I’d seen this chaffinch-like bird flitting about on the sea defence steps at Fairhaven Lake and managed to get a few snapshots. I wasn’t sure if it was a snow bunting. On checking with those knowledgeable birders at Fylde Bird Club they confirmed it is indeed a snow bunting.
Snow Bunting
This solitary bird has been around for 4-5 weeks. It pecks for seeds and insects in the debris left by the tide and is quite approachable. In fact, he seems to like our chats and doesn’t mind me chasing him along the beach for a snapshot!
It’s fascinating to think that these little birds are winter visitors from Greenland/Iceland/Scandinavia. They also breed in Scotland on high mountains among scree and boulders.
I hope he finds a flock to join before flying back home around March in readiness for the breeding season when his plumage will change dramatically to a striking white head and black wing and tail feathers.
Until then it’s quite exciting looking for him. I’ll miss him when he flies north.
Being a citizen scientist for the Big Butterfly Count is a great opportunity for being aware of what’s flitting around in the garden, parks, countryside and seaside.
It’s a snapshot challenge hoping the little blighters will stay still long enough before taking off. (Memo to subject: And while you’re posing, please keep your wings open!)
Not exactly “butterfly season” in December, but here’s a reminder of what we have to look forward to.
Red Admiral
Six-spot Burnet, Speckled Wood, Common Blue
Eyed Hawk Moth
This was a “first” for me. What I thought was a crinkly leaf clinging to the wall was a stunning quivering Eyed Hawk Moth. Scary and fascinating.
Why are my fuchsias being eaten alive?
Further investigation revealed the culprits. Four Elephant Hawk Moth caterpillars, the size of my index finger, feasting to burst before hunkering down for their long metamorphosis.
Lytham Hall has been transformed into a festive wonderland, exquisitely decorated to the theme of seasonal songs – a different tune playing in each room. I whiled away over an hour wandering on a magical journey.
The Twelve Days of Christmas
In the sumptuous dining room I found the signs for all twelve days, skilfully created by a team of talented volunteers.
How cute the 12 drummers drumming; 7 swans a swimming; one of the 9 ladies dancing
Around the Hall
Stunning at every turn.
The Billiard Room
Transformed into a bustling little town (by Greg Anderton and his father), very reminiscent of Lytham!
My favourite – Jennie’s Fairies
Pretty Dolly Peg fairies dangling amongst the baubles on the Christmas tree in the Edwardian Room.
A visit will put a smile on the face of the grouchiest Grinch! It worked for me!
It’s not just holiday makers that like to visit the Fylde Coast. Thousands of “pinkfeet” fly here for their winter holidays – all the way from Iceland and Greenland. The chattering as they fly over in skeins at night is goose-bump-making! They’ll hang around until April/May and return to the Arctic summer to breed, raise goslings – then do it all again.
Heron
Like a prehistoric creature flying across the Ribble estuary.
Redshank
Pretty, peep-peeping waders with their distinctive bright red legs. Often out on the estuary or in the saltmarsh searching for morsels.
Stonechat
Thanks Mrs Stonechat for hanging around long enough for a snapshot!
Mute Swan
Always majestic. This one had been preening for ages. I knew it would have a stretch if I waited long enough. Thanks Mr Swan! (Males have a more pronounced knobbly bit above their beak than females.)
My snapshot-taking mojo has been absent for some time, so I dusted the cobwebs off my camera and have been out and about weather-watching. We’ve had all sorts chucked at us these past few weeks.
Camera suffered a nasty tumble at Hadrian’s Wall a couple of years back and has been struggling ever since. A recent accident in the muddy Ribble Estuary sent it to its untimely death.
Buy new or get it repaired?
Decision time – to buy a new camera or get the old one repaired? Panasonic recommended DKAVS so I packed it up and sent it for an estimate. The repair = £120. A new camera = £600. A no-brainer. Cannot recommend DKAVS highly enough.
Time to take it on a test run
Several outings later, pleased to report camera up and running.
