The Great-crested Grebe.

Great-crested Grebe Astland Photography 

On Tuesday I saw a Great-crested Grebe (GCG) floating downstream on the River Lune on the ebbing tide at Glasson Dock. This bird reminded me that I had been thinking recently how long it has been since I last saw a GCG. The LDBWS Annual Report for 2012 and two other annual reports I've been reading all refer to the GCG in similar words as 'a scarce resident breeder and common winter visitor'. I've seen one of the breeding pairs this year with two young from the Public Hide at Leighton Moss, but wintering GCG according to my records and void of searching others, are becoming less common and I'm not seeing them where I used to regularly.

Oakes made little reference to the winter distribution of the GCG, but it was clear by the 1960's that large numbers were sometimes present throughout the Lancashire coast, the species benefited from the creation of reservoirs and gravel pits in the 20th century. But by the mid 1800's GCG were persecuted for their plumage in the millinery trade and for making feathered muffs, the population plummeted to an estimated 42 pairs nationally. In 1962 an amazing count of 500 individuals was made on one day in November off Morecambe. Historically Morecambe/Heysham have held nationally important numbers, in 2003 an estimate of British wintering GCG stood at almost 16,000 birds, nothing like that figure today and with a decline to some degree.

And here's another member of the same family....

Black-necked Grebe David Cookson 

A Black-necked Grebe, not quite as smart as the adult above, this was a juvenile which I found on the excellent Conder Pool on 1 September 2008, the bird stayed on the pool until last seen 17 days later on 18 September.

And finally, not a member of the same family, but couldn't resist it....

Collared Pratincole. Gyorgy Szimuly.

A brilliant image of the Collared Pratincole near breeding grounds in Romania May 2006 and featured on the front cover of the latest bulletin I recieved from International Wader Study Group 

The New Header Pic.

As can be seen by the new header pic, Conder Pool in the right conditions can look quite brilliant. When I took this photograph last Tuesday the pool was void of birds but looked stunning with the bright blue sky - for a change - and some excellent cloud reflections.

Like any location the desertion of birds can sometimes be the case, but Conder Pool has had its moments and I'm not going to create the list just now. Having said how brilliant this small pool can be with its show of the odd rare/scarce birds over the years, it is in need of management, a scrape perhaps, and an area of shingle for the likes of the Little Ringed Plover to be attracted to breed for starters. Also as can be seen from the photograph its a bit too much like Lake Windermere at the moment....to much water and no muddy edge to attract the forthcoming passage waders. Still, like I say....looking rather nice Ehh!

Collared Pratincole Antonio Puigg    

Who knows....perhaps one of these staring at you next time you pay a visit to Conder Pool!

You Never Know!

I think its a good idea to set off on a days birding on the basis you never know what you might find, a sort of tales of the unexpected.

Skylark. David Cookson.

Well I can't say I found anything unexpected today but on a circuit of Cockersands I did count at least 7 Skylark along with 6 Wheatear still coming through, 2 Sedge Warbler burst into song, a 'few' Tree Sparrow, a male Reed Bunting, and a Buzzard soaring inland. Waders were a bit thin and Plover Scar was almost deserted even by the guardians of the scar the Oystercatchers, but a 'few' Dunlin and Ringed Plover had a single Sanderling in company, with two drake Eider on the sea, about 12 Small Tortoiseshell were a sign of summer and the warmer weather which has arrived at last.  

It was at least nice to find two young Lapwing had so far survived the onslaught of the breeding time harvest which is always to be seen at Cockersands on a grand scale every year, one field today resembled a kind of agricultural motorway with about eight trailer pulling tractors following the harvest gathering machine and Lapwings going crazy overhead....a pretty depressing sight.

At Glasson Dock the Lune Estuary was virtually void of bird-life but 2 Common Tern in flight and plunge diving, a House Martin kept returning to collect mud, and a Mute Swan pair had ten cygnets on the canal basin. Conder Pool held around 6 Tufted Duck and 2 Wigeon having decided to summer here. 

Talking about the unexpected when it comes to finding birds in our area, here are a couple of good examples....you might have to wait more than a little while to turn up a....

                                                           Golden Oriole. Antonio Puigg.

or a.... 

                                                   Collared Pratincole. Antonio Puigg.

Thanks to Antonio Puigg for the stunning images of the Oriole and Pratincole, and to David Cookson for the excellent Skylark photograph.