....And Impressive Wintering Stonechat Records.

On this visit to Conder Pool I practiced one of my occasional stock taking exercises the result of which came up with, 19 Wigeon, a Little Grebe, 12 Redshank, 21 Black-headed Gull, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and Common Gull, 3 Mute Swan, 3 Canada Geese, and best till last a female Stonechat.

At Glasson Dock, 12 Goldfinch were accompanied by 2 Greenfinch, and on Jeremy Lane, 7 Whooper Swan were seen as 4 juvenile and 3 adult.

Reed Bunting. Pete Woodruff.

At Cockersand, 14 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch, 3 Reed Bunting and 11 Blackbird. In fields, 625 Golden Plover, 12 Fieldfare, and up to 220 Whooper Swan were seen over four fields.

When I arrived back at the motor, I was pleasantly entertained by a pair of Stonechat constantly foraging on and off the marsh, from where I watched a Barn Owl appear but soon lost to view behind Bank Houses.

The Cockersand Stonechat wasn't very obliging and the light was fading too, but I had to get some footage as it was my only opportunity of the day.

Stonechat.

Over these first 12 days of January, I have collected records of 24 Stonechat wintering at 14 sites, mostly on the Fylde. I also now have 7 upland records of wintering birds. 

Great Northern Diver....Continuing the saga of an ill fated bird.

I gleaned the opinion of an experienced angler in an attempt to reach some sort of conclusion about the foreign body the bird had 'picked up' since it arrived on the lake nearly a month ago.

This is a copy of the e-mail.... 

Hi Pete, I have just seen the images, and it looks fairly certain to be a Pike fishing rig. Usually 18 inches of a strong braided metal material with 2 treble hooks to hold the dead fish bait, unfortunately it looked like this was snapped off and the diver has ingested the fish dead bait intended for pike. This wire corrodes very slowly, and in my view isn't good news for this bird. 

The end of this message didn't surprise me at all, but definitely saddened me....The demise of a beautiful bird seems inevitable.

On A Lighter Note!

I monitored Clougha and its surroundings, all seasons every month primarily for Stonechat for in excess of 10 years 1999-2010. For the record, that's at least 120 visits, lasting on average 5 hours, making a total of up to 600 hours spent on Clougha/Birk Bank.

Who would have thought, that 2 years after my observations drew to an end, I would move into a house that had a brilliant view - albeit between the rooftops - of the place I loved the best, looking for the bird I loved best.

I recently took this shot of Clougha from our bedroom window, looking splendid in a nice coating of snow. I took another 2 minutes later, and heavily cropping it during processing....

....I discovered a bird had appeared on the scene over Clougha. It's obviously a bird of prey, but not too obvious a Buzzard perhaps, maybe a Harrier or Kite.

Thanks to Martin Jump for the header image of a male Sparrowhawk that thought it could hover like a Kestrel.

Notes From The Estuary.

I put together a few notables around the estuary on Friday, starting at Conder Pool where there was a decent count of 35 Tufted Duck, the 47 Wigeon present took off in sync flying to the estuary. Also 4 Little Grebe, and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull noted on the island.

At Cockersand, the swans were over three fields again, the ones north of Bank End Farm were distant and inaccessible, but I reckon the total count was of up to 320 Whooper Swan with 12 Bewick's Swan including juveniles, and 2 Black Swan in the field west of Gardner's Farm.

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Around 90 Pink-footed Geese were in a field - a few in the next field - between Lighthouse Cottage and Abbey Farm, and at least 500 Curlew were in view on the Cocker Estuary, probably more out of my view at Bank End.

Stonechat Female Cockersand 14 Jan. Pete Woodruff.

It took a while to find the female Stonechat being elusive today, but it eventually performed well in front of the motor, from where I got the shot through the windscreen. I've not seen the male of this pair on my last two visits here, and four other reports failed to mention the bird.

 NOT ME!

I'm now thinking it may have fallen prey to a cat, there are at least three often around and on the hunt, though I did catch a glimpse of what I reckon was a male Stonechat in silhouette at the far end of the rough field behind Lower Bank Houses....Watch this space!

The light was fading when I decided to take a brief look at the estuary at Glasson, but I managed to find an adult Mediterranean Gull with at least mainly 400 Common Gull....probably an underestimate there.

