Think It's Called Twitching!

My latest visit to Conder Pool was rewarded by another first, when at least 2,500 Redshank were  present, including up to 100 in the creeks. This record puts an end to the 2,000 Redshank seen here on 7 August. 

Also, 14 Ruff, 6 Greenshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Dunlin, 2 Snipe. and 15 Little Grebe. A pair of Shoveler always create some interest on Conder Pool for their scarcity, and 4 Wigeon are the early winter returners.

Saltcote Pond. Pete Woodruff.

At Saltcote Pond, it was a surprise to find a Common Hawker again, it was patrolling in a cool, windy and gloomy 18 °C    flying low and investigating the pool. The male is known to be very active, even in overcast conditions.

The Cockersand Dip!

At Cockersand, I failed to find a couple of target species - I think it's called twitching - but noted up to 450 Dunlin and 12o Ringed Plover, also 4 Turnstone one of which retained some of its smart breeding plumage.

Mediterranean Gull Conder Pool 25 June 2025. Pete Woodruff.

Checking a group of 12 Black-headed Gull off Lighthouse Cottage, I found 4 Mediterranean Gull with them, they were all males in winter garb, and nothing like as smart as the black-hooded ones I saw on Conder Pool 25 June 2025. Also off here, 4 Eider.

Interest In The Garden.

There was interest in the garden yesterday, when I found a Garden Spider with prey. 

I think what we see is a Sphaerophoria sp of hoverfly, of which there are 11 confirmed species in Britain, and not easy to ID. 

Todays unfortunate find was in the jaws of a Garden Spider.

Garden Spider With Prey. Pete Woodruff.

Eventually the head was separated from its body which hung from a thread of the spiders web.

Another interest was in the form of the 8th Hummingbird-hawkmoth in as many weeks in the garden.

The moth performed perfectly for several minutes, nectaring on Salvia in the garden.

Green Shieldbug. Pete Woodruff.

And finally another first for me, an appropriately named nymph Green Shieldbug. 

Good Afternoon....The Sequel.

Not only did Paul West find 45+ Little Egret on Conder Pool 13 August, but he also achieved an excellent image of this all time highest record of the species for this amazing location....Paul West Photography

Conder Pool. 

Conder Pool 19 August. Pete Woodruff.

I think it's possible the water level at Conder Pool is lower than I have ever seen before, but it took nothing away from the enjoyment of seeing a decent number of eight species of birds.

Although they seem to have favoured the backside of one of the islands on my last two visits, I counted 18 Common Tern on view, seen as 14 adult and 4 juvenile. Up to 450 Redshank were present this visit, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Ruff and 4 Dunlin made a total of 463 waders today. Also 18 Little Grebe was my best count so far this period heading into winter, and 25 Greylag. Two female Wigeon were the vanguard of winter visitors I reckon. A Small Tortoiseshell put in an appearance.

Saltcote Pond.

Common Hawker. Pete Woodruff.

A Common Hawker was obliging and settled for pictures. Also an Emperor Dragonfly, a Brown Hawker, 5 Common Darter, and 2 Speckled Wood seen.

Glasson Canal Towpath.

A brief visit to the canal towpath was rewarded by a Clouded Yellow butterfly.

Clouded Yellow. Pete Woodruff.

Though the butterfly was in pristine condition, it wasn't at all obliging.

The minute I got close for pictures....we have lift off! 

Bank End.

A return to Bank End to meet AC and find 5 Yellow Wagtail was well worth the effort. Thanks for the Stonechat record at Cockers Dyke on Friday, I always love to find a Stonechat, and I know you do too Andrew.

Birk Bank.

Common Lizard Birk Bank Bog August 19. Pete Woodruff.

Best reward for the visit to the bog at Birk Bank was a Common Lizard. I have seen few reports from here since the new boardwalk was installed, and I've previously only had brief views of one. Only 4 Common Darter seen today was a bit disappointing.

Sundew Birk Bank 19 August. Pete Woodruff.

In seeing the tracks through the bog left by the heavy machinery during the erection of the new boardwalk, I had thought it was goodbye to the Sundew, so it was great to find several clusters of it today. 

