BIRDING THE LUNE ESTUARY THE FOREST OF BOWLAND AND BEYOND......................................................MEDITTERANEAN GULLS CONDER POOL PETE WOODRUFF

Monday 15 November 2010

The Monday Trawl.


Whooper Swan. David Cookson.

A photograph with a difference and an excellent study of the Whooper Swan by David Cookson. I know I'm always plugging someone elses website 'cos thats the way it is and they're always worth a look I promise you.

Mondays - four hours only - Trawl began at Conder Green to uncover nothing of any great note and only 2 Little Grebe were on the pool with 3 Wigeon and a Goldeneye. In the creeks 3 Goosander, a 'few' Redshank, and c.90 Teal noted. On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock the c.8,000 Bar-tailed Godwit/Knot wader flock of 9 November seen again, as ever mixed and distant, I just wish these birds would come within easy viewing range and separate, 4 Red-breasted Merganser and a Little Egret seen in it's favourite area below Waterloo Cottage. On the canal basin 52 Tufted Duck and 3 Pochard drakes seen, interesting that this species here are invariably drakes. From Fishnet Point 2 Whooper Swan were excellent, 32 Goldeneye are shaping up to becoming the best location for the species in the area again this winter, also in excess of 1,000 Wigeon and 3 Black-tailed Godwit noted.

On Moss Lane c.30 Fieldfare from a moving car. Cockersands produced three surprises - though none in the 'mega' bracket - a Little Owl in the bushes surrounding the horse paddock at Bank Houses was the first in more than twelve months void of searching my records, a Great-spotted Woodpecker is - as far as I can recall - the first I ever saw in this area, and a Grey Plover in an inland field was to say the least a bit unexpected and is certainly a first for me. A Meadow Pipit on the shingle had me jump to attention for a moment until I got my binoculars on it. Others noted on the circuit, 4 Skylark, a Snipe, up to 550 Golden Plover in an Abbey Farm field, and the set-aside Linnet/Greenfinch flock topped 100 again today with my ratio estimate still standing at 90/10 respectively.

Notes.

There were three records of note today, 1) At Wintersett Reservoir in West Yorshire six Mealy Redpolls were controlled one of which was discoveresd to have been a bird ringed in Norway. 2) An American Coot was found on Termoncarragh Lake, Co Mayo in the West of Ireland. 3) Nearer home a Barred Warbler was found near Fleetwood.

1 comment:

  1. Some interesting sightings today then pete.

    All those ducks and plovers, I only want one!

    ReplyDelete