Black-necked Grebe....Ian Hartley LDBWS.

A blast from the past December 2019, and a good example of why the Lune Estuary is amongst those at the top of the list for some excellent all round birding in our area.

View Full Screen Video Pete Woodruff

The header Grey Wagtail visiting his garden, features one of Martin Jump's excellent images he keeps sending me....Thanks Martin.

Breaking News.

Male and female Stonechat at Cockersand yesterday 15 January, in grassy area off the Caravan Park.....Guy McClelland LDBWS. 

Post Edit 17 Jan. 

Three Stonechat at Cockersand this morning. A pair flying in from the Bank End area have joined the original female. Excellent report from Andrew Cornall....Thanks Andrew.  

The Little Brown Job!

I had two e-mails over the weekend, one included an image of a wader. I was amazed at how time flies when I discovered it was 6 years ago since I found a Wood Sandpiper on Conder Pool 10 August 2014.  

The second message was the reminder of a butterfly found 11 August 2018. The last time I had seen the author of the e-mail was at Glasson Dock when together we found 9 gulls all ringed, including 5 Common Gulls, a species I had never found ringed before. 

Brown Hairstreak at Gait Barrows.

Given that the Brown Hairstreak has a localised distribution almost entirely in Southern England, the South Midlands, and South Wales, with the nearest colonies in East Worcestershire some 150 miles away, the obvious question is; how did it get to Gait Barrows in Lancashire. There are three possible explanations: 1) This elusive and largely arboreal butterfly could have been ever present, but was simply overlooked or mistaken for the widespread Purple Hairstreak. 2) Brown Hairstreak eggs were inadvertently brought in by local landowners when Blackthorn from nurseries outside the area was planted in the vicinity. 3) An unauthorised release of a small number of adults, or late stage caterpillars. The latter option for the reappearance of Brown Hairstreak in North Lancashire was favoured by three experts in the field. 

Ref: Butterfly Conservation Lancashire Branch, Winnick, Dunbar, Sivell

 

I'm hoping to make a break to freedom tomorrow and I think I know where I'm going.

In the garden.

A Small White, Red Admiral, and Speckled Wood. It was also good to see a young Robin and Greenfinch in the garden. 

Of Geese And Gulls.

On my way to Heysham on Friday, I pulled off the by-pass to park up and walk down Imperial Road leading to the 'Waste Technology Park'. This is at the eastern boundary of the Heysham Obs recording area, and was the location of an exceptionally early spring Stonechat migration in 2019, when up to a possible seven were seen on 17 February. I was hoping I'd picked the right day, right time for a repeat this early March, but the visit drew a blank.

Eight Brent Geese had made a return to Heysham on 27 February, a visit today was rewarded with 6 Brent Geese seen off the promenade by the children's play area, but flew off a little north towards Sandylands, 77 Eider were off here.

A 50 sec snatch of at least 2,000 gulls on the Lune Estuary late afternoon.

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I had been at the bowling green about 45 minutes when Pete Crooks joined me. I had already noted a number similar to that of the gulls, c.1,500 Black-tailed Godwit and 500 Bar-tailed Godwit, and an adult Mediterranean Gull, Pete found another one later. A Buzzard flew low over the river, putting everything in sight to flight. 

But the interest over the course of an hour, was in eventually finding nine darvic ringed gulls, listed as.... 

Five Common Gull, all with right leg rings, three White, a Green, and a Red.
Two Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow left leg, and Black left leg. 

Two Black-headed Gull, Yellow left leg, and White right leg.

Though frustration was equal to the interest, in that, because of distance, no readings could be made to add to the colours, the gulls being on the opposite shore below the south end of Colloway Marsh, this was an excellent and rewarding exercise between PC and myself.

After The Break.

After a break from the Lune Estuary - 10 days actually - I was back on parade there yesterday. But since 15 January, Heysham has been the location for me, being I saw 6 Brent Geese, after which I got hooked on the unprecedented numbers of the birds there which culminated with a peak count of 88 Brent Geese on 28 January. Still there, with MD seeing 65 yesterday.

The 50 sec video is another one of the Brent Geese with Wigeon and Oystercatcher at Red Nab 30 January. The wind is annoying, I'd suggest turning off the sound. 