Over the hour spent here, I saw 9 Buzzard, including a family of five soaring and mewing together, and a Peregrine Falcon picked up high and drifting, went into a stoop to disappear below Birk Bank ridge....A good afternoon Part 2

Lady In The Garden.

A stunning Painted Lady paid a visit to our garden yesterday, in pristine condition, it spent a long period on the Alium coming and going throughout the afternoon.

Painted Lady. Pete Woodruff.

Pool, Pond, and Bog.

Conder Pool.

Conder Pool never fails on the interest front, and didn't fail me again on Friday. I'm never involved in survey work and todays counts are estimates, though never too far from accurate. 

At least 2,100 Redshank was by far the best count ever for Conder Pool. Other waders here today, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 2 Ruff, 12 Dunlin and 8 Black-tailed Godwit, and after six attempts, I arrived at a count of 10 Little Grebe.

The terns were busy and all over the place, but eventually my count was of 31 Common Tern, seen as 24 adult, and 7 young including one near fledging. Also a new one for the pool, was a colour marked Common Tern, with a dark bill and white forehead, it was a juvenile moulting to 1st winter plumage.

Butterflies seen, a Gatekeeper and Painted Lady. 

Saltcote Pond.

Common Darter. Pete Woodruff.

A great little pond but a bit quiet today, an Emperor Dragonfly persistently attacked 2 Brown Hawker every time they came close, also 3 Common Darter, 5 Common Blue Damselfly, and a Blue-tailed Damselfly. Quite busy with butterflies, 6 Painted Lady, 5 Common Blue, and a Meadow Brown.

Birk Bank.

Birk Bank Bog. Pete Woodruff.

When I arrived at the bog, the sight of it slowly drying out was a bit concerning.

Birk Bank Bog. Pete Woodruff.

Though the ditch were the old boardwalk was, and the haunt favoured by the Golden Ringed Dragonfly, is still looking good.

Keeled Skimmer. Pete Woodruff.

My visit here today was an all male day with two exceptions, and it was good to find 5 Keeled Skimmer, they were seeing off anything that came close.

Keeled Skimmer Female. Pete Woodruff. 

With the two exceptions, one of which was an old female Keeled Skimmer which was obliging and basking in the sun on the boardwalk.

Common Darter Female. Pete Woodruff.

The other exception was an old female Common Darter, which was also basking on the boardwalk.

An Emperor Dragonfly was patrolling the edges of the bog during all my time here, while a Common Hawker was behaving in the same manner, flying low over the water and investigating the edges of the acidic bog, but without showing the aggression of the Emperor.

Common/Black Darter. Pete Woodruff.

Also seen, 5 Common Darter and 3 Black Darter were all male. I saw just three butterfly, 2 Speckled Wood and a Painted Lady.

Erratum....Dictionary definition, done quickly with little attention to detail.

The Keeled Skimmer female featured above, is in fact a Black-tailed Skimmer of the same sex and age....Whoooops!

Kwik Fix.

Conder Pool.

This years peak count on Conder Pool thus far, was of 22 Avocet on Friday 6 March. As always, I am grateful for the contact, record, and header image to Howard Stockdale.

My latest visit to Conder Pool was thwarted by a blinding sun turning the pool into a silver river, and the birds into silhouettes.

Back-tailed Godwit Conder Pool 26 February 2024. Pete Woodruff.

This could have been the view if conditions had been better, I reckon there was up to 1,000 Black-tailed Godwit on the island today. I also made no attempt to count the birds, but noted just 2 Avocet and 6 Shoveler. Worth noting, an all time peak count for Conder Pool, was of 25 Shoveler recorded on Saturday 7 March....Paul Ellis FBC 

Lune Estuary.

Time was restricted for me on Wednesday, but a brief visit to the River Lune at Glasson had me find 17 Avocet, probably the same seventeen birds as those seen here Tuesday 3 March, otherwise an amazing coincidence. The c.2,500 Black-tailed Godwit were also probably the same as those seen here Tuesday 3 March.

