Viewing entries tagged
Goosander

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RIBCHESTER DIPPERS

White-throated Dipper, Ribchester 25 August 2021

THAT’S RIGHT, DIPPERS! They are very uncommon this far downstream on the River Ribble in Ribchester and are even nore unexpected in summer. My previous two records in the last 10 years were both in winter. They are even rarer further downstream at Brockholes! I was very pleased to see two of them chasing each other around the island by the school on 25 August but later heard from Simon Small that he had videoed one by his garden in our street earlier in the week. No doubt one of the same birds! It will be interesting to see if they stick around, unlike my previous dippers here. A juvenile Goosander is still about, seeking safety in the most public of places on the river. Another Osprey on 25 August took the year’s tally to seven (it feels odd for osprey to be relegated to the ‘other sightings’ category now) and it was a different bird to the one which has been hanging around the lower valley area for the last few weeks, this bird had a blue colour ring on the left leg. Two flocks of shorebirds passed the benches on 24 August, one of 9 snipe and the other of 43 lapwings! Little Egrets continue to fly downstream to roost on most evenings and a hobby scythed its way through the swallows over the Lower Alston Farm maize field at dusk (2015) on 26 August. The lovely weather for evening watches of the last few days has been very welcome and my 2021 Ribchester patch list now stands at 101. Despite many hours of effort, dipper was the only addition for weeks.

Osprey sighting no.#7 for the 5KO!

Goosander, juvenile Ribchester

Sunset over Red Bank

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ALSTON OSPREY

18 April Alston Osprey collage

2021 ELOC OSPREY NO. #3 FOR ME flew over Alston Reservoirs this evening at 1853–1902. It makes a nice change from missing them, which is what I normally do, however, I have made more effort than usual this spring. It was lucky that I turned around and scanned to the south from the central screen when I did, so I picked it up flying in from way to the south. This allowed enough time for Gavin Thomas to scramble and intercept it as it flew from no.#1 reservoir and crossed to no. #2, before pausing to hover briefly and then continue away over the town. I wouldn’t mind a closer osprey this spring but it is always a thrill to see one on migration. Gav tells me they detour to take a look in each reservoir without fail as they fly north over the site. It was getting quite late in the day and we wondered where it might roost this evening.

The rest of the evening’s birding at Alston was fun with highlights the nine whimbrels that flew in to roost with 38 curlews after sunset. A lovely sight and sound although it was all curlew song rather than piping whimbrels. A drake shelduck flew in too and four shovelers were present - more new 2021 5km-from-home-list birds! Other birds on the wetland included a Great Black-backed Gull, nine teal, two Tufted Duck, two snipe and Little Ringed Plovers and three redshanks. Five Goosander was apparently a recent peak count and a flock of 58 Fieldfares was in the trees that line the fields to the south of Pinfold Lane. Spring migration through the ELOC area is always an anjoyable time of year!

Curlews at dusk with a few early whimbrels

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SPRINGTIME ON THE RIVERBANK

Goosander, female. Sadly evidence of the illegal targeting of these terrific sawbills in the Ribble Valley (i.e. shooting them without a license) has come to light this week. CLICK THE IMAGES FOR LIGHTBOX

A LONE SWALLOW AT BOAT HOUSE, RIBCHESTER ON 27 MARCH was fairly early and our first of the year. Sand Martins continue to build in numbers and made double figures for the last couple of days. The only other true summer migrant so far has been chiffchaff and following one at Boat House on 24 March a couple has been heard singing (at Red Bank and the vicarage garden). Other notable encounters have included a redshank at Boat House on 27 March, up to seven Common Buzzards in the air at a time in the valley (probaby just local birds getting up in the fine weather) and more regular sparrowhawk, kestrel and kingfisher sightings have been a feature. Lapwings, oystercatchers and curlews are still singing around the village but despite increased signs of spring there are still a few Fieldfares around, the last of the winter visitors. An osprey at Elston on 27 March was a near miss but sadly it carried on north and did not enter Rib airspace. The next few days will be our best chance for one of these over the village itself!

Curlew over the Ribble at Ribchester (collage)

The first chiffchaff of the year, at Boat House on 24 March.

Rain clouds over Clitheroe from earlier in March. If can see Pendle you are not lost in the Ribble Valley.

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