Reinforcements for the Bramblings, Bowland, Lancashire

October 27, 2010:
Last week's Brambling flock has increased several-fold and there must be up to a hundred birds there now with a few Chaffinches mixed in. Feeding hungrily on the ground on the fallen beech mast they are difficult to see amongst the golden brown leaves already starting to drop, the birds' plumage providing excellent camouflage. They seem to have learnt traffic sense since last week as the majority fed away from the road on the grass verge although the few that still risked it left it late when escaping oncoming vehicles.





The dim light under the trees and their rapid movement when feeding made them difficult to photograph satisfactorily and it was especially difficult to get them into sharp focus. When disturbed by noisy traffic the entire flock, Chaffinches included, would fly off in a tight group and take refuge in one of the nearby trees. However within less than a minute the first brave individual would be down again feeding and almost immediately the whole flock would come tumbling after it.




A nearby ditch came into use as a bathing pool with up to thirty birds in the icy water at one time, all happily splashing and preening.

Bramblings and a Black Redstart in Bowland, Lancashire

October 20, 2010:
In the Trough of Bowland this afternoon there was a mobile mixed flock of Bramblings and Chaffinches. The birds were mainly feeding in the road under overhanging beech trees, the wheels of passing traffic having broken open the fallen seed shells for them. This is quite a busy minor road and the birds would continue feeding almost until the cars were upon them.




Unfortunately, one young Brambling left it too late and was hit. I picked it up immediately but it was bleeding badly and obviously dead. I'd never previously been so close to a Brambling and it was saddening to see such a beautifully marked small bird, buff and white on its undersides, in such a state.

Shortly afterwards three Red-legged Partridges came down on the road to feed. These are relatively large birds and were clearly visible to the car drivers. One or two slowed down to avoid them but one drove straight and fast and directly at them killing one. How can anyone do that? Sickened, I departed.


[Red-legged Partridge, a survivor but for how long?]

On Waddington Fell a Black Redstart was feeding from a fence and drystone wall on the moor. From the point where it could be seen, a Great Grey Shrike (see the following posting) was also visible perched in a tree on the opposite side of the road. It was most unusual to see two scarce birds at the same time and from exactly the same place.




[Black Redstart]

It had been a good day apart from the carnage.