An excellent Start (Part 2).

Tuesday this week was no different than most other Tuesday's which means JB was in my company and whilst I covered the Conder Green/Glasson Dock/ Cockersands area's extensively yesterday JB hadn't so this is where we started today and how pleased we were that we did as the 'if at first you don't succeed' theory worked to perfection. After viewing the Conder Pool from the screen for several minutes I decided to leg it to the far viewpoint to scan the rear of the island which cannot be seen from the screen and yet again lo and behold the Little - ringed Plover's have two young after all, so it's fingers and everything else crossed for a few days now to hope the many threats and predators these birds have will keep their beady eyes of them including the very handsome killers the LBB Gull's which appear to have taken a fancy to the pool though they have no intention of setting up home there to raise a family. Also of note here again today was the Spotted Redshank, 4 Common Sandpiper again, Oystercatchers have 3 young, a Kestrel and a Speckled Wood. Three singing Sedge Warbler were on Jeremy Lane. At Cockersands, 5 non - breeding Grey Plover, 32 Oystercatcher, and 2 Dunlin were on all that was left of Plover Scar at high tide.

Now we are in the Trough of Bowland and at Marshaw 4 adult Common Sandpiper were again between the cattle grid and the bridge at the start of the Hawthornthwaite access track. In the Tower Lodge area 3 'new to us' Spotted Flycatcher's included a pair feeding young at a nest hole......excellent stuff! Also at least two - possibly three - Redstart, a Green Woodpecker, 4 Grey Wagtail, 3 Mistle Thrush, a Song Thrush, and in the woodland strip behind Tower Lodge a healthy number of Blue Tit's, at least 8 Willow Warbler, and a Coal Tit.

On the way home we called in at Stoops Bridge to hear a Chiffchaff briefly, and at Christ Church the most obliging Spotted Flycatcher in the country was on show promptly on our arrival again, and although about 4 House Martin were around the church for a while I personally regard the situation here as grim. At Brow Top a family party of 8 Goldfinch were seen. Although the weather was perfect for a 'butterfly day' the sightings didn't exceed 'miserable' with a solitay Speckled Wood at Conder Green, a Painted Lady at Cockersands, and two Painted Lady at Abbeystead Christ Church.

I managed a couple of decent shots on Sunday and although it has no relation to todays post the pic above is one of 'em.