Waders And Wagtails.

But first some news about the Conder Pool Common Terns, including some behaviour by an adult Common Tern towards a chick, and some other behavioral traits I've never observed before.

In the video below, the adult tern perched at the far left hand of the raft, suddenly pounces on the chick and appears to stab at it with its bill before it escapes and runs off. 

 

 

I made the following trimmed video at half speed where the aggression by the adult is more obvious.

This attack by the adult tern isn't the only odd behavior surrounding these birds. I met Ian Hartley who gave me some news about young chicks gone missing and some dead which he had removed from the raft earlier. This prompts the suspected cause to be starvation, or in the case of those missing from the raft, a Barn Owl which daily hunts Conder Pool, and has done for some time now.

There has been a lot of mayhem in the colony recently, with chicks fighting each other and various adults over fish. In one incident, the 'wrong' chick grabbed a fish and the adult snatched it back and flew off before the chick could spit it out. There's been some chick mortality recently, perhaps because of all the competition over food coming in. Some good news to follow all this, is that 16 Common Tern chicks were still alive as at Friday, so we can hopefully expect they can all make it from here on.

For providing me with the news about the state of play and the update regarding the Common Terns, I'm very grateful to Ian Hartley. 

Conder Pool.

  

I'm recording 34 Common Tern on Conder Pool Wednesday 29 July, seen as 24 adult and 16 chicks/young. Also here, in excess of 1,000 Redshank, 21 Greenshank, 14 Common Sandpiper, 7 Avocet, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Little Egret, and I made a count of 12 Little Grebe, this seems to be an early build up in winter numbers so early at the end of July. 

Bank End.

I had messaged Andrew (Wagtail) Cornell earlier to ask if he was at Bank End, and arranged to meet up with him around 1.00pm. It was a pleasant meeting with Andrew, and resulted in my seeing 6 Yellow Wagtail off Bank End Farm.

And Finally....

Some lovely bees, butterflies, moths and hovers in the garden recently, and an uninvited and unwanted gate crasher....All images Pete Woodruff.

Common Carder Bee

Comma

Silver Y

Volucella zonaria

The Volucella zonaria is a Hornet Mimic Hoverfly, migratory from the Mediterranean, and is the largest hoverfly to be found in the UK. 

NOT TODAY THANK YOU!

The Show Goes On.

After an unplanned leave of absence from birding for 13 days, it was good to get back out on Monday to catch up with a few things I've been missing recently, but now the show goes on....

On Conder Pool I found 3 Curlew Sandpiper in a mix of 16 Greenshank and a few Redshank, also 10 Little Grebe and 15 Canada Geese, whilst at least 10 Long-tailed Tit passed in procession through the bushes, and a Kestrel hovered overhead for the unsuspecting vole no doubt. But the big surprise was an adult Whooper Swan, although the surprise was lessened when I remembered seeing this bird on the Lune Estuary at Glasson on 9 July.

On my way to Cockersand, I stopped off at Clarkson's Farm to find c.120 Black-headed Gull accompanied by an adult Mediterranean Gull, this bird was marked with a white darvic ring, frustratingly too distant to read, but based on the colour, the best I could come up with, was ringed in the near continent perhaps. Also seen around a small flood in the same field, a Ruff, up to 6 Golden Polver and a similar number of Ringed Polver.

The traditional Cockersand circuit started with a surprise just beyond Bank House Farm, when I counted at least 40 Tree Sparrow. I've not been seeing many Tree Sparrow here the past 2 years, in fact I saw just 2 on 7 April this year, previous to that, I recorded 16 on 16 October 2023. Worth noting the Tree Sparrow is Red Listed, with a BTO report showing a significant decline across the country.

Further into the walk, I found another encouraging sight, that of 100+Linnet. Although the arrival of wintering geese has been noted, it was a bit of a surprise to find just 3 Pink-footed Geese in a field off Slack Lane, from where I heard a Skylark burst briefly into song.

Clouded Yellow Cockersand. Pete Woodruff. 

Butterflies on the day were a pleasing 4 Clouded Yellow, 2 Red Admiral, 2 Speckled Wood, and a Silver Y moth.