Avocet – Newton MarshAvocet chicks – Newton MarshRedshank – Newton MarshStonechat – St Annes dunesKestrel – St Annes dunesHeron – Lytham HallRobin – singing at full volume – Fairhaven Lake
Moral
In these times of economy and eco-friendliness – glad to have had my camera repaired. (Just need to make sure it’s strapped firmly round my neck so it doesn’t suffer any other operator mishaps!)
Organised by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, Hedgehog Awareness Week is taking place from 1-7 May 2022. It’s a brilliant means of bringing to our attention the problems hedgehogs face and how we can help. The website is full of downloadable informative leaflets, posters and colourings-in for youngsters.
Nocturnal visitors
Our nocturnal visitors are doing very well since they came out of hibernation. Since early March we’ve been putting Mr Johnson’s hedgehog food in the hedgehog feeding station. All gone the next morning.
If hogs visit your garden, there’ll be signs – deposits (that resemble slugs) left on the lawn and garden path!
Yum!Mr Johnson’sSuppertimeTea for twoPerfect dining!
How we can help hedgehogs
Create a hedgehog highway
Hogs travel up to 2 miles on their nightly wanderings. Give them access to your garden through a hole in the gate or fence, and be charmed seeing them shuffling through the shrubbery.
Hedgehog highway
Provide a feeding station
Ours is basic and works. A few bricks, access in and out – but not for larger night-prowlers – and a lid to keep the food dry and the hogs safe. Fresh water is essential, particularly in dry weather. But no bread and milk. Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant and milk could kill them.
Feeding station without lidFeeding station with lid
Make dens
Create safe havens. Piles of logs, sticks and leaf litter will give hogs a place to rest during the day, and somewhere to consider for hibernation later in the year.
Hedgehog hunting
It’s great fun to go hedgehog-hunting in the garden after dark. If startled a hog will stop in his/her tracks until the assumed danger has passed, and then shuffle off into the undergrowth.
Mating time
May is mating time. If you hear loud huffing and puffing it’s likely to be a male courting a female. She’ll give birth to 2-6 hoglets any time between May and September. After 6-8 weeks they’ll leave the nest and begin their solitary nightly explorations.
Hedgehog help
If you see a hog out during the daytime s/he needs help. Capture the creature (wear gardening gloves), gently place in a cardboard box, cover with an old towel and get in touch with your local hedgehog rescue centre or contact the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.
The gardener’s friend
Let’s do all we can to give our prickly friends the help they need to survive.
We trek along the A584. A dirty, noisy dual carriageway called Preston New Road.
Why?
To find Newton Marsh. The OS map shows the marsh running alongside the A584. We’re not sure of access so park in a layby on the outskirts of Freckleton, and tramp over a mile along the A584. It’s horrible! Carling, Costa, Red Bull, Guinness, Johnnie Walker and other detritus gathers in the verges, along with a dead pheasant and mangled hare. We reach a turning to find industrial units, huge lorries and even more rubbish.
Then what?
It gets amazing. Whistling teal, pochard, wigeon, shovellers are all busy dabbling. The males are resplendent in their finest breeding colours. Lapwings swerve, tumble and dive over the marsh calling “peewit”. Golden plovers join in. Black-tailed godwits roost. A buzzard “pee-ows” in the distance. This is the attraction of Newton Marsh.
Newton Marsh – Freckleton beyond
Black-tailed godwits, pochards, wigeons
Black-tailed godwit– in breeding plumage
Private land
Newton Marsh, close to the River Ribble, is privately owned with no access other than to view from the fence. It’s popular with regular birders, some with scopes, others spying through binoculars from their car window. One chap tells us there’s a snipe on the island. It is so well camouflaged we can barely see it – and then it moves its head.
Find the snipe – centre of pic wedged between the rocks
We’ve been back again, twice. Certainly not for the walk! On each occasion we’ve seen something amazing. Avocets today.
Thankfully we’ve found a layby only a quarter of a mile away. Roads, laybys, industrial estates – not our first choice for a walk – but worth it for the rewards of Newton Marsh.