  

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It's a pity these videos on Blogger aren't viewed as clear as elsewhere on the computer.

On Conder Pool yesterday, 32 Wigeon, 20 Curlew, and a drake Goosander. In the creeks, 7 Little Grebe was a count equal to 26 December.

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock, I just wish the c.2,500 godwits would stay apart and didn't mingle like today, they were either side of the Conder mouth making life difficult, but the estimates I came away with were, at least 1,600 Black-tailed Godwit and 900 Bar-tailed Godwit. Other waders of note, 350 Dunlin, 325 Golden Plover, and 120 Curlew. Up to 450 Common Gull noted, also 8 Goosander, 4 Goldeneye, 35 Greylag, and a Merlin which was distant on Colloway Marsh. 

At Cockersand, the herd of c.300 Whooper Swan and 2 Black Swan were seen over four fields including some on Jeremy Lane, and 5 Bewick's Swan were with 2 Mute Swan off Slack Lane. The low tides don't push the waders into the fields, but c.250 Curlew were by Abbey Farm, and at least 10 Pied Wagtail were around a flood at the junction of Moss/Slack Lane.

Garden Birds.

A pair of Greenfinch, the male showing resplendent yellow-green underparts, seen as a species nudging at mega status in our garden this morning.

Another Day Around The River.

I was rewarded by excellent views of the wintering male Stonechat at Cockersand yesterday, it was on the marsh edge opposite the CP, first time since 8 January. Other interest here was 8 Bewick's Swan with 180 Whooper Swan in fields off Slack Lane, the rest of the Cockersand herd were in fields south of Moss Lane, up to 100 there in total.

The video is a pretty hopeless attempt by me. I only had bino's round my neck, but with a little effort and the pause button, you should pick out four of the eight Bewick's Swans if you view Full Screen....it's good fun anyway.

  

Of c.650 Black-tailed Godwit seen, 500 were in the field south of the abbey, and 150 were feeding on Cockerham Sands off the CP. Other waders in fields, c.450 Golden Plover and 140 Curlew. There are still up to 95 Fieldfare still around at Cockersand, surprising since we're heading to the end of January now, 2 Kestrel seen at Bank Houses and Slack Lane, and the wintering Merlin was on a roadside fence post as I drove away from Cockersand, it was on virtually the same post as seen 8 November.   

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock, there was at least 1,300 godwit in one tight flock and loose groups making life difficult in the murky conditions, they were seen as c.850 Bar-tailed Godwit and 450 Black-tailed Godwit, also 625 Golden Plover and 320 Dunlin. Up to 350 Wigeon were all hauled out, 2 Goosander and a lone Goldeneye noted, also of note c.300 Common Gull. On Colloway Marsh, c.300 Pink-footed Geese through the murk and distant.

On Conder Pool, 9 Goosander, 28 Wigeon, 25 Tufted Duck, and 32 Curlew. In the creeks, 3 Little Grebe. 

A Little Pre Christmas Routine.

Definitely not routine in a boring way, but a wander on Monday around the Lune Estuary before Christmas, started by finding Conder Pool having just five birds present, 2 Magpie, a Goosander, a Grey Heron, and the semi-resident Lesser Black-backed Gull. Oh yes, and a lone Redwing on the berries. In the creeks, 7 Little Grebe included five down the channel almost out of sight towards the Conder mouth, 82 Mallard and up to 120 Teal were also noted in the creeks.

At Glasson Dock, estimates on the Lune Estuary, 2,500 Golden Plover, 850 Black-tailed Godwit, 550 Common Gull, 350 Dunlin, 120 Redshank, 75 Curlew, and the lone Bar-tailed Godwit seen last Thursday.

The sole purpose of a brief visit to Cockersand on Monday, was to find the Stonechats either at the Caravan Park/Lighthouse Cottage or both, which unfortunately ended in failure, but it was interesting to see the report of a pair of Stonechat on Monday in the field by the church at Cockerham, per Fylde Bird Club.

At least 350 Curlew seen at the Cocker Estuary, and c.150 Whooper Swan in the field to the north behind the Caravan Park were seen as a number which looked reduced by something like 100 here for several weeks. At Clarkson's Farm, 3 Bewick's Swan were with 28 Whooper Swan.

