Plan A The Pool....Plan B The Bog!

A little keen for some closer detail whilst checking Conder Pool on Monday, then switching to Plan B for a visit to Birk Bank to see if there was any odonata on offer....All of this whilst giving the new camera a test run. 

Avocet.

All alone and living a life of danger for a while yet

I made a count of at least 14 adult and 6 young, and also spotted the yellow flag 63 bird, which I saw later sitting on the near island to the right of the viewing platform.

Common Tern.

Common Tern Conder Pool 22 May

Fourteen seen, including a pair copulating, also four sitting including the colour ringed bird, which I would guess is a female as it is generally regarded to be the female that incubates, also one bird bearing a metal ring on its right leg.

Little Ringed Plover.

Three seen, with one sitting and shooting off the nest at one point to see off a Black-headed Gull.

Mediterranean Gull Conder Pool 22 May

Also on Conder Pool, a 1st summer Mediterranean Gull, a Common Sandpiper, a pair of Redshank which may be breeding here, and a lone Tree Sparrow in the hedge. In the creeks, 42 Black-tailed Godwit of note, they were accompanied by 2 Dunlin. On the circuit, a Whitethroat was my first this year, 2 Swift were over, and up to 8 House Martin were around River Winds with one seen to enter under the eaves.

Large Red Damselfly. Pete Woodruff.

Having spent an enjoyable 3 hours at Conder Green, instead of the planned Cockersand visit, I decided to switch to Plan B and paid a visit to Birk Bank to find 18 Large Red Damselfly including 6 paired. Just up the track from the boardwalk over the bog, I found a Garden Warbler, and saw 3 Raven and a Kestrel in the air over lower Clougha.

Bull Beck.

Last Saturday, 4 Garden Warbler, a singing male Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler heard, and on the River Lune here, 4 Common Sandpiper were seen.

There was a serious case of disturbance here, when I saw a family group of eight pitched up and picnicking above the bank of the river where a strong colony of birds breed here annually. I estimated up to 100 Sand Martin were constantly on the wing in the hour I sent here, not to mention the length of time these people stayed....I have since appropriately reported my concerns about this incident.

As ever, I am grateful to Ian Mitchell for his image of the Common Tern on Conder Pool with the offering of a fish for its mate. 

Deja Vu.

I had only a couple of hours available for birding on Friday, and decided to give the time to scrutinize Conder Pool and a brief look in on the Lune Estuary....Well what a good idea that was.

These two beauties were on Conder Pool in June 2019, and it was Deja vu when I found 2 Mediterranean Gull there again on Friday, seen as an adult and 2nd summer.

Also on Conder Pool, a similar number of up to 400 Black-tailed Godwit seen on last Tuesday, including a colour ringed bird, the details of which I await from Iceland, these were accompanied by 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, c.50 Knot and a lone Dunlin in their midst, at least one lingering Pink-footed Goose, and I noted a single figure of Avocet.

On the Lune Estuary, c.120 Black-tailed Godwit, a lone Bar-tailed Godwit was bathing then preening with them, 9 Avocet, 8 Eider, a Swallow working its way upstream, and a Willow Warbler briefly singing on the coastal path is the first of the year for me. Interesting, that I found 22 Willow Warbler on a wander around the Birk Bank area 14 April 2022....What a difference a year makes! 

Thanks to Howard Stockdale for the image of the stunning Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits currently on Conder Pool.

Early Birds.

Close to home, a male Pied Flycatcher at Stoops Bridge Abbeystead yesterday, was three days later than one in Wray on 12 April 2021, also a Whitethroat yesterday at Wesham Marsh. 

An interesting record at the Portland Obs, was of a Great Skua yesterday, the first this year, a note added to the record read, the Bonxie is usually year ticked on 1 January, making it inconceivable that it has taken three and a half months to see one this year, also a Whinchat was new in there three days ago on 13 April....Eyes down up look in!

Shrike It Lucky.

Sifting through the archives again, I found I'd had a lucky break during a two hour visit to Aldcliffe six years ago today on 8 May 2014. 

I had dealt with some business in Lancaster by 12.15pm, but had to return there by 2.30, so my best plan to get a bit of birding in was to give Aldcliffe a couple of hours, a walk along the embankment, check the flood, and return via the path back to the depot at Keyline. 

I began to make my notes having heard a Blackcap and Chiffchaff both singing, a Song Thrush always a nice bird to see, and at Marsh Point a Whitethroat, male Reed Bunting, a Dunnock, and a distant Common Sandpiper along the edge of one of the smaller pools. I turned south to do the embankment trundle, a nice little Whinchat off here would have been nice. But never mind that, I've just lifted my bino's to take a good look through the stubble field from Dawson's Bank and the hedgerow running along the edge of it when....

Bank Pool From Dawson's Bank. Pete Woodruff.