Although this scene might suggest otherwise, it was relatively quiet about one hour before high tide, the numbers of waders feeding along the shoreline were low, with a few Redshank, Dunlin, Knot, and Black-tailed Godwit all stabbing for their share of invertibrates as the tide flowed in. Also noted at least 650 Wigeon and 3 Red-breasted Merganser. 

Mediterranean Gulls Lune Estuary 11 March Pete Woodruff.

A little distant, but a nice image for the record, 2 Mediterranean Gull adult were drifting upstream on the incoming tide.

It was a Kwik Fix, but as always a pleasant one for me.

Birk Bank Bog.

Palmate Newt June 2024. Maurice Wilby.

Some interest from the bog have included finding a Palmate Newt last year. Thanks to Maurice for his record shot of a creature I've yet to see on the bog at Birk Bank.

Toad 4 March. Ian Mitchell. 

Thanks to Ian for his excellent image of the Toad. Like the Palmate Newt, Toads are another amphibian I have yet to find on the bog at Birk Bank.

Toad Spawn. Ian Mitchell.

A week after 3 Toads were found, Ian saw that they had spawned on 11 March.

News from Conder Pool.

Tern Raft Conder Pool....FBC

Covers were fitted to the rafts yesterday 14 March. As was the case last year, the plan is to remove them when the Common Terns arrive back on Conder Pool, hopefully to breed for their 12th year, which I'm predicting will be within a week commencing 20 April. If they don't arrive during that time frame....the milky bars are on me!

Common Tern Conder Pool 2025. Pete Woodruff.

Early Spring'ers.

Willow Warbler Leighton Moss 14 March....LDBWS WhatsApp. Earlier by 5 days in 2024 on 19 March.

Little Ringed Plover River Wyre Fylde 14 march....FBC WhatsApp. Earlier by 5 days in 2024 on 19 March.

Sand Martin 85 at Pine Lake 15 March....LDBWS WhatsApp. Earliest record in Lancashire 35 years ago on 24 February 1990.

Common Quaker. Ian Mitchell.

Ian had a Common Quaker in his trap 14 March. Common as its name implies, but non the less beautiful for that.  

Decent Start....Decent End.

A decent start to the day yesterday, when a Goldcrest was in the plum tree in our garden, and a few minutes later, a Small Tortoiseshell was the first butterfly of the year.

Although 5 days later than the influx of 26 February 2024, when I arrived at Conder Pool, it was good to find up to 1,500 Black-tailed Godwit there again, 2 Dunlin were also in the mix, and maybe other stuff if I look through the video later.

Also to note on Conder Pool, I found 9 Shoveler there still, 2 Gadwall drake there too, and 2 Pink-footed Geese looked a little lost.

Kestrel. Pete Woodruff.

A Buzzard was over the fields along Jeremy Lane, and as I drove along Moss Lane, a female Kestrel was on a lookout post giving me an opportunity to grab a shot through the windscreen.

The Cockersand area swans where widely fragmented today, scattered over seven fields between the south end of Jeremy Lane, off both sides of Moss Lane, and through to distant fields behind the north side of Bank End Farm. I estimated a total of at least 400 Whooper Swan, probably being a peak count in the area this winter according to my records.

Plover Scar was pretty quiet, though two mutt minders were in the area, with 12 animals running riot. I noted about 20 Turnstone and 15 Knot. Three Cormorant were roosting on the railings on the lighthouse, and 6 Meadow Pipit seen. A male Stonechat was in the rough grasses again behind Bank Houses, as it has been through this winter.

When I called in to the Lune Estuary 4 hours after I had been to Conder Pool, the flock of 1,500 Black-tailed Godwit had returned here after the tide had receded. But a more interesting sight, was that of 17 Avocet along the shoreline to the Conder mouth, also a decent count of at least 450 Wigeon. 

Goldeneye Glasson Basin 3 March. Ian Mitchell.

Thanks to Ian Mitchell for the heads up and image of the Goldeneye drakes. These represent just three Goldeneye I've seen all winter. Much appreciated Ian, a nice end to a good day for me.

As drove back to Lancaster, 5 Buzzard were together over Ashton Nursery.

We Have Lift Off!

It was 17 days since my last spell of birding, and my first session for 2026....Lift Off!