Large White Chrysalis. Pete Woodruff.

As I walked along the side of Lighthouse Cottage, I spotted about a dozen chrysalis 'glued' to the whitewashed wall, a bit of searching had me find they were Large White butterfly.

Wheatear 21 September. Pete Woodruff.  

On Sunday, a pleasant walk along Morecambe Promenade at Sandylands, was made all the more pleasant with 3 Wheatear seen along the sea defences.

The Header.

Struggling to find a suitable pik of my own for the header, I remembered Ian's stunning Merveille du Jour, and....Bingo!    

The Hairstreak Experience.

Brown Hairstreak.

The first confirmed record of the Brown Hairstreak in Lancashire, came from the Silverdale area in 2011, and was the result of an unauthorised release. The species is restricted to the south, the nearest colonies being in Worcestershire c.150 miles away from Silverdale. A colony has now been established at Gait Barrows, and is recorded annually for 4 years since 2017. However it is noted, the species is not fully protected, and unofficial releases are strongly discouraged by Butterfly Conservation.

Yesterday I was in the excellent company of Steve Graham, he had agreed to accompany me on a guided butterfly safari.

Brown Hairstreak Egg. Pete Woodruff.

The day started a little sluggish, but within the hour Steve was soon showing his skill to me, and finding an egg resembling Sea Urchin tucked away under a spur branch.

Brown Hairstreak Female. Pete Woodruff. 

From then on, the day turned into a Brown Hairstreak spectacular, we had six sightings of this elusive butterfly, three individuals around and in the tree tops, and three at lower ground level.

View Full Screen

Other butterflies seen continued the dearth, and were particularly worrying, with just singular Small Copper, Gatekeeper, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, with 6 Speckled Wood, 2 Brimstone, and a Sliver Y moth.

Common Darter Gait Barrows 24 August. Pete Woodruff.

Dragonflies seen, at least 6 Common Darter, a few sightings of Migrant Hawker, and a Brown Hawker. 

Birds sighting were, 2 Buzzard and a Raven overhead, a small flock of Long-tailed Tit in flight between trees, Bullfinch and Great-spotted Woodpecker.

Garden Birds.

Robin 25 August 2021. Pete Woodruff.

I managed to grab a shot of our young garden Robin this morning, 3 Buzzard were soaring together over Bowerham, and about 5 Long-tailed Tit looking interested in the feeders according to the Woodruff's.   

Hawker Hunt.

When I looked through my records, by coincidence I had chosen the same date as last year for a saunter along the canal towpath Glasson Dock - Galgate yesterday. Having walked an extra 2 miles this time, I didn't even equal let alone exceeded the same 54 Migrant Hawker seen on 19 September 2019.

On this pleasant saunter, the dragonflies seen, 24 Migrant Hawker, 4 Emperor Dragonfly, 3 Brown Hawker and 2 Common Darter.

Green-veined White

 

Butterflies were sparse, with singles of Green-veined White, Comma, Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell, and 2 Silver Y moths.

Comma

Until I saw it on my computer, I had no idea the Comma that took off the instant I pressed the shutter, had resulted in this creative image. 

Tipula oleracea

The Crane-Fly caught my eye.

 

Birds of any note were also sparse, but a Chiffchaff was singing nicely by Christ Church at Glasson Dock....

VIEW FULL SCREEN

....and at least 60 Swallow gave me a few extra minutes of feel-good factor on this enjoyable Hawker Hunt.

And Finally....  

Greylag Conder Pool 16 Sept. Howard Stockdale.

2016 Ambleside, Cumbria 25 June. Ringed SAN as a female.

2017 Barnacre Reservoir, Lanc's 9 October.

2017 Barnacre Reservoir, Lanc's 10 October

2017 Knaresborough, North York's 18 November.

2018 Nateby, Lanc's 24 December.

2018 Abbeystead, Lanc's 16 March.

2018 Langden Head, Bowland 26 June.

2018 Stocks Reservoir, Bowland 23 November.

2019 Stocks Reservoir, Bowland 21 January.

2019 Stocks Reservoir, Bowland 26 June.

2020. Conder Green, Lanc's 16 September.

Thanks to Kane Brides for the history of SAN. Also thanks to Howard for the excellent Little Stint header image.  