Still at it at Cockersand, seven at a time. Clik the pik and see. 

Notes From The Lune Estuary.

The peak count of 22 Little Grebe on Conder Pool this year was on Sunday 6 October (Ian Hartley). Since then the number on the pool begins to fall each year by mid-October, and the grebes are to be found in the creeks and have even been seen at times on the Lune Estuary. 

On Friday I found 10 Little Grebe, five of which were in the creeks, and included two downstream towards the Conder mouth, the other five were seen on Conder Pool with 2 Goosander noted.

At and around Christ Church, at least 12 Long-tailed Tit seen, with a Grey Wagtail seeming out of context amongst the topmost branches of a tall Sycamore. A Great-crested Grebe was amongst a good number of Coot on the canal opposite the church. Noted on the Lune Estuary, with the exception of Lapwing, wader numbers were very low and unremarkable, a conservative estimate of 350 Common Gull, with an equal number of Black-headed Gull, 22 Black-tailed Godwit, c.120 Wigeon and 2 Goosander. 

At Cockersand, Tuesdays 550 Curlew were seen as at least that number again today, but c.450 Golden Plover were less than half the number seen that day. Walking along the road, a Snipe came up out of a ditch, 180 Redshank were on/around the flood at the Moss/Slack Lane junction, and a Merlin allowed me to stalk quite close, perched on a fence post.

Common Darter Cockersand 8 November. Pete Woodruff.

Although their flight period goes into November - rarely in December - it's always going to be a bit of a surprise to see a Common Darter on a cold day at Cockersand in that month.

Thanks once again to Howard for his excellent Little Grebe header image.

Chat Finale.

Grey Heron Conder Pool. Pete Woodruff.

A Grey Heron and 16 Mallard were the only birds present on Conder Pool on Thursday, and noted on the circuit, a Grey Wagtail in the creeks, and a male Sparrowhawk seen flap-flap-gliding across the marsh. On the Lune Estuary at Glasson, with the exception of several hundred Lapwing, there was no other three figure counts of Redshank, Dunlin, Curlew, Wigeon, Common Gull, or Black-headed Gull, but 8 Goldeneye were my best count to date here this winter, and a drake Goosander was noted.

At Cockersand, I estimate the 245 Whooper Swan still in fields here, and in other fields checked, probably in excess of 2,500 waders of which were 1,750 Golden Plover, 250 Curlew, with good numbers of Lapwing, Redshank and Dunlin. Finches seen, up to 40 Twite in a mix with a few Linnet in the rough field behind Bank House Cottage, with 12 Goldfinch and 3 Greenfinch seen. I saw a total of 9 Brown Hare, eight of which were together in the same field not 50 metres apart.

Chat Finale....

My last birding day in 2017 on Thursday ended nicely for me with the 1st winter male Stonechat seen again off the Caravan Park, though no sign of the female seen with this male on 22 December. Hopefully the New Year will start with a Stonechat, that would be good enough for me if it did.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE.

Uphill Struggle.

Hawthornthwaite Fell.

It was an uphill struggle to find the birds in more ways than one on Wednesday, but literally so on Hawthornthwaite. Apart from the fact the Stonechat isn't as easy to find as it was during it's upturn in status which peaked during the early 2000's, I'd got 3/4 of the climb to the peak before I found a distant pair of Stonechat, the only two seen on my visit, and at a higher elevation than Iv'e ever seen them here before. But ne'r mind....mission accomplished. 

Wren. Martin Jump. 

Four Wren on Hawthornthwaite seems to indicate a good colony, I had six seen here on 18 October, also 10 Red Grouse. 

Marshaw - Tower Lodge - Trough Bridge.

A Dipper was seen on the Marshaw Wyre with a juicy aquatic invertebrate in it's bill, but it was disappointing not to find any Grey Wagtail here today. Behind Tower Lodge, 2 Goldcrest and 2 Treecreeper seen, 3 Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit and Great Tit, and by the time I got to Trough Bridge, 2 Nuthatch, a MistleThrush, and a Kestrel noted, 4 Red Grouse were seen from the track towards Winfold Fell. 

The last bird I expected to see as I arrived back at Marshaw was a Cormorant flying north over Marshaw Farm. On the way back to Lancaster, up to 220 Common Gull in a field at Quernmore, with a Kestrel seen on a roadside fence post.

