Chris rang yesterday to say he had seen a drake Mandarin on
the river near Thrintoft and it had then flown downstream. Torn between listening
to Rovers critical survival game against Fleetwood or looking for this bird I
opted for the latter. Unfortunately there was no further sign (but Rovers did manage
a draw, guaranteeing League One football next year!) but I did see my first
Common Sandpiper of the year…
And a nice bonus in the form of a (rather distant) Little
Ringed Plover. It has been three or four years since the last LRP in the parish…
This morning I walked along the river downstream of Morton
bridge. Disappointingly quiet but I did see my first Yellow Wagtails with a pair
on the fence near Swalefields. Other birds included a pair of Shelduck on the
river, three Grey Partridge, a Green Sandpiper, one Little Egret and a total of
around 20 Goosander in small (non-breeding?) groups. The first Greylag goslings
have also hatched…
I also watched this Pike in ambush mode…
Poor picture given the light and no polarising filter
but interesting to watch its technique, it faced upstream with just enough
movement from its tail to hold its position. It didn’t catch anything whilst I
watched but a huge Barbel, bigger than the Pike, swam very close to it at one
point.
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