....couldn't think of one!
On a good day weather-wise, save a few 'whites' I saw just four butterflies today, a Small Heath and 3 Red Admiral, all four seen on Harrisend where I found 3 Whinchat, an annual event here if you chose to be there on the right day/s. Also of note, 2 Whitethroat took me by surprise in the lone Hawthorn by the track where a Willow Warbler came within a couple of mtrs as I stood motionless, c.15 Meadow Pipit, a Dunnock, and a Buzzard. From the track to Lane Head I saw 2 Redstart, and at least 20 Mistle Thrush exploded out of one of the brilliant old Oak trees down this track, a Coal Tit also noted.
At Conder Green void of a circuit today, 5 Common Sandpiper, the two drake site-faithful Wigeon were on Conder Pool with little else, c.35 Goldfinch in flight. At Glasson Dock on the Lune Estuary an adult Mediterranean Gull, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, and in excess of 1,000 Redshank today. I noted the absence of any Bar-tailed Godwit here.
At Cockersands, a small variety of c.1000 waders on Plover Scar consisted of, 5 Whimbrel, up to 100 Ringed Plover, 750 Oystercatcher, 130 Dunlin, 6 Golden Plover, 9 Knot, and 5 Turnstone. Off here were 33 Eider, and 3 Linnet noted on the headland. As I walked towards Bank End to check out the high tide gull roost - which resulted in a nil of interest - an Osprey went over going south west.
The Glorious Twelfth.
Having been in Red Grouse country this morning I was reminded of the shock and disbelief I had when reading a comment regarding the then forthcoming 'Glorious Twelfth' - a day celebrated by the so called 'Guardians of the Countryside' - from a high profile professional with a dedication to wildlife, which said quote....'Its not a sport I take part in but accept that the Red Grouse we see on the moors are only there because of it'....unquote.....Perhaps you'd like to read through that once again, just to be sure you got it right.
Osprey!! That would make my year :-)
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