Another Excellent Plan....Again!

The plan yesterday was to check out Harrisend, but not until I had taken a look at Grisedale Brook for Golden Ringed Dragonfly. Maybe too late now, as the flight season runs out by late August, but being a good sunny warm day I thought maybe just a chance, but I drew a blank, it was too late, and I had to settle for a male Migrant Hawker, 6 Small Tortoiseshell, and a Buzzard soaring overhead.

But it was a different story for 3 hours on Harrisend, which resulted with 15 Stonechat found seen as adults and juveniles. Also of note, a Raven honking overhead with some excellent aerobatics seen, 2 Buzzard hanging on the wind over the ridge, a Kestrel hovering, and a Reed Bunting. Butterflies seen, 12 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Red Admiral, and a Small Copper, with 2 Silver Y moths seen.

Stonechat. Howard Stockdale.

So 33 Stonechat at two locations in 7 days. In the little black book, it looks a bit like the early 2000's all over again. Thanks to Howard Stockdale for the Stonechat on Abbeystead Lane 9 August.

I'd sooner be birding....Good to be birding again yesterday and always is, it's what I do, an illness for which I hope there's never a cure.    

Back In Business.

Monday was too good a day to miss. The weather can be good during September, but maybe we won't get another day quite as nice as Monday again this year.

Painted Lady. Pete Woodruff.

So I did a circuit Glasson - Conder Green - Glasson along the canal towpath, a pretty good idea if only because finding this Painted Lady at Scalestone Pond, puts me amongst a small band of butterfly enthusiasts having done so this summer, with just ten records found on the Butterfly Conservation Lancashire Branch website over three months since the end of May, also here 2 Silver Y moths.

Migrant Hawker. Pete Woodruff. 

Along the towpath, I found this female Migrant Hawker, obligingly it came to rest on the hedgerow, also seen 6 Brown Hawker.

I had a look in on Conder Pool to see if any high tide roosters had taken up there, to find 6 Greenshank, a lone adult Avocet, and Common Sandpiper. Probably saw up to 80 Swallow on the circuit, and a few House Martin still around the renamed and now called Greenfinch Cafe. At least 40 Small Tortoiseshell and a Red Admiral seen.

Thirty seven seconds of a never still and busy Silver Y moth at Saltcote Pond.

View Full Screen

Tower Lodge.

Following on from my concerns about the tree felling at Tower Lodge in my last post. I made some enquiries and am assured the clear out was the result of much needed maintenance due to storm damage, resulting in the loss of nest boxes. Not a major concern for me, but I learn these boxes are to be relocated at a suitable location to be decided in time for next years breeding season.

The Short List.

If your name is on the short list in a competition it's good news, you'll be in with a chance, and could be a winner. But this short list was the result of a couple of hours birding yesterday, and certainly wasn't a winner, despite a bit of effort resulted in very little....But, if the birds ain't there, then the list is going to be short.

Nine Greenshank were in the high tide roost on Conder Pool with 11 Curlew, also 16 Teal, with 6 Little Egret, a Stock Dove noted, and the customary multi counts resulted in 20 Little Grebe again. Twelve Snipe came up off the marsh - thanks Howard - and headed off over the estuary, 2 Goosander seen.

Wheatear Cockersand 30 Sept. Pete Woodruff. Clik the pik

A brief visit to Cockersand saw a Wheatear, the smallest of Northern Wheatear I ever saw, the size of a Robin, and truly fooled me initially. Also seen, a Sparrowhawk, and at least 500 Curlew in two flights of 300/200 out over the marsh. At Bank Houses, 2 Swallow were on the wires, and similar at Lambs Farm, Moss Lane, and a Silver Y seen.

Keeping Up Appearances!

Like the train now arriving on Platform 2, this post is running late, but here we go....

My plans for Thursday didn't include any birding, but it was almost as if it was a duty for me, that I went to Conder Green for a couple of hours in the afternoon, if only to check out the Avocets and Common Terns.

