.

Reed Warblers blurted out their strident song as we strolled along the causeway to the public hide, by now virtually empty. A pair of Gadwall, Pochard and half-a-dozen Tufties were the offering on the water but 2 female Marsh Harriers on show more than compensated for that. Not bad ......

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Ribble to Amazon?

Bearded Tachuri, Guyana February 2009.

Not been too much "Amazon" on the blog of late as I spend my usual "wet season" break here in the UK. Just exactly where the wet season is at the moment is a bit debatable admittedly (with our recent run of awful UK springs). So I thought I'd slip in a few shots from the last two trips. Here goes:

This Common Potoo was found during an Ornitholidays tour at Karanambu Ranch in Guyana. I must admit to being astounded at the amount of white exhibited by this individual on the wing (more so when outstretched), but my excitement was soon quelled. Guyana, well it didn't really do it for me I'm afraid. The itineraries need attention (too much emphasis on birding open grasslands in my opinion) and not enough forest birding or effort spent finding some of the country's important birds.

Great Jacamar, Guyana February 2009.

Black Nunbird, February 2009.

Northern Caracara, Guyana February 2009.

However I must say that birding tourism is in its infancy in Guyana. Only time will tell whether it will become one of South America's classic destinations. One experience highlighted how behaviour and attitudes to birding and the birds had changed though. My local guide was particularly keen to reduce the amount of playback used to lure birds into view. A policy I fully respect. Yes, I do use limited playback when necessary abroad but always have the bird's welfare as an utmost priority. I rarely gained permission to use the iPod in Guyana (unless it was a lifer for my guide, funny enough), but attitudes to another aspect of bird tourism troubled me.

In order to view Hoatzins, Guyana's national bird, we had to travel by boat on a small river. Hoatzins frequent vegetation-choked water courses and boats are not very maneuverable so viewing can be difficult. So much so that the guide's assistant saw fit to throw small sticks in the cover to flush the birds out. This was not discouraged by our guide until I made my feelings towards this process known. A second instance involved the ever-popular Sunbittern (above), discovered feeding quietly in a roadside pool. This bird is famous for its dazzling wing "flash" in flight and a driver was instructed to disembark from our truck and shout at the bird as he approached in an attempt to make the bird fly. Personally I think we are losing our focus here when it's OK disturb birds in this manner, purely to obtain our objective and our materialistic desires are overriding common sense. Unfortunately I'm seeing more of this in the presence of birders in possession of cameras. Please note I did not use the term "bird photographers".

Tropical Sceech-Owl, Rock View Lodge, Guyana February 2009.

Adult Black-crowned Night Heron, Georgetown Botanical Gardens, Guyana February 2009.

Black-collared Hawk, Guyana February 2009.

Lesser Kiskadee, Guyana February 2009.

Red-shouldered Macaws, Georgetown, Guyana February 2009.

Swallow-tailed Kite over Iwokrama, Guyana February 2009.

Scarlet Ibis, Guyana February 2009.

Black Curassow, Atta Rainforest Reserve, Guyana February 2009.

Ladder-tailed Nightjar, Iwokrama, Guyana February 2009.

My latest tour was to Mexico, returning just before the Swine Flu outbreak. It'll be a great shame if Mexico suffers a few years in the doldrums due to this. Mexico has a lot to offer birders, with spectacular birding and scenery, nice people and is steeped in culture. I look forward to returning to Rancho Primavera where we saw these Orange-chinned Parakeets and the volcanoes near Ciudad Guzman where the Mountain Pygmy-Owl (below) was photographed very soon.


So that's a bit of "Amazon" (well, Latin America anyway), how about the Ribble ........?

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