I was continuing my Great Crested Newt translocation project at Cottam and was surprised by the amount of calling Chiffchaff's on the site (as well as a Tree Pipit and plenty of Meadow Pipits) there had obviously been a decent fall of migrants last night. Within the Chiffchaffs I picked out the distinctive call of a Yellow-Browed Warbler, a classic Autumn migrant which is turning up everywhere at the moment, it eventually flitted across the canal on to the University of Central Lancashire's athletics ground, I am next in the area on Thursday, maybe it will stick around. There is also one showing well at Leasowe, Wirral today. No Great Crested Newts today but Smooth Newts and a Bank Vole in a pitfall trap!
After the Newt work I headed for Horwich and the four juvenile Glossy Ibises that have been seen intermittently for the last few days. I couldn't believe how close they allow birders to approach them (see the photo and mobile phone video upload), these birds have no doubt been pushed to the UK by the recent Eastern winds that also result in the appearance of Yellow-Browed Warblers. As I left the site at 11:20 they flew over the road and out of sight, but no doubt are still in the area and well worth a visit! I then took the opportunity to catch up with the female Black Redstart that has been seen nearby for the last couple of weeks, with time pressing I only managed brief views of the bird, yet it did show off a bit; fly catching off the dry stone walls on the edge of the moorland.
6 comments:
Hi Danny
Thought you want to know that, when I visited greenbank park this morning, I found 2 female shoveler. Otherwise, the area was pretty quiet, although I did hear ( but not see) some ring necked parakeets.
Hi Danny
A great white egret has been making regular appearences at the hale area and pickering pastures bird hide. I was lucky enough to see it near the Hale village lighthouse. Also around was a female Merlin, 2 common Buzzards, 3 Kestrels, female sparrowhawk, Grey heron, Comorant and 5 curlews.
out around Sefton Park on Sunday, the usual species all easily spotted but 2 things were of particular interest. The numbers of Little Grebe on the main lake seem up above the 8 or 9 that seemed resident over summer, there looks to be 12 or 13 at least currently down there. No sign of the female mandarin duck that has turned up the last few years, or the pochard and tufted ducks that have made occasional appearances in the last few years. Maybe that's something to do with this winter not having been particularly cold (yet)? The parakeets were putting on a fine display around the feeders with 5 in evidence plus a possible 6th, but particualrly intersting was that they were sat in clear pairs in the big tree that's riddled with nest holes just by the bridge down the hill from the feeders out the back of the palm house. I watched for a while, some birds were actively investigating the holes and on a couple I could see the birds clearly chewing away the bark from around the edge of the hole presumably to widen them. There were 2 pairs checking out holes in the same tree, it would be great to see them nesting there in such an easily observable place this year. Has anyone spotted any waxwings this winter? Again I'm assuming that the mild weather in Scandinavia and Europe generally hasn't pushed them over here looking for food.
Hi Danny
Was at sefton park on Sunday.
As I walked through fairy glen, I noticed two male ring necked parakeets in a tree. But the amazing part was when the two flew at each other and got into a midair tussle! As they fought, however, they crash landed only five foot away from me. This did not deter them however, nor did the fact that I could've just bent over and picked one up. Instead, they continued to fight on the ground before finally flying of in different directions.
The cause of the fight was obvious, though. As the two males fought, a female bird landed in the tree right
Above them. After the fight broke up, one male reappeared shortly after and sat in the tree with her.
So therefore, I believe that the male that returned to her tree was already her partner while the other one wanted to mate with her.
Had a wander around sefton park just this evening, pair of tufted duck on the lake and good to see great crested grebe on there already. small flock of fieldfare on lark lane side of the park high in the trees and i've had a little group of 5 siskin on the feeders at the back of my house (edge of the park) daily for the last week or so. usual other species around, lots of chaffinch and quite a few greenfinch on my feeders too along with coal/great/blue/long tail tits. also had a buzzard emerging from it's roost the other morning, it took off towards the park. sparrowhawk seem very active at the moment, i've seen them regularly over aigburth last couple of months and also out at allerton. off to check out the red breasted goose at pickering pasture if the weather clears up any time soon.
Another potter around sefton park showed, amongst the usual stuff, a flock of around 100 redwing in the trees near aigburth peoples hall, my first drumming woodpecker of the year, lots of frenetic and loud activity from the parakeets and a count of at least 15 little grebe on the lake along with the great crested grebe mentioned last weekend, still on its own. siskins on the feeders out the back of my house are up to 7. female sparrowhawk zoomed a couple of feet away from me in pursuit of something along normanton avenue, they seem to be everywhere at the moment.
danny, it makes me wonder, assuming the parakeets are breeding (and you provided pretty good evidence that they did last year)does this make them the most northerly known breeding colony of parrot? just a thought.
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