Common Tern 8 August Conder Pool. Pete Woodruff. Clik The Pik

The 6 Common Tern which have been seen on Conder Pool consistently since 25 July, included two young, one of which was fed large fish. The current peak of 11 Little Grebe made life easy by being at rest, floating on the surface and making the count a doddle.

The 4 Avocet young seem to have taken up permanently at the east end of the creeks to be viewed from the A588, but today I could only find one adult bird, also in the creeks, 5 Common Sandpiper.

Banded Demoiselle Conder Green 4 June 2018. Pete Woodruff.

Conditions being perfect, and despite several previous attempts in the past few weeks, upstream from the road bridge, I found 2 Banded Demoiselle at the same location as 7 seen on 4 June last year. A Kingfisher flew downstream whilst watching the damselflies. 

Butterflies seen, 39 Painted Lady (247 to date), 4 Gatekeeper, and 2 Speckled Wood. On my return home, 7 Swift were over our house in Lancaster.

Piks with a difference.

Silver Y. Lynn Woodruff. Clik the pik

It's a while since we had a 'Pik's with a difference' on Birds2blog. This one of the Alien in Lynn's garden fills the gap nicely.

On With The Show!

There was 6 Common Tern on Conder Pool Monday, including the two young birds seen flying around. I got the best views to date of these two birds since they fledged, which are looking better by the day. Double figures of 11 Greenshank and 10 Little Grebe, with at least 280 Redshank. One of the Black-headed Gull young has fledged leaving it's sibling behind on the pontoon.

Avocet Conder Green. Howard Stockdale. Clik the pik

Despite 2 hours at Conder Green, I saw only two young Avocet from four, but Howard's excellent image shows them almost ready to fledge any time soon. I failed to find any of the other Avocet, though two birders present told me they had seen the 'east end' chick whilst I was off on a wander to find 4 Common Sandpiper in the creeks.

Up to 40 House Martin were swirling over and around Cafe d' Lune, 2 Gatekeeper and a Speckled Wood were seen from the coastal path. Six Painted Lady were by the bowling green at Glasson Dock, and 6 Golden Plover were my first returners on the Lune Estuary.

In a one hour circuit of Aldcliffe, the only birds of note were, a Willow Warbler in striking fresh autumn lemon-yellow, and a 1st winter Whitethroat. Butterflies seen, 15 Painted Lady, 12 Meadow Brown, 9 Speckled Wood, 7 Gatekeeper, a Red Admiral, and a Silver Y.

In the header image, one of the young Common Terns. All things considered, looking good.

I've seen 208 Painted Lady to date this year, this one was on Buddleia near the Lifeboat Station at Morecambe on Sunday.

    ............................................................................   

 

View Full Screen

Part Time Birding....Again!

Not enough hours in a day for me at times, and last Friday I was again restricted to just a couple of hours to get my birding fix - though I've no idea when I'll get my next one - and was limited to getting myself an update on the Conder Pool birds, a wander along the coastal path to Glasson Dock, and return via the canal to Conder Green.

The Conder Avocet.

 Guard Duty. 

There was still six adult Avocet on Conder Pool, with two sitting, a pair obviously considering nesting on the edge of the boxed island opposite the viewing screen which is what they were doing last Wednesday, one on guard duty, and the other generally loafing around.

The Oystercatcher and the Avocet....Charge!

The adult on guard duty was attacking anything that moved within sight of the only chick I saw which was feeding contentedly on the grass whilst thinking it was one of the many sheep around.

It's going to be impossible to keep tabs on numbers of hatched young, too many out of sight areas, and not knowing dates of hatching or how many, we'll just hope we can see the total of fledglings in due course.

The Conder Tern.

The Common Tern are going to be easy to monitor as they are nesting on the pontoon, and on Friday I was able to zoom in when the bird got up to stretch its legs and could clearly see three eggs in the nest, albeit well camouflaged on the stones. We will be able to note the dates of hatching and fledging, all very interesting.

The Wander.

I counted 126 Back-tailed Godwit in the creeks, upstream I heard a singing Sedge Warbler, but better still had excellent views of a Reed Warbler as it clambered up the reeds, a male Reed Bunting also seen.