....atop of this tree was a stunning male Woodchat Shrike waiting to be spotted and to send my passion for the birds through the roof once again.

The first Woodchat Shrike for Britain was shrouded in a bit of mystery, when two brothers named Paget recorded a bird in the village of Bradwell in Norfolk April 1829. A farmer reportedly had shot the bird and had preserved it, though no trace of the specimen was ever found. Prior to this first record, there had been an unacceptable report of an immature bird in County Durham, September 1824.

More up to date and 149 years later, the first for Lancashire was found in the grounds of Rossall School in June 1978. The second also in the Fylde, was found on the dunes at Fairhaven Lake August 1987, then a year later an adult at Heysham Power Station April 1988, and 11 years later a juvenile at Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve August 1999.

Today the Woodchat Shrike is an annual spring and autumn visitor to Britain, those in the spring are regarded to be overshooting adults and 1st year birds, and occur mostly from mid-April to early June, dates which fit nicely with my adult bird at Aldcliffe which was my second Woodchat Shrike, the first being a juvenile, and my records read....Watching Honey Buzzard in the Rusland Valley, John Leedal and myself were alerted to a bird at Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve 28 August 1999. We shot off to LM to have good if distant views of my first Woodchat Shrike which was a juvenile.

Interestingly, the Woodchat Shrike was taken off the BBRC Rarities List in 1981, but the species as not become noticeably more common in Lancashire since then.

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My first 2 Swift over Bowerham yesterday, three days earlier than last year 10 May. We have two young Blackbird in our garden, and a pair of Blue Tits are nesting in the nest box, presumably this is the pair which performed well at the bird table, with one bird feeding the other. I can find no literature which makes any mention of this behaviour of one adult  Blue Tit feeding another, other than the male feeds the female at the nest whilst incubating.

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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.

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Red Nab Therapy.

It was never planned, it just happened to be a couple of hours at Heysham Red Nab on Sunday which proved to have excellent therapeutic value. It was good to sit quietly and watch the gulls slowly pushed closer by the incoming tide....recommended if you want your head clearing out. 

Five Mediterranean Gull, and 4 Whimbrel seen. Over the pool on Heysham NR, a male Emperor Dragonfly chased a female around, which was eventually seen ovipositing, also a male Broad-bodied Chaser, a Painted Lady and Small Skipper. 

On Monday, a check of Conder Pool showed harmony to prevail on the pontoon, though a period of flying around, with screeching gulls and terns, and dive bombing at the pontoon, eventually calmed down.

Common Tern adult with juvenile. Conder Pool 8 July. Pete Woodruff. 

Three young are out of the second Common Tern nest, the two fledged CT's are enjoying their freedom and independence, as are the two fledged Black-headed Gull young. The second BHG now has two chicks out of the nest, and one of the Avocet also has day old chicks out of the nest, whilst the other Avocet continues to be sitting.

Two Little Grebe were seen again, and the Little Ringed Plover put in another brief appearance, with no evidence of breeding seen to date. In the creeks 12 Common Sandpiper, and on a wander, a Whitethroat, a Painted Lady and Cinnabar moth seen.

Swift at Conder Green.

A Swift was seen around Conder Green Farm, and by something of a coincidence was only two days adrift of one seen here on 6 July 2018, when it showed the same behaviour as this 8 July bird, in that it having been flying low around the farm, twice appeared to be going head-on under the guttering of the farm-house before sharply veering away. 

The Swift has never nested here to my knowledge, so it's hard to understand exactly what this behaviour is all about, though I read an interesting comment recently....'now is when patient watching reveals active nests and boxes can attract non-breeders searching for future sites'....perhaps I'd better be more vigilant next year. 

Cabbage Moth. Lynn Woodruff.

Thanks to Lynn for the Cabbage Moth found in her garden recently. A common moth which resembles a few other species, and has the unfortunate distinction of being a serious pest, mainly due to its liking for the cabbage as it's name indicates. 

Pontoon Harmony.

It was all very harmonious on the pontoon on Tuesday, and Conder Pool was quite busy, with plenty to entertain for a couple of hours.

Nine Common Tern were seen as two pairs with five young, the second pair having three young in the nest. The Black-headed Gull young are progressing well to get beyond the prey stage and hopefully to fledge, 4 Avocet remain with two sitting, one of which has three eggs. Also to note, a Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover, the Little Grebe seen again, and a Stock Dove.

I watched 12 Common Sandpiper explode into the air and scatter from the backside of the near right hand small island, I decided not to count the four seen later in the creeks on the circuit to eliminate duplication....16 Common Sandpiper?

A Lesser Whitethroat gave excellent views in the hedgerow, later a Whitethroat seen. Butterflies seen, 4 Painted Lady, a Red Admiral, and a Meadow Brown. Two Swift were over the canal basin at Glasson Dock.