I suppose lots of visitors to Conder Pool, wouldn't know the drake Shoveler and Pintail present today, were both at best only occasional here, but I note 5 Shoveler were recorded here last Thursday, and I reckon this is an all time best count of the species on Conder Pool. My last Shoveler here, was a pair last year on 23 February 2025, and my last Pintail was a drake 24 November 2025. Also noted today, 9 Redshank, 8 Tufted Duck, and 2 Little Grebe.

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson, I found my first Goldeneye of the winter and was a drake. I've seen no previous records of Goldeneye this winter around the Lune Estuary, but low end double figures at Aldcliffe.

 

A smart drake Goosander was close in with the Wigeon, and thinking I may not get any more opportunities for piks today, I grabbed a video. A pair of Red-breasted Merganser were diving by the Conder mouth, seen as a species at best irregular here, my last were a pair seen on the estuary 3 years ago on 13 January 2023. Also of note, 550 Black-tailed Godwit, a lone Bar-tailed Godwit, and 52 Knot.

At the south end of Jeremy Lane, a splendid 2,500 Black-tailed Godwit, with single figures of Curlew and Dunlin, and up to 60 Redshank in the field opposite.

Stonechat Cockersand 14 January. Pete Woodruff.

At Cockersand, a pair of Stonechat were on the spoil heaps, presumably the same pair seen on my last visit here 29 December. Off Slack Lane, 8 Whooper Swan were the only ones at Cockersand. I think the bulk of swans seem to have pitched up in fields at Cockerham/Braides where the 2 Bewick's Swans also seem to be currently residing.

Breaking News.

Bewick's Swans Cockersand 21 December. Ian Walker.

It was great to see the news that 4 Bewick's Swans were found this morning at Lower Thurnham, begging the question....are there 6 Bewick's Swans in the recording area now?

Thanks to Ian Walker for his excellent image of the stunning Bewick's Swans. 

The Header.

Couldn't resist this one....Long time no see a Stonechat header image on B2B, but Dave Mudd delivered the goods when he got this excellent shot of the pair at Cockersand recently. Not unique, but I reckon Dave or anyone else will achieve an image of two Stonechat so close together in the frame any time soon.    

B For Bonus.

A bit of life on Conder Pool was represented by something of a rarity in the form of a drake Pintail having a snooze by one of the islands. My other notes were, a female Stonechat in the long grasses east end, 5 Little Grebe, 3 Snipe, 21 Greylag and 12 Canada Geese. A Buzzard flew low over the pool and out of view east over the canal.

At Cockersand, at least 250 Whooper Swan were spread over four fields on this visit, certainly an underestimate with some out of view and distant. From the Caravan Park, 10 Snipe exploded off the marsh, including eight in sync, a Kestrel took off from a barn at Bank House Farm and was immediately attacked in the air by Carrion Crows.

Bewick's Swan. Tom Parkinson.

Up to 3,500 Pink-footed Geese were in the field at the junction of Moss/Slack Lane, also 2 Bewick's Swan same field close by...Thanks to TP who took this excellent image to illustrate our smallest and most elegant of swans. A bird that gives us the privilege of a winter visit from its Arctic tundra breeding ground, and remains in the same field 7 days after it arrived at Cockersand on 20 November.  

A female Stonechat was at Lighthouse Cottage again, and on Plover Scar, a decent count of 15 Grey Plover, 92 Oystercatcher, with low end double figures of Knot, Dunlin, Golden Plover and Turnstone. As I stood checking the scar, behind me in the field north side of Abbey Farm, 440 Black-tailed Godwit.

B for Bonus.

A bit of a surprise as I came away from Plover Scar walking towards the car park, a Barnacle Goose was on the estuary. This was almost certainly the same individual seen on Jeremy Lane with Greylags last Sunday 23 November. As far as I could see, it was fully feathered, no obvious injuries, no rings, and appeared to be quite healthy. 

Barnacle Goose Conder Pool 12 March 2025. Pete Woodruff.

As in this image, the ringed Barnacle Goose with a Greylag Goose is labeled feral, whilst a Barnacle Goose with Pink-footed Geese get the thumbs up. But you can never tell with Barnacle Geese, there are many feral bird species in the country these days, with Lincolnshire alone having an estimated 2,000 individuals. 