Autumn Bowland. Pete Woodruff. 

....And The Cockersand Whooper.

Monday's birding didn't fail me again even if it was a little lower down the scale in the quality department.

The number has increased to around 550 Whooper Swan in the field adjacent to Bank Houses at Cockersand SD432534. It was a treat to hear them all bugling away, standing erect and necks stretched to the limit at the sight of someone watching them from the lane. In the same field, 48 Redshank 2 Snipe, and several hundred Starling, there was also quite an impressive count of at least 1,500 Wigeon in the Cocker channel. From Slack Lane, 120 Golden Plover in fields, and my first albeit a solitary Fieldfare gave me good views in the Willows.

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson, 450 Common Gull were of note, 24 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Goosander, and singles of Bar-tailed Godwit and the no better than scarce here Turnstone. 

At Conder Green, of the 5 Little Grebe seen, two were on Conder Pool where I saw 65 Teal, 17 Wigeon, 3 Tufted Duck, and 2 Snipe. The other 3 Little Grebe were in the creeks where I found the Common Sandpiper, and from the coastal path, the only birds seen were 2 Robin and a Wren.

And The Cockersand Whooper Swan.

Whooper Swan. Martin Lofgren.

On Wednesday 8 November with the 265 Whooper Swan in the field NE of Bank Houses at Cockersand I found a bird ringed Orange YYG. It was marked as an adult female in February 2016 at Martin Mere WWT Reserve and hasn't yet been recorded as re-sighted outside the UK, having four records seen at Martin Mere, and three recently at Cockersand.

I'm grateful for the usual reliable help of Kane Brides at WWT in sending me the details, and to Martin Lofgren @ Wild Bird Gallery for his image of the Whooper Swans. 

A Chat In The Soup.

I was only half way round the circuit of Cockersand on Monday and the weather had turned nasty, by mid-afternoon it was pea soup and drizzle, but a bird flying across the field ahead had me 'if it moves check it out', the bird landed on the reeds in the ditch and with the naked eye I'd called it a Reed Bunting, but hey....wrong again it was a cracking migrant male Stonechat.

Eider. Cockersand. Pete Woodruff.

Also at Cockersand, a decent count of at least 150 Turnstone on Plover Scar, and 45 Oystercatcher, with 6 Eider off here. In fields by Abbey Farm, c.550 Golden Plover, 95 Curlew and 25 Black-tailed Godwit. At Bank Houses, 25 Tree Sparrow, and by Slack Lane cover crop 2 Greenfinch.

In a field off Jeremy Lane, an adult Mediterranean Gull was with 152 Common Gull and 26 Black-headed Gull. On the canal basin at Glasson, a female Scaup and my first lone Goldeneye. Three wader species noted on the Lune Estuary, a new wave of 44 Snipe and up to 150 Dunlin with fewer uncounted Redshank. 

On Conder Pool, another 10 Snipe, 3 Goosander, 9 Little Grebe, and in the creeks, it looks like we might be back to one Common Sandpiper again at Conder Green.

Recently deceased Guillemot on the tide wrack off Bank Houses, Cockersand.

The One Hour Affair!

What was only going to be a couple of hours birding on Wednesday, turned out to be just a one hour affair when a phone call had me aborting and heading back to Lancaster.

But the timing to start my hour's birding was spot on, when I arrived at Conder Pool the Great White Egret was showing well, and a bonus to the third sighting for me of this elegant heron, was a sift through 52 Black-headed Gull and a few Common Gull which produced a smart adult Mediterranean Gull and a drake Goosander. In the creeks, a circuit turned up the Spotted Redshank and the Common Sandpiper which was down by the iron bridge.

There was little action of note on the Lune Estuary, though up to 1,750 Golden Plover were over on the Colloway side....But now my mobile is ringing!

Later in the afternoon I took a stroll through the local Williamson Park, to find a Nuthatch, Long-tailed Tits and a Coal Tit which rose just above the more expected Blue Tit and Great Tit, it was good to hear a Song Thrush in song as I left at 3.50pm.

The Small Blue. 