Painted Lady 2 June. Pete Woodruff.

Sixteen Eider on the Lune Estuary were seen from the coastal path before I returned to Conder Green along the canal where I saw my second Painted Lady which allowed me some photographs, also seen, a Red Admiral, and a Silver Y moth.

The Shearwater.

Sooty Shearwater. Martin Lofgren @ Wild Bird Gallery 

A Sooty Shearwater flew west past Knott End this morning at 10.28am, 12 minutes later it was reported west past Rossall Point at 10.40am....RBA 

An excellent record of this species, even more excellent at this time of year as very rare in British and Irish waters in spring. This powerful flyer is one of the great ocean wanderers which nest mainly on remote islands in the southern oceans, and migrate to winter in the North Atlantic and North Pacific during our summer. The perfect example of....what's a bird like the Sooty Shearwater doing off the Fylde Coast in Lancashire in early June.

Many thanks to Martin Lofgren for the use of his excellent image, much appreciated Martin. 

A Little Hard Going.

A bright but windy day on Thursday, it was little hard going at times with a few blank spells, but n'er mind....onward Christian soldiers and all that!

Little Grebe. Pete Woodruff.

Conder Pool was virtually deserted, though I counted 11 Little Grebe including these six together bobbing up and down on the choppy pool. Up to 70 Teal were in the creeks, and c.60 Goldfinch were flighty over the marsh.

Plover Scar at high tide held little more than 900 waders, estimated as 450 Oystercatcher, 350 Dunlin, 90 Turnstone, 5 Ringed Plover, 4 Redshank, 2 Knot, and a solitary Golden Plover. Five Snipe came off the marsh as I walked between Crook Cottage and Lighthouse Cottage, 3 Wheatear seen, with 35 Linnet around the cover crops off Slack Lane, and 10 Meadow Pipit in Bank Houses horse paddock.

Wigeon. Pete Woodruff.

I saw up to 300 Wigeon off the headland, and as an all year round vegetarian, they began to come to the shore as the tide dropped and started to feed.

Thanks to Marc Heath for the header of the Reculver Baird's Sandpiper....Brilliant image of a brilliant bird Marc.

Butterflies seen at Cockersand, a Painted Lady, 4 Red Admiral, and 2 Silver Y moths.

 

Red Admiral. Pete Woodruff.

Not easy photographing anything on a glaring white background, but I was pleased with the outcome in this shot of the Red Admiral and it's shadow basking on the whitewashed wall at Lighthouse Cottage.

Cockersand Lighthouse. 

Following the damage in a collision in March this year by a passing cargo ship with a gross tonnage of 674 tons, the task of dismantling then rebuilding of Cockersand Lighthouse is in full swing.

It's strange seeing the top section having been lifted off and now on dry land, and being able to see up close something which has stood out in the Lune Estuary for almost 170 years.

Cockersand Scores Again.

I gave in to the wet and windy weather again yesterday which was a blueprint of the day before, and was sat wasting my life away looking at a computer screen when, at 12.51pm my pager went 'ping-ping' to alert me to a text message. The instant I saw the name attached to the message I knew there was a 99% possibility I was going to be shooting off birding and probably to Cockersand. I was right, I was indeed off birding, and it was to Cockersand....I'm a liar....I'm a twitcher after all.

As I headed towards Cockerham Sands along Moss Lane, I could see no sign of anyone on the headland, I had expected to see a silhouette on the skyline, and thought I knew the whereabouts of this bird, pessimism kicked in, the bird has gone. 

But I was wrong again, as I got on the footpath, there was this figure way out on the shore with eyes to the scope. I went out to be immediately put on to a smart adult American Golden Plover settled down with a group of European Golden Plover excellent for detailed comparison.

American Golden Plover/European Golden Plover. Cockersand 28 Sept. Stuart Piner.

The bird stayed in this spot some time, but later flew north to be relocated on the appropriately named Plover Scar, home to many a good and rare bird. 

Past recent records of AGP at Cockersand....