Not Much To Write Home About....

 ....but one record on Thursday lit up Cockersand. 

I actually skipped a visit to Conder Pool, three men in high vis overalls were having a discussion on the viewing platform, with a flailing machine parked up in the layby waiting to be fired up, so I jogged on to Cockersand.

In a field south end of Jeremy Lane I counted 62 Whooper Swan and up to 150 Golden Plover. The resident herd at Cockersand are still in fields south towards Bank End, and remain as a count of c.200 Whooper Swan as far as I can see.

Starting the circuit at Lighthouse Cottage where, on a beautiful if icy cold day, I found a male and female Stonechat. The best Plover Scar could muster at low tide, was c.250 Oystercatcher and a 50/50 mix of up to 100 Knot and Dunlin, with 10 Eider off here.

A Buzzard was inland flying purposefully north with its a slow wingbeat and intermittent glides. In the field south side of Abbey Farm, at least 325 Golden Plover. Having checked the shingle area for 15 minutes to find it bunting'less, a Rock Pipit dropped in and immediately took off again, and I was entertained by 12 Turnstone turning the stones as they do.

Dunnock Cockersand. Pete Woodruff.

The confiding Dunnock showed well again at the same location for my third consecutive visit.

By the time I got back to Slack Lane and the Lighthouse Cottage in my sights on the return from the circuit, up to 2,500 Pink-footed Geese were in the same field as Wednesdays 12 November 188 P.F.G.

In the field to the south of the Pink-footed Geese, there was the wonderful sight of 2 Bewick's Swan accompanied by 2 Whooper Swan. The video isn't world class, but it's an excellent record, and the size difference between the Whooper Swan on the right is obvious.

Bewick's Swan.

The status of the Bewick's Swan in Lancashire mirrors that of the national one, being an uncommon and declining winter visitor, teetering on the brink of becoming a rarity. In fact information gained to date, says there are little more than 30 Bewick's Swan anywhere in the country. According to my record of these two seen on Thursday 20 November, appear to be an average first arrival record in Lancashire on that date. 

Records in Lancashire in 2024 can only be described as at best sparse, with just 8 birds recorded up to mid-March. My records of Bewick's Swan for 2024....

6 Cockersand 12 Jan

3 Cockersand 17 Jan

2 Cockersand 12 Dec

But I made an interesting discovery when I found in my notes, a claim that AC had told me in a conversation, that 11 Bewick's Swan were in fields at Jeremy and Moss Lane on Saturday 13 January 2024. Even more interesting was the fact that this record included three 1st winter birds.

And the winner is....The Bewick's Swan! 

Brief Encounters.

Conder Pool did nothing to spur on my enthusiasm again on Monday, with 3 Little Grebe, 28 Teal, 22 Mallard, and a Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Within easy viewing range on the Lune Estuary at Glasson, barely moderate numbers of 600 Lapwing, 225 Golden Plover, and 90 Curlew, with more moderation of Dunlin and Redshank seen. At least 400 Wigeon, 3 Goosander, and a Great-crested Grebe on the river.

Along Jeremy Lane, swans in a field at the south end, were seen as 7 Whooper Swan and 3 Mute Swan. The Cockersand c.200 Whooper Swan herd were seen again in the fields south of Moss Lane stretching to Bank End.

Cockersand produced some interesting encounters today, not least of which was my finally nailing the Snow Bunting present here since 25 October.

The Snow Bunting is a ridiculously confiding bird, but can be difficult to spot when it is camouflaged whilst feeding amongst the tidewrack, but this one presented no such problem.

This Snow Bunting I saw on Plover Scar 5 January 2024, is a perfect example of just how cryptic the Snow Bunting can be at a distance.

Setting off on the circuit I soon came across the Dunnock, it was in the same hedgerow, and probably the same bird seen on 30 October.

This bird was just as confiding as the bunting, and gave me the opportunity to appreciate it as an attractive bird, with some nice plumage detail and colours, not as dowdy as sometimes portrayed.

As I walked along Slack Lane, 2 Snipe were high west overhead, and up to 12 Long-tailed Tit were working their way through the Willows.

