Stanley Park, Blackpool (1 Viewer)

[Stephen Dunstan]

My I suggest the stance of this Lancashire forum be that THE LOCATION OF NO BREEDING SPECIES SHOULD BE POSTED.

Eggers are once again very active in this county and surrounding areas and could easily access the forum for information. They are particularly interested in schedule 1 species such as Peregrine, Merlin, Little Ringed Plover (which should not be posted at breeding sites during the breeding season) etc plus owls and the like but to keep it simple, I suggest everything should be avoided.

I appreciate your concern, but I don't think stopping people talking about all nesting birds is really enforceable.

Stephen.

 

[Neil UK]

My I suggest the stance of this Lancashire forum be that THE LOCATION OF NO BREEDING SPECIES SHOULD BE POSTED.

Eggers are once again very active in this county and surrounding areas and could easily access the forum for information. They are particularly interested in schedule 1 species such as Peregrine, Merlin, Little Ringed Plover (which should not be posted at breeding sites during the breeding season) etc plus owls and the like but to keep it simple, I suggest everything should be avoided.

I to appreciate your concern but to be honest if you were one of those gentleman I mentioned above, then you gave more away by standing by the same tree all the time I was there. Plus also walking onto the Golf Course to get an easier view of the Sparrowhawk, to me was a bit idiotic.

Apologise if I have offended you with those comments but I to felt offended by basically being ignored and shunned. Maybe you took from my image, baggy jeans, trainers, skinhead and goatee beared that I may of been an egger and not your typical birder.

A polite hello and maybe a small chat may of been nice, instead of skulking around in the bushes.

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

Perhaps best to take this off the group now, or continue it on the separate thread Tao Wild has now started??

Good birding all,

Stephen.

 

[WyreWader]

Some fine photographs there Neil :t:. I'm torn between the park & the mere tomorrow, so will probably try & take in both for a few hours.

 

[Neil UK]

Some fine photographs there Neil :t:. I'm torn between the park & the mere tomorrow, so will probably try & take in both for a few hours.

Thanks Cliff, the birds are unbelievably tame on the Park. Well the tits are anyway, nice to see the blackcaps flitting here there and everywhere aswell.

 

[mikfoz]

I'm going to nip down to the park first thing, I guess as I want to see if the Grebe have hatched at last.

See you down there if you're about! I've yet to get any decent Sprawk shots and I've the sense to not approach any nest too closely.

 

[mikfoz]

Couldn't sleep this morning so I got down to the park early.

Got some great pics of the Herons and some disappointingly murky pics of an epic Coot battle. Sightings and pics of common species of perching birds and some cracking Great Spotted Woodpecker pics.



Also got some lovely Grebe pics, though lacking somewhat in drama this time.



The woods were really alive with birdsong though the trees are more leafy now, alas.

 

[WyreWader]

Two fine shots there Mick, the reflection of the green leaves/Grebe is excellent :t:.

I got a few Grebe photos myself, I'll tag a couple on here.

Cheers

Cliff

 

[Tao Wild]

I to appreciate your concern but to be honest if you were one of those gentleman I mentioned above, then you gave more away by standing by the same tree all the time I was there. Plus also walking onto the Golf Course to get an easier view of the Sparrowhawk, to me was a bit idiotic.

Apologise if I have offended you with those comments but I to felt offended by basically being ignored and shunned. Maybe you took from my image, baggy jeans, trainers, skinhead and goatee beared that I may of been an egger and not your typical birder.

A polite hello and maybe a small chat may of been nice, instead of skulking around in the bushes.

Hi Neil,

I wasn't the gentleman you mentioned in the above post.

I'm not sure if Fylde Bird Club has been mentioned in this thread before but please can I draw people's attention to the next meeting on 26th May: The Art of Misidentification with Tim Melling.

New members always welcome. A membership form can be dowmloaded from the site here: http://www.fyldebirdclub.org/joinup.htm

Best,
Tao.

