The Plan......

......was to take advantage of what looked like being a half decent day and get myself up Clougha/Birk Bank to check out the bird-life there. But I was up with the Lark this morning and had ample time to look over some more bird-life first at Conder Green.

Ruff On Conder Pool this morning courtesy of Pete Woodruff.

The first four birds I clapped eyes on were 2 Little Egret, a Ruff, and Little Grebe on Conder Pool, the female Mallard still has her family of seven in tact on here despite a Grey Heron just leaving the pool as I arrived. In the Conder Green area, 3 Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpiper, a Kingfisher, the lone Black - tailed Godwit which appears to have taken a liking to the creeks, and 2 Snipe. A Wheatear was on the marsh below the old railway bridge. A visit to Glasson Dock to look over the Lune Estuary left me with just about time to 'sift' through the gull's to find an adult Mediterranean Gull before the dreaded Peregrine Falcon again came on the scene to reveal a 'few' thousand waders going up in synchronized panic.....I left, there was work to be done.

Birds noted on Clougha/Birk Bank were, 10 Stonechat five of which were juveniles to which - at this moment in time - I'm making no further comment, a Willow Warbler was interacting with a small family party of them as they're often found to do, a pretty good count of at least 35 Red Grouse prompts me to wonder if the guardians of the countryside are importing the poor things, or maybe the 'tic's' have died a death. I had just muttered to myself (I do it all the time) that a dozen Raven would be nice whilst up here, when a few seconds later five came over the ridge - so wishful thinking can work after all - a Wheatear, 2 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, around 12 Meadow Pipit, and a Coal Tit was to note. Butterflies seen, 20 Painted Lady, 5 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Peacock, and a Red Admiral, 2 Golden - ringed Dragonflies were over the bog.

A 3rd summer Yellow - legged Gull and LBBG courtesy of Stuart Piner.

So, if you've joined the 'thick birders club' like me, then its time to take another look at the bird above so as to begin to grasp what its going to look like when you come across it......OK!