Zim Girl's 6th Big Year 2023

[Zim Girl]

Another bird we have struggled to get a good view of this year.

 

UK 76.  Blackcap

Buttermere  -  24/05/23

 

[Zim Girl]

On the way home we called into RSPB Hodbarrow near Millom on the west coast.  We went there for the first time last year.  Then it was cloudy and cold, but this time it was sunny and warm and the reserve looked lovely.  It is well known for it's breeding tern colonies, especially Sandwich terns.

 

UK 77.  Sandwich Tern

RSPB Hodbarrow  -  26/05/23

 

[Zim Girl]

Also, a reliable place to spot these birds.

 

UK 78.  Red-breasted Merganser

Female

Male

RSPB Hodbarrow  -  26/05/23

 

[Zim Girl]

But this is why we really came here.  Breeding Eider ducks!  

I am afraid you will have to indulge me as I was able to get a bit closer than last year, so better pictures.

 

UK 79.  Common Eider

 

 

 

RSPB Hodbarrow  -  26/05/23

 

[Zim Girl]

Also on the way home we stopped off at Leighton Moss.  We had our packed lunch in the reserve and was kept company by this cute young robin.

 

 

 

 

[Zim Girl]

We picked one hide to spend some time at, and got a very good view of a Great White Heron looking for it's own lunch.

 

UK 80.  Great White Heron

 

It caught a small eel.

RSPB Leighton Moss  -  26/05/23

 

[Zim Girl]

We also got very lucky with a Bittern flypast.  It was only spotted at the last minute so I was still annoyingly only able to get rubbish pictures, maybe one day!!

 

UK 81.  Eurasian Bittern

 

RSPB Leighton Moss  -  26/05/23

 

 

 

 

[Tdgraves]

A bittern shot is a bittern shot @Zim Girl….

[Galana]

7 hours ago, Zim Girl said:

I was still annoyingly only able to get rubbish pictures,

I would happily settle for rubbish pictures as good as those.

[PeterHG]

Lovely additions and I agree on the Bittern. Such a difficult bird to get a shot of, so you did well!

[xelas]

Quick reaction makes a day! And a Bittern in flight! Congratulations. 

[TonyQ]

Great additions, baby Eider!, and a Bittern in flight. Well done

[Dave Williams]

Yes, the Bittern is a bit special that's for sure! Interesting to see male Eiders with the ducklings.I was told they usually clear off and leave all the work to the female...they do on the Isle of May!

[Zim Girl]

Thank you @Tdgraves, @Galana, @PeterHG, @xelas, @TonyQ and @Dave Williams.

 

12 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

Yes, the Bittern is a bit special that's for sure! Interesting to see male Eiders with the ducklings.I was told they usually clear off and leave all the work to the female...they do on the Isle of May!

We actually saw a couple of big family groups including males, and also the same last year.  But you are right, my RSPB book says the males normally leave the females.  Maybe the Cumbrian males are a bit more 'modern' with regards to family life .

[Zim Girl]

We normally find our common terns for BY at Preston docks where they have been breeding on the pontoons across the dock for several years.  However, just lately there have been fewer breeding pairs and they have been using the furthest away pontoons, so photos have been much harder to get.  Over winter the local bird group had a new fenced in breeding area created on a small island on Conder Pool near Glasson Dock on the Lancashire Coastal Way.  It has attracted the terns and we wait to see whether it leads to any breeding success.

 

UK 82.  Common Tern

Conder Pool  -  27/05/23

 

[Zim Girl]

This Sedge warbler gave us the run around for ages, flying from tree to tree, but finally poked it's head out from the leaves just long enough for me to take it's picture.

 

UK 83.  Sedge Warbler

Lancaster canal path  -  27/05/23

 

[Zim Girl]

UK 84.  Common House Martin

Conder Green  -  27/05/23

[Zim Girl]

Back to the local wetland area, been trying to find the Little Ringed Plovers that are here for weeks, but still no luck.  Found this instead though.

 

UK 85.  Ruff

Newton Marsh  -  04/06/23

 

[Zim Girl]

Some more babies from the last two outings.  

Avocet are also breeding well from the Conder Green pool where the Terns are.  In order of size.

 

 

 

A single cygnet follows it's mum.

 

A cute group of Shoveler ducklings.

 

 

 

 

[Zim Girl]

Walking in the Lakes again yesterday and came across this little wren singing in the wood.

 

UK 86.  Wren

Walla Crag, Derwent Water  -  06/06/23

 

 

[Zim Girl]

Finally for this batch a lifer!  

Not only that, a lifer from the house.  Adrian was just walking the dog across the field near the house a few days ago and rang me saying, "I am looking at a yellow wagtail".  They are not at all common in our area and we have never seen one.  "Really!  Are you sure?", I say.  He says, "Merlin says so".  Oh well, must be right then!!

I grabbed the camera and legged it down to the field.  I found Adrian, but he said it had just flown .  We wandered up and down the track for a bit and then Adrian looks and points behind me.  Up on the wire is indeed a Yellow Wagtail .

 

UK 87.  Yellow Wagtail

Field near home  -  02/06/23

 

[Dave Williams]

Great find! Yellow Wagtails are unusual in the North West and North Wales.

[Towlersonsafari]

we have only just discovered Merlin @Zim Girlits great fun!

[michael-ibk]

Looks like you had a great time in the Lake District. Congrats on getting a lifer, always special. Very cool getting a shot of the Bittern. I especially love the photos of the cliff birds though - and the Eiders of course. 

[Galana]

10 hours ago, Zim Girl said:

Maybe the Cumbrian males are a bit more 'modern' with regards to family life .

They most likely got the idea from us on the rock 40 miles west of you. Our males often stick around. (Probably not as altruistic as it appears. Too idle to leave home or an eye on the main chance of a female not too choosy.)

Well done on the Wagtail.