Cumbria, Monks, South Africans etc

6/3/10
A pleasant estuary walk and good cake near Ulverston with Henri Cartier Hughes.
The usual species seen for this location in difficult light that changed between bright sunlight and dark clouds thereby making photography difficult.
Species seen:-
redshank
curlew
lapwing
oystercatcher
shellduck
canada goose
mallard
wigeon
teal
cormorant
raven
rook
jackdaw
mute swan
herring, common and bh gulls
greater spotted woodpecker
song thrush
blackbird
dunnock
tit mice and finches.

We had a diversion into a Buddhist Monastery and had a jolly nice afternoon tea and spent some time talking to a South African Buddhist monk. She was interested in what our equipment was for. Lovely people the monks. No red squirrels seen. Plenty of Stan Laurel related references in the town.

Update

Busy recently and little chance to get out.


I managed to see the ring billed gull that was around near Mirfield at the ponds off Sands Lane the other week, ie 25/2. I happened across it as I was driving past on a work mission and I saw a charm of twitchers. I hadn't looked at any blogs for a few days and I don't receive the twitcher telegraph services, so I wasn't aware it was about. There is a video of it on the bald ibis blog http://www.thebaldibis.blogspot.com/

Anyway, a friendly Wakefield birder, Seth, let me have a look through his scope at the said bird. A good bird for this part of Yorkshire. i stop and look at the ponds occasionally when i am passing on my mission to bring enlightenment to the people of Dewsbury.

I was the only person there in a suit and tie, so I stood out from the crowd dressed in the birder uniforms of country colours, or camouflage gear. They did not mob me, however, despite a few funny looks.

Towards Luddenden Foot

Shackleton like I braved the snow and had a look at the heronry near Luddenden Foot in the snow and murk. Parts of the canal frozen.
Three herons on the nests at the site close to Clubendden Foot.
20 canada geese in filed near Brearley.
c20 jackdaws in trees close to Moderna site.
Titmice flocking close to Brearley-c20 great tits and c30 blue tits.
Mallard on the river and canal.
Usual corvids and gulls plus a bh gull with a black head.
1 grey wagtail close to the White Lion.
1 dipper near St Michael's church.
1 mistle thrush above Ludd Foot.

Plenty of snow and a brief glimpse of sun. Spring is on the way.

Banging female

I noticed some marks on my study window yesterday morning and thought that they were probably caused by a bird. Sure enough, later in the day I saw a female blackbird attacking its reflection in the window with great gusto, not to say reckless abandon. She made repeated return visits to attack the glass. Bird behaviour-fascinating and occasionally dangerous.
The window is a bit of a mess.

Cromwell Bottom-Dark and Wet

Monday. 2-3.15pm. Not a lot about. Visibility poor. Little bird song.
"Highlights":-
2 pochard m
1m, 1f goldeneye
coot
moorhen
mallard
usual gulls and corvids
coal, blue, great and lt tit
greenfinch
chaffinch
dunnock
robin
wren
mistle thrush
blackbird


Looked for signs of mustellids but no success.
Then it rained.

Biting poltical satire

Political satire, or a bit of a laugh?

Dander

Out this pm to Hardcastle Crags and Crimsworth Dean for a stroll of c6 miles. More walking than birding. Lots of people out, especially at the Crags, with plenty of dog walkers struggling to keep up with their dogs.

It was very quiet on the bird front and little bird song heard in the Crags.
Male tawny owl heard at 13.20
Mistle thrush
Titmice
Jackdaws
Dipper (1)
Chaffinch

EGP all is forgiven.