Saturday 13 April 2013

Pendle Dotterel, 13th April, 2013

I think it would be fair to say that spring is definately here. Although
some snow still lies on higher ground, birding locally today i saw;
House and Sand Martins, Swallow and Wheatear. Best of the bunch
was the earliest Dotterel i've ever seen on Pendle Hill. Found earlier
in the day by Geoff 'Pendle' Turner.







It was flushed after just ten minutes by a walker but returned a little while 
later and was actively feeding just south of the trig point, very nice.

Friday 12 April 2013

Marsh Harrier, Leighton Moss, 1st April 2013

This female Marsh Harrier was displaying near the public hide, with continued bouts
of sky-dancing and repeated calling. It was quite a treat to watch.













This young male kept out of the way!

Black-headed Gulls were very active from the public hide.







Nesting Great-Black backed Gulls didn't appreciate an inquisitive Crow

Not a single Sand Martin was over the reserve and only one Chiffchaff was seen during
the day! 


Tuesday 2 April 2013

Pied and Eastern Marsh Harriers

Whilst birding in Thailand we visited the large Harrier roosting site near
Chiang Saen in the north of the country. We made two, late afternoon
visits on the 7th and 8th March 2013. On both days the light was very
poor with dark, heavy cloud and rainfall on the 8th. This didn't however
dampen our spirits and we were treated to a superb avian spectacle.

We made no attempts to count the Birds, as they came in from all areas.
But i think it would be safe to say that around 200+ Birds were present.








The male Pieds were truly striking and there were lots around!

A distant shot of almost all Eastern Marsh. 











Female Pieds were trickier to id and fieldguides lacked detailed
plates of the immature plumages, i just snapped away with the camera!

Juvenile Pied







 juvenile Eastern Marsh Harrier




Female Eastern Marsh Harrier

Male Eastern Marsh

This Eastern Marsh was photographed by the Mekong River

Pieds
A very scraggy Bird!