Every time I look at this board on Fenham Carr in Williamson Park, I'm puzzled why the six illustrations of five butterflies and a moth, includes that of a Small Blue butterfly. It isn't clear which of the butterflies is the Small Blue in my shot of the board, but it's the one top right of centre.

Small Blue Marc Heath

The Small Blue is the smallest native British butterfly and is a Priority Species for conservation, its main habitat are dry sheltered areas of grassland where Kidney Vetch grows, but isn't to be found anywhere near this location at Fenham Carr in Lancaster, and I don't understand why it is illustrated on the info board. 

Some People Never Learn!

A brilliant cold but sunny day on Wednesday, I decided it would be good for the soul if not for birds, to leg it from Fluke Hall to Knott End. The Black Redstart found seven days ago was on the pager at 9.00am, so I decided it was time I went to take a look.

This is at least a five mile round walk, and was the road to nowhere, the bird had done a runner. Deja vu - Desert Wheatear Wednesday 23 November - some people never learn. But here's the sting in the tail....the Black Redstart was there again this Friday morning, reported by AC as he has done every day since it's arrival at Knott End. 

Mediterranean Gulls . Pete Woodruff.

Ne'r mind, I collected some pretty good compensation when a thorough sift through c.400 predominantly Black-headed Gull with up to 50 Common Gull notable, produced 4 adult Mediterranean Gull at Cockers Dyke. Also noted, up to 550 Dunlin, 3 Grey Plover, and a solitary Bar-tailed Godwit feeding on the tideline.

Along the coastal path, I saw 2 Sparrowhawk thirty minutes apart, both came from I know not where, over the marsh to fly inland and a Snipe likewise. Also noted, 2 Wren, and singles of Linnet, Meadow Pipit, and Dunnock. In the four hours I'd been on the coastal path I saw 5 Little Egret, and when I got back to the motor 4 Whooper Swan were in a field at Fluke Hall.

I was always going to do this walk along the coastal path to Knott End on Wednesday, Black Redstart or not, it was brilliant.

P.S.

There really are Mediterranean Gulls in the image - Heysham Red Nab 24 August 2016 - 'clik the pik' to pick them out bigger and better.

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. 

The Big Mooch.

Not the plan when I left home, but I ended up mooching around Conder Green and the Glasson area for a full six hours yesterday, turning every tree, bush, and hedgerow upside down in the process....Should have gone to Shetland!!

Spotted Redshank. Pete Woodruff.

The first bird seen at Conder Green was the Spotted Redshank in the creeks with up to 100 Teal here, 2 Grey Wagtail were seen with one below the road bridge and one upstream.

Common Sandpiper. Pete Woodruff.

The Common Sandpiper was on Conder Pool where I could only find 5 Little Grebe today. In the picnic area, a Goldcrest, at least 2 Robin heard/seen, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, and Blue Tit, with 2 Buzzard soaring overhead.

I paid two visits to the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock, the first around mid-day, the second at 4.45pm, birds noted were my first big count this winter of at least 1,500 Golden Plover, followed by another first decent count of the returning 295 Black-tailed Godwit. Also of note, a Ruff took 'Best Estuary Bird' award, followed by 3 Greenshank, 23 Snipe, 16 Turnstone which were seen as irregular if not scarce here, a single Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Great-crested Grebe and a Red-breasted Merganser, low numbers of gulls were dominated by c.250 Common Gull.

A Kestrel was the only bird noted on Jeremy Lane, but it was one more bird seen there than I took note of in an hour around the Glasson Grain/Yatch Club area. In the dock I counted 5 Tufted Duck, with another 25 on the canal basin and probably twice that number of Coot.

I watched a Pied Wagtail take an unidentified butterfly in it's bill on the roof of Christ Church, the bird lost it's grip on the butterfly which flew off to escape with it's life....amazing.

Green Woodpecker. Ana Minguez @ Naturanafotos

Surprise bird of the day was a Green Woodpecker, a local wanderer seen flying east over the marsh from Glasson Dock towards Conder Green. Come 3 November it will be a year ago since I saw my last when I had the bonus of two birds together off Rigg Lane at Birk Bank. 

Thanks for the Green Woodpecker Ana, you can see the wood flying off the tree as the bird pecks away at it, excellent and very much appreciated. 

As for my own poor quality and repetitive species photographs....I just keep trying!