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Back from the fields

Posted by on July 11, 2008 10:38 AM | 

blogavo.jpg

Been away for family hols to France, staying with Mrs D and the outlaws, but more of that later.
Hope I haven't missed anything too mega, but why not let me know?
What have you been seeing?
Why is everyone driving on the wrong side of the road?
Where's my red wine/cheese/crusty bread?
Things should be picking up now with more waders and seawatching and autumn is just around the corner...and with it the chance of a UK tick for me this year (finally).
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies....

Comments (5)

john wrote...

Hi all - just back from France, but management system of blog appears to have changed...will sort it all out today,
cheers,
John

Posted by: john  | July 12, 2008 9:18 PM

Bazzo wrote...

At last it looks as if winds and tides are coming into alignment:for a week starting Wednesday the forecast is for moderate to strong westerlies, and the tides at Formby Point are building up nicely. And with my legendary foresight, I've booked a few days off. Eyes to the eye-pieces everyone.

Posted by: Bazzo  | July 14, 2008 10:22 AM

Jennifer Walker, RSPB wrote...

If you have ever seen a marsh harrier gracefully gliding over reeds or tumbling in the air and locking talons during a courtship display, you will understand just how special these birds are.
After 21 years of breeding at RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve, in Silverdale, they are set to produce a bumper number of young there in their ‘birthday’ year. With an amazing four nests this summer, there could be as many as 24 chicks and the first young bird was spotted flying from the nest on Monday 30 June.
Between now and mid August the young will leave the nests and often put on spectacular aerial displays while they practice flying and hunting for themselves -it’s a great time to visit the nature reserve and watch them.
Richard Miller, the reserve’s new assistant warden is really passionate about the future of our wetland birds “As well as continuing to manage the important reedbeds at Leighton Moss, we need to re-create new wetlands to further increase marsh harrier numbers and help other rare and threatened species such as bitterns�.
Although marsh harrier numbers have recently been increasing, with an estimated 360 breeding females in the UK, they do continue to be at risk from persecution and egg collectors, despite the fact that it is illegal and has been for decades.
You can help the RSPB by joining the growing movement of people who say killing birds of prey must stop by visiting www.rspb.org.uk/birdsofprey. Alternatively, call in to your nearest RSPB reserve where you can sign a campaign postcard and find out more about how you can help.

Posted by: Jennifer Walker, RSPB  | July 14, 2008 12:54 PM

Graham Moreton wrote...

Hi John,
On Sunday there was a Spoonbill at Marshside and only me and Ralph who does the Marine Lake count saw it. I got some cracking shots of it.

Posted by: Graham Moreton  | July 14, 2008 1:03 PM

Bazzo wrote...

Has anyone got shots of the hybrid Swallow X Sand Martin that fledged from a nest beneath the Sandgrounders Hide at Marshside RSPB in 2007? It seems that such hybrids are extremely rare at least, if not unknown, and it would be great if we could have an illustrated note on the record in next year's Lancashire Bird Report

Posted by: Bazzo  | July 14, 2008 2:05 PM

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