 

[BlackpoolBirder]

many birds singing this morning in the park including wood warbler and a couple of redpolls over which i thought was unusual for this time of year! many birds are settling to nest now with woodpeckers feeding young near the heron island, nuthatch singing as well this morning which gives me hope of potential breeders... They have not sung in the park for a couple of years to myself and the rangers knowledge but have begun again this last week!!! Praying for a spotted fly at dawn tomorrow as they are later than normal!!! Ps I encourage conversation with people on the park and think by shunnin people away it makes them more interested in what your doing, I think its best however if talk of nests which are vulnerable are kept quiet as you never know who could see this as aforementioned!!! Hope to bump into one of you soon for a chat and a watch around the park!

Cheers Craig!

 

[BlackpoolBirder]

Are People still putting nuts in the coffe cup lids as I have heard that some young parent birds may try and feed full peanuts to tiny chicks and in some cases kill the chicks, I know it is a nice feeling to help the birds but peanuts at this time of year can be bad for the birds welfare, Meal worms or maggots however are softer foods and the birds love them!!! They will eat them out of your hand too and those bloody pigeons dont get a look in!!!

 

[Neil UK]

Are People still putting nuts in the coffe cup lids as I have heard that some young parent birds may try and feed full peanuts to tiny chicks and in some cases kill the chicks, I know it is a nice feeling to help the birds but peanuts at this time of year can be bad for the birds welfare, Meal worms or maggots however are softer foods and the birds love them!!! They will eat them out of your hand too and those bloody pigeons dont get a look in!!!

You cant stop the masses that I see doing this as they do not know. And it CANNOT be policed, its a public park at the end of the day.

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

Once again I appreciate where the sentiments are coming from but I agree with Neil, you aren't going to stop people finding nest sites or feeding peanuts to the birds in a public park.

I would think that the wider avian conservation significance of the park comprises:

i) heronry
ii) wintering Shoveler population (though this has dropped away in recent years)

You are going to struggle to keep either of these quiet!

Regards,

Stephen.

 

[mikfoz]

I tried my hardest to stop people coming into the park this morning without signing the peanut policy I'd drafted but they just told me to get lost and that they wanted to feed the squirrels. What is the world coming to? Next week come and see me chain myself to the gates in protest.

Most people I see feeding birds are throwing seeds about anyway as they get more value for money out of them.

A better point to lobby would be retailers.

 

[mikfoz]

Back on topic:

Great views of the GSW this morning thanks to Cliff's impromptu shrubbery maintenance and sly baiting.



Also had a superb view of a Mute Swan preening and having a bath.



Good views of the young Herons, Coots and Geese. There seem to be no ducklings about now which is a bit sad but I guess they make a tasty snack for the Herons.

 

[WyreWader]

Great views of the GSW this morning thanks to Cliff's impromptu shrubbery maintenance and sly baiting

Worked a treat didn't it. I got lots of photos, I've not had chance to finish processing them yet, I'll stick the whole lot on my website later, I've attached a few below.

Cheers

Cliff

 

[docs uk]

i enjoyed seeing the great spotted woodpeckers on saturday a first for me although the 2 guys that kept putting nuts out for them so they could get some good pics wasnt to pleased as all it did was attract the pigeons

 

[The Actor]

i enjoyed seeing the great spotted woodpeckers on saturday a first for me although the 2 guys that kept putting nuts out for them so they could get some good pics wasnt to pleased as all it did was attract the pigeons

Saw this on Sunday but I couldn't get a decent pic.

BTW You're not "the" Docs of FTFC by any chance ?

 

[mikfoz]

GSW chicks almost ready to fly. (This out of date - they may now have fledged).



Forgot to update B

Darned rain is spoiling my day.

 

[docs uk]

Saw this on Sunday but I couldn't get a decent pic.

BTW You're not "the" Docs of FTFC by any chance ?

sure am,a few free saturdays now