Struggled again today....

....but ended with a nice record.

OK, so probably the worst photograph of Whooper Swans I'm ever likely to post, but visitors to Birds2blog have come to accept this....haven't you?

I pulled up opposite seven birds in the stubble field on Fluke Hall Lane this afternoon and lingered here for no more than fifteen minutes by which time I'd watched the number reach 282 Whooper Swans - pictured above - as they flew in from the south over my head in various group numbers to join the initial seven....amazing stuff! 

Not exactly brimming over with enthusiasm on a dark cold day I didn't get to Conder Green until 11 o'clock by which time the tide was almost at its height leaving most of the area under water, but undeterred I did the circuit to at least find the Common Sandpiper, 4 Little Grebe, and a Grey Plover. From the coastal path I noted just 2 Fieldfare and 2 Reed Bunting. Some distance inland from here I saw briefly what I 'took to have been'  a Buzzard. Surprisingly Conder Pool remains frozen over as does the canal basin at Glasson Dock where I noted 12 Pochard only two of which were female, also a Goldeneye. On Jeremy Lane c.150 Pink-footed Geese.

Pilling Marsh was deserted as far as viewable birds were concerned but I saw a Little Egret and noted - void of anything like a serious count - up to a three figure number of Shelduck. At Fluke Hall I did a short walk west along the embankment to estimate and grill c.3,5000 Pink-footed Geese on Preesall Sands. Also noted in the area just 2 Tree Sparrows - surely more around close by - a Reed Bunting and Wren, also at least 250 Jackdaws and a similar number of Wood Pigeon.

And finally.... 

Red-necked Grebe. SP.

A nice bird - the Red-necked Grebe - found today on Fairhaven Lake at Lytham St Annes. A scarce winter visitor in Lancashire but one was at Brockholes Wetland in May 2009 in immaculate full summer plumage. Thanks for the pic SP....thats 'Starting Price' with the bookmakers!