Home On The Range.

Spotted Redshank. Conder Pool 28 October. Pete Woodruff.

On Friday I started the day at Conder Green, and ended it back there six hours later, the combined visits turned up the Spotted Redshank on Conder Pool with a couple of it's common Redshank cousins, also on the pool, Common Sandpiper, 6 Snipe, 5 Little Grebe, and 32 Black-headed Gull accompanied by a Common Gull. In the creeks, a Green Sandpiper, a Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Goosander, and 6 Wigeon.

On the Lune Estuary, an adult Curlew Sandpiper obligingly dropped on to the mud reasonably close from the bowling green, from where I counted an excellent 75 Snipe which gave a splendid display at one point, in flight and circling to come back down onto the mud. Estimates of 250 Dunlin and 200 Golden Plover, also a single Black-tailed Godwit and Great-crested Grebe noted.

On the way to Cockersand, a Little Egret flew out of a ditch along Jeremy Lane, and a Jay seen on Moss Lane. On Plover Scar, 195 Oystercatcher, 16 Turnstone, 3 Redshank, 2 Grey Heron, and a Little Egret.

From Abbey Farm I could see last Mondays swans distant in the same field at Thursland Hill, but I managed a better count on Friday with at least 12 Whooper Swans in view with Mute Swans. It was otherwise all a bit thin at Cockersand, my only notes were of 2 Greenfinch, 2 Robin, and a Large White, probably being one of the last butterflies of the year for me I reckon.

Stars Of The Garden.

In the past two days our urban garden in Lancaster has hosted a Goldcrest seen as a first record on Friday, a flock of 8 Long-tailed Tit as very rare visitors, a Greenfinch and Wren both occasional visitors....Thanks to Mrs W for these excellent records.