Long-tailed Tit. Pete Woodruff.

One of the tits thought it was an autumn migrant Swallow on the wires!

There was a gathering of waders on Plover Scar, the best of which was a decent count of 14 Grey Plover, with 55 Turnstone and 350 Oystercatcher. A female Shoveler offshore was unusual, and certainly not a regular occurrence here, also 5 Eider. Another unusual and novel sighting was that of 5 Brown Hare driven off Plover Scar by the incoming tide, they were in a follow-my-leader line, up onto the sea wall, and away into the fields.

As I was leaving Plover Scar, in the space of a few minutes, 42 Pink-footed Geese, followed by up to 250 Golden Plover, and a spectacular encounter was of 3,500 Black-tailed Godwit were all purposefully in a fly-by >south. 

Around The Estuary And A Trip Down The A6.

For starters, there was some bird behaviour to be see on my latest visit to Cockersand, nothing too surprising, but interesting just the same.

This silo is situated at Bank House Farm at Cockersand, and as I set off on the circuit, it came into view to reveal up to 60 Swallow. These birds took me by surprise, in that they were obviously feeding on the wing inside the silo, they kept appearing over the rim before dropping back inside. Something of a spectacle when 60 birds were up and down like a yoyos in and out of the silo.

When I returned 2 hours later, having walked along the headland to reach the spot again, in a similar number, Swallows were in the field behind the silo, this time they were feeding low and over Yarrow.

 

For a bird with a mammoth task ahead of it, opportunism at its best I thought, and a flight of c.8,000 to reach the continent of Africa after 6 weeks of virtually non-stop flying....Knocks y'er socks off dun'it!

The Cockersand Circuit.

Truth is, I'd been plodding along for an hour and had seen nothing of note, then all of a sudden 2 Wheatear dropped onto the kissing gate by the abbey. This was followed by another spell of nothingness, until I reached Bank House Farm again to make another check of the area. Well blow me over, there are 2 Yellow Wagtail on the rim of the 'Swallow Silo'.

Painted Lady Cockersand 20 August. Pete Woodruff.

A personally poor year for butterflies continues, though today I raised it to 'moderate', seeing up to 100 'whites' including 3 Green-veined White, 12 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Red Admiral, a Painted Lady, Speckled Wood, and a Silver Y moth.

Conder Pool.

I was rewarded with my best - and probably everyone elses - all time count of 27 Greenshank on Conder Pool, with 13 Little Grebe counted.

Little Ringed Plover Juvenile Conder Pool 20 August. Pete Woodruff.

Also a juvenile Little Ringed Plover present, and 2 Wigeon were both female and the vanguards of things to come.

Also present, 2 Ruff and 4 Snipe....Not all in the video.

A Trip Down The A6.

Nine years ago on 13 September 2016, I made the same trip down the A6 to Heversham Moss, to see the same two species of birds at the same place as I did this time. That day I saw 2 Wood Sandpiper a Pectoral Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, and 22 Ruff.

Wood Sandpiper. Antonio Puigg.

On Fridays visit, I saw a Wood Sandpiper, 20 Ruff, up to 12 Pied Wagtail, and at one point a Sparrowhawk put up all and sundry from the flood, and eventually made one attack at Swallows before being lost to view.

With time on my hands and whilst in the area, I called at Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve and went to the Eric Morecambe Hide. Not the best time of day for birding from this hide if the sun is shining brightly in your face.

Putting in a bit of effort, I estimated the silhouettes to be at least 260 Black-tailed Godwit, 60 Redshank, 8 Knot, 5 Avocet, 5 Snipe, 3 Ruff, and 2 Dunlin. On the inner marsh, 2 Great White Egret and 18 Little Egret.

Migrant Hawker. Pete Woodruff.

Along the path to the hide, a male Migrant Hawker and 5 Speckled Wood, 2 Red Admiral, and a Small Tortoiseshell. 

And Finally.

With favourable weather, there have been opportunities to find and photograph some insects in the garden, particularly on the Alium.

Hoverfly Syrphus sp and Honey Bee. Pete Woodruff.

Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius Pete Woodruff.

Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum Pete Woodruff.