Trumpeter Swan, Ribchester
A WALK ALONG THE RIVERBANK PRODUCED TWO SPECIES OF SWAN, NEITHER OF THEM NATIVE - the regular long-staying (and surely escaped) Trumpeter Swan (interesting that it is unringed though) and a Black Swan. More introduced waterfowl included Canada and Greylag Geese. The only respectable ducks being two Goosanders. The river was fairly quiet, no doubt well disturbed by fishermen and walkers by the time I got there and all I saw were a Common Oystercatcher and three Great Cormorants. In the morning a group of seven Pink-footed Geese battled west into a cold head-wind, taking a more northerly course low over the village than those last week. It was also very interesting to hear that there has been a Little Egret at Brockholes this week, maybe the bird I saw last weekend? Even more intriguing is the disappearance of one of the Greenland Whitefronts from the Rishton area, which fits the sighting last Sunday perfectly so maybe it was not the fifth record for East Lancs after all, just a relocation? Also today a Grey Wagtail by the river was the first of the year and a flock of 38 Carrion Crows was noteworthy, when I was a child flocks were always rooks and singletons Carrion Crows. With the Carrion Crows was a single first winter rook. A couple of Eurasian Siskins flew across the river but I saw very little else on a windy afternoon. I am looking forward to a much warmer climate from Tuesday onwards!
A WALK ALONG THE RIVERBANK PRODUCED TWO SPECIES OF SWAN, NEITHER OF THEM NATIVE - the regular long-staying (and surely escaped) Trumpeter Swan (interesting that it is unringed though) and a Black Swan. More introduced waterfowl included Canada and Greylag Geese. The only respectable ducks being two Goosanders. The river was fairly quiet, no doubt well disturbed by fishermen and walkers by the time I got there and all I saw were a Common Oystercatcher and three Great Cormorants. In the morning a group of seven Pink-footed Geese battled west into a cold head-wind, taking a more northerly course low over the village than those last week. It was also very interesting to hear that there has been a Little Egret at Brockholes this week, maybe the bird I saw last weekend? Even more intriguing is the disappearance of one of the Greenland Whitefronts from the Rishton area, which fits the sighting last Sunday perfectly so maybe it was not the fifth record for East Lancs after all, just a relocation? Also today a Grey Wagtail by the river was the first of the year and a flock of 38 Carrion Crows was noteworthy, when I was a child flocks were always rooks and singletons Carrion Crows. With the Carrion Crows was a single first winter rook. A couple of Eurasian Siskins flew across the river but I saw very little else on a windy afternoon. I am looking forward to a much warmer climate from Tuesday onwards!
1 comments:
Hi Mike
Whilst working on intertidal waders at Ocean Edge - the only north-west-bound Pink-feet (in the late morning) were........a flock of seven!
Regards
Pete
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