Fairhaven feathered friends

Dune activity

There’s much flitting, chasing, squabbling and territorial activity going on in and around the beach and dunes by Fairhaven Lake. Reed buntings, stonechats, meadow pipits and linnets are all active in the dunes, scrub and saltmarsh. The saltmarsh has been flooded after extremely high spring tides, leaving behind debris full of seeds and insects for them to forage. But beware little birdies, there’s a male kestrel in stunning breeding plumage on the lookout for easy prey.

Flooded saltmarsh

Oystercatchers jostle for space on the almost submerged “lobster pot” – a redundant sewage outlet – and gulls grapple for a perch on a grounded tree trunk that we walked past the other day!

Stonechat

This little female stonechat hasn’t got a tail. A male with his eye on her doesn’t seem to mind.

Pied Wagtail

Waggling around searching for morsels.

Buntings

The solitary snow bunting is still here; reed buntings (2 male/1 female) survey the soggy scene.

Fairhaven Lake

Lakeside residents always ready for a snapshot.

Receding tide

The receding tide exposes the saltmarsh leaving behind brackish pools – watery larders for herons, little egrets, redshanks, shelducks, snipes and curlews. Snapshot opportunities for another day – if you’re lucky!

Snow Bunting – Fairhaven Beach

Who are you?

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.