Sandwiches at lunch time.

Sandwich Terns. Pete Woodruff.

Interesting that this photograph of the Sandwich Terns at Knott End was taken a month later - 29 August 2009 - than the birds seen here today and gives precise detail on the advance of moult in the space of four weeks, also interesting that this species stops off at Knott End annually around this date and into August, today's count came to c.230 Sandwich Terns, with an adult Mediterranean Gull also seen through the heat haze.

Butterflies. Pete Woodruff.

From here on the day with JB/BT developed into more of a butterfly day than a bird day, and at Fluke Hall I noted at least 12 Gatekeeper, 3 Small Copper, 3 Red Admiral, 2 Common Blue, and the interesting and uncommon Corn Marigold, a vulnerable species according to the BSBI and about which - if you are really interested - you can read about HERE . The photograph above is of the Gatekeeper and Green-veined White the latter of which was not seen today.

Wildflowers. Pete Woodruff.

There is usually an annual show of colour in the wild flowers at Pilling Lane Ends and this year is obviously no exception, butterflies noted were at least 14 Common Blue and 7 Gatekeeper. A detour along Gulf Lane produced estimates of 30 Goldfinch and 40 Tree Sparrows amongst which I saw a Whitethroat.

House Martin. John Bateman.

At Moss Edge Farm, eight House Martin nests counted and adults were feeding three young obviously not long out of the nest and perched in the cover of a hedgerow. An excellent photograph of an unusual and great experience seeing these young birds so soon out of the nest, hiding under the hedge and looking quite apprehensive about it all.....Thank you John.

I now got the feeling we were calling in at places merely to comply with routine, and a brief look in at Cockersands giving the location no justice at all, gave the Black Swan seen again, and an uncounted 'good number' of Tree Sparrow. An equally brief look in on the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock gave speedy notes of c.300 Bar-tailed Godwit, at least 40 Knot and 90 Golden Plover, with 2 Little Egret to note. We now left Glasson Dock and did something even my car won't ever do let alone me, and we drove past Conder Pool and home....Shuks!!

Coastal Path from Fluke Hall. Pete Woodruff.

Contrasting days in relation to the weather, with today's clear sky - above - compared to that of Friday 8 July below when JB and I abandoned all hope just after I took this picture in the early afternoon.