Godwits And Plovers Hit The Fields.

Best sight of the day for me, was the Stonechat perched briefly on the post close to the viewing platform at Conder Pool....It says in my book, if you see a Stonechat get some footage if it!

Also on Conder Pool, 46 Mallard, 32 Wigeon, 4 Little Grebe, 3 Goosander, and a Snipe.

To note on the Lune Estuary, 348 geese were seen as last weeks 252 Greylag on Jeremy Lane, and 96 Canada Geese. Also, at least 300 Dunlin, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 450 Wigeon, and 2 Goosander.

Another great sight was c.500 Black-tailed Godwit in a field south end of Jeremy Lane, with a 'few' Curlew/Redshank/Lapwing/ and a lone Golden Plover.

Little Owl Cockersand. Pete Woodruff.

At Cockersand, nice to find another Stonechat behind Lighthouse Cottage, and nice to see the Little Owl sunning itself behind the barn at Bank Houses. 

In excess of 1,000 Golden Plover were scattered over three fields north and south of Abbey Farm, and by Cockersand Abbey. A wonderful sight, which would have looked even more wonderful in the sun, but waiting for it to come from behind the clouds didn't happen, so the ones with backs to the light, look more like Lapwing in the video!

A healthier number of c.113 Whooper Swan again at Cockersand and surrounding area, with 7 off Slack Lane, an uncounted estimate of a distant 50 from a moving car Thursland Hill area, and 56 Jeremy Lane.

Bird Of The Year.

Barred Warbler Conder Pool. Howard Stockdale.

I received some interesting data about the Barred Warbler on Conder Pool 19 November, including that it is thought to be the first ever to be photographed in the county of Lancashire. From a selection of images taken by Howard, one is to be used on the front cover of Lancashire Bird Report 2024....Many thanks for information from Howard Stockdale.

Little Owl.

My header of the Little Owl at Cockersand is the best I can manage at the distance with my standard Sony camera at 30x zoom. As a bird in serious decline, I know of no other Little Owl currently to be found in our recording area.  

Conder Pool Delivers....And So Does Cockersand.

Of note on Conder Pool Wednesday, a Stonechat flew west past the viewing platform to perch briefly on a fence post below the hedgerow. Given time and patience every visit here, the Kingfisher perched by the sluice, and 7 Little Grebe counted. At the north end of Jeremy Lane, 252 Greylag and 12 Canada Geese.

As I drove towards the shore at Cockersand, a Short-eared Owl was quartering the field on the north side of Bank House Cottage.

Five minutes later as I set off on the circuit, the owl was obligingly perched up on a fence post by the paddock at Bank Houses, as it has been for dozens of photographers according to several websites I've visited over the past few days.

On the circuit, up to 350 Golden Plover were in a field south of Abbey Farm. Numbers of Curlew and Redshank were in coastal fields feeding, and at least 15 Meadow Pipit were in stubble by Lighthouse Cottage. A Snipe lifted out of a field, from where I saw a pair of Greenfinch and a Song Thrush.

The swans have moved on again, with only 7 Whooper Swan including 2 juvenile in the field off Slack Lane. 

On my return from the circuit to the parking area near the caravan park two hours later, 12 cars were parked up and at least 20 birders/photographers were filling their boots with Short-eared/Barn/Little Owl piks, with possible Hen Harrier/Marsh Harrier/Merlin/Sparrowhawk/Kestrel. That's a list of 8 raptors at and around the Cockersand area, all recorded in the past week, and doesn't include Buzzard which can be seen here frequently. 

Picture Gallery. 

I'm in receipt of four excellent images, each one much appreciated and with a little story behind them....All worthy of viewing Full Screen.

Goosander Haslam Park. Martin Jump.

Martin has been getting some great results from a project involving a peak count of 21 Goosander as a first record for Haslam Park....Thank You Martin.

Short-eared Owl Cockersand 20 November. Susan Wilson.

On request Susan sent me this image of the Short-eared Owl currently performing for all comers at Cockersand. But following my request, having processed my own efforts, to discover I achieved some decent stuff worthy of publishing. However, this takes nothing away from my gratitude for sending me this stunning image of the equally stunning owl....Thank You Susan.

Barred Warbler Conder Pool 19 November. Howard Stockdale.

Quite remarkably, Ian Hartley found this smart little 1st year Barred Warbler whilst engaged with a work party erecting a new tern raft on Tuesday. With the same working party, Howard Stockdale took some amazing images of the warbler....Thanks for the find Ian, and thanks for the image Howard.

Merlin Conder Pool 29 October. Howard Stockdale.

It gave me much pleasure when Howard sent this unsolicited image of my most favourite raptor....Thank You Howard.

Conder Pool & Cockersand Deliver Yet Again....NEXT PLEASE!