At A Premium.

Birds were at a premium on Monday, though I suppose reading about my seeing over 1,200 Golden Plover might sound like something of a contradiction to that.

It was pure delight to be at Cockersand to walk along the headland on a calm sunny day when some of the autumn colours on the rounds were coming to their best.

Tree Sparrow. Cockersand.

Off Crook Farm, c.280 Golden Plover seen with 2 Great-crested Grebe noted on the estuary. Around the area of cover crops, two small flocks seen were 25 Tree Sparrow, and 14 Linnet accompanied by 6 Greenfinch, also noted, a Reed Bunting and Dunnock. Four Whooper Swan with 50 Mute Swan were in a field some distance to the south of Clarkson's Farm where I had seen this herd on 13 October.

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock, c.900 Golden Plover, 4 Goosander, 2 Great-crested Grebe, and a solitary Black-tailed Godwit noted. Another solitary Black-tailed Godwit was at Conder Green in the creeks with a Spotted Redshank, Common Sandpiper, and 10 Snipe. A Kingfisher took me by surprise down the channel towards the Conder Estuary into where up to 90 Wigeon had drifted.

Linnet. Cockersand.

On Conder Pool, just 2 Little Grebe found, 4 Snipe were again on the dark side of the near island, and I saw 2 Meadow Pipit drop in at the back of the pool....The quiet lake. 

Sub-standard photography in this post is courtesy of your's truly.