19  Nov 2008
  4  Nov 2011
5/6 Sep 2012  An AGP was reported at 2.15pm on 6 Sept on the Lune Estuary at Glasson.

I was grateful to Stuart Piner for alerting me to this brilliant bird, and for the images he has since sent me.

And a few others yesterday.

I called in at Glasson Dock to look over the Lune Estuary, but it was back down to earth now, and things were pretty quiet here, with comparatively few gulls, and low numbers of waders which included 2 Greenshank. 

On Conder Pool, a single scan gave me a count of 11 Little Grebe, with 24 Teal noted, and at least 50 Swallow moving through and lingering over the pool. In the creeks, the Common Sandpiper, with a Red Admiral and Silver Y moth seen. 

And The Osprey Came Too.

Tuesday 16 August.

Late off the block, I went straight to Cockersand primarily to look over Plover Scar at high tide, but the net result was little more than around 150 Dunlin and 90 Redshank. Along the headland a Wheatear was on the shingle below, with 4 Linnet and 8 Tree Sparrow around Abbey Farm. 

Osprey. Callum Bushell.

As I got my eyes on a Whimbrel on the shoreline, the bird crouched up to it's belly in water anxiously looking around, several gulls went into the air, and what waders had been on Plover Scar were flying past, I looked to my right and there it was, a lumbering Osprey low over the water and flying south giving excellent views. 

As I got back to Plover Scar a couple of hours later, c.350 Golden Plover had assembled there. Butterflies seen, 2 Painted Lady, 4 Common Blue, c.25 Small Tortoiseshell, and uncounted but probably up to 50 Large White, with a Silver Y moth by Crook Cottage.

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock, probably 2,500 Lapwing on the sands off Colloway Marsh, a Greenshank, and 12 Little Egret were my only other notes. At Conder Green, there were 12 Little Grebe on Conder Pool, I found only 3 Common Sandpiper in the creeks here today.

Conder Pool Wednesday 17 August. 

I called in on Conder Pool yesterday, unable to drive past and ignore the place on my way back to Lancaster. I've no idea where they came from, but I was a little more than delighted to see the Avocet adult and juvenile fly into view through my binoculars to land straight out from the viewing platform in front of me. Also on the pool, an excellent 15 Little Grebe now on here. 

Little Grebe. Bob Bushell.

The build up to a double figure of Little Grebe on Conder Pool has happened early this year. I've not done a past records search beyond 2015 when they didn't start to increase from 5 in early September, to 8 on 11 Sept, and a double figure of 10 on 22 Sept, with 13 by the end of the month, they peaked for 2015 in my book at 18 on 16 October. 

Thanks to Callum for his Osprey, excactly the view I got of my bird on Tuesday, and to Bob for his Little Grebe, see their website Here    

A Change Of Fieldcraft Perhaps.

Ruff. Jan Larsson @ Vingspann 

Yesterday started quite good actually, a Ruff was good enough for me in the creeks at Conder Green, and 13 Little Grebe on Conder Pool were an increase of three on the last count in my book. On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock, up to 560 Golden Plover were my best count so far this winter, and 10 Little Egret noted.

OK....I wasn't at Cockersands - or Glasson Dock for that matter - at the best time of the day for coastal birding - a change of fieldcraft is overdue - the 10.40m tide was at it's height at 12.45pm, but an hour prior to and at the high tide Plover Scar was completely deserted and that's definitely not good. Along the headland I found 4 Wheatear, and a solitary Meadow Pipit, 10 Tree Sparrow were around Abbey Farm, c.60 Golden Plover went over SW, and the Kestrel seen. A Buzzard soared overhead before landing in a stubble field, I often see this/a Buzzard in the Cockersands/Thurnham area, I have no idea were it/they reside, or maybe even breed somewhere around here.

Butterflies.

I did no strict counting, but saw at least 30 Red Admiral, equally as many Small Tortoiseshell, a Painted Lady, and up to 60 Silver Y moths, all at Cockersands.

Raven. Martin Lofgren @ Wild Bird Gallery 

Yesterday a lone Raven was soaring over Bowerham in Lancaster.

Thanks to Jan/Martin for their much appreciated and excellent photographs.