Watch the video 'Full Screen' and see the characteristic foot-trembling behaviour on soft mud by the Little Ringed Plover to unearth it's food of insects and worms.....Fascinating stuff.

Little Ringed Plover Conder Pool 2 July. Pete Woodruff

Thanks to Ian Mitchell for his excellent header image of the Keeled Skimmer at Birk Bank yesterday, the bog is currently a carpet of yellow with Bog Asphodel.

Pontoon Peace.

There's no doubt about it, there appeared to be a reign of peace yesterday on the pontoon at Conder Pool, but you don't have to be an ornithological genius to see that things won't last.

Common Tern Conder Pool 14 June. Ian Pinkerton.

The first Common Tern to have claimed territory on the pontoon now has two chicks, with one bird already seen wing flapping in IP's image above. The other Common Tern is sitting in the right corner, a third Common Tern which at one point was obviously sitting at the right hand edge of the island behind the pontoon has disappeared, unfortunate in that Conder Pool was looking like it was going to have another first record with three breeding Common Tern in 2019.

Black-headed Gull Conder Pool 14 June. Ian Pinkerton. 

The seemingly long time sitting Black-headed Gull finally also has two chicks, with the second bird sitting close by. But with the potential of at least sixteen birds in this confined space in the coming weeks the apparent peace won't last.

A circuit took me to Glasson Dock, to return via the canal where I saw/heard 5 Sedge Warbler and a Whitethroat. A Tree Sparrow took me by surprise, the second sighting of the species, the first on 28 May was of three in the hedgerow at the backside of Conder Pool seen from the canal, today's bird was just past the road bridge east of Christ Church seen from the canal  tow-path. I'm not often in this area, but both these sightings of Tree Sparrow are new locations to me. Also seen from the tow-path, 3 Large Skipper.  

Large Skipper. Pete Woodruff.

Thanks to Howard Stockdale for his header image of the Dipper juveniles seen at Tower Lodge on 2 June.

And The Winner Is....

7 June. Ian Pinkerton. (Clik The Pik)

This image shows the cramped style the birds are enduring on the pontoon at Conder Green, with two pairs of Common Tern and a Black-headed Gull all sitting on eggs. Already the week old Oystercatcher chicks have been dealt with, little doubt by the Common Terns, with two corpses in view as evidence, the Black-headed Gull and whatever it's nest produces will have been marked as the next. All this, and with tolerance tested to the limit between the terns when young are involved. There's only going to be one winner here....watch this space. 

Three breeding pairs of Common Tern seen, with just 2 Avocet and none seen sitting, adds to the negative news from Conder Pool. Up to 140 Black-headed Gull had assembled here again, and 2 Dunlin seemed out of place here. There are a healthy number of Swallow around Conder Green Farm, and I counted six active House Martin nests at River Winds. Elsewhere, the Lesser Whitethroat continues to sing from the coastal path, and a Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler noted.

Common Blue. Pete Woodruff.

On the headland, I saw 6 Common Blue as I walked to Plover Scar where I spent a pleasant 45 minutes to find up to 160 Ringed Plover, the bonus of which was three day old chicks, also 130 Dunlin present, and 2 Linnet dropped in briefly. 

Cinnabar. Pete Woodruff.

A Cinnabar was at Conder Green. A fairly common moth which is usually nocturnal, but easily disturbed from long grass during the day.

Pool, Scar, & Garden.

The Oystercatcher family have disappeared from the pontoon which is now on a tilt presumably grounded, judging by the sustained dive bombing attacks I witnessed last Thursday, the chicks probably perished at the hands of the Common Terns, and the adults deserted.

There are three breeding pairs of Common Tern, with a second pair now having taken up in the right hand corner of the pontoon to join the left hand corner pair, and the Black-headed Gull still sitting at the rear. An error in the text sent to me on 30 May to say...'three B. H. Gull chicks still alive'....should have read Oystercatcher. The third Common Tern is sitting at the right hand edge of the island behind the pontoon. 

Also noted on Conder Pool, of 6 Avocet seen four are still sitting. For the first time I saw 2 Little Ringed Plover together, a Greenshank, 6 Redshank, at least 140 Black-headed Gull, and a few Sand Martin hawking insects. From the coastal path, a singing Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Whitethroat, 10 Canada Geese flew south off the Lune Estuary.

From Jeremy Lane, 2 Buzzard flew low over the fields towards Cockersand. On Plover Scar at high tide, c.200 waders seen as 120 Dunlin, 80 Ringed Plover, and a lone Sanderling.

Sanderling/Dunlin Plover Scar 3 June. Pete Woodruff.

I managed a poor shot of two roosting waders which were a long way off and a howler blowing on Plover Scar, the pale one had me guessing for a while and was much bigger than the Dunlin, both species being no more than 21cm in length, but the other bird being bulkier was a Sanderling.  

Garden Birds.

We had a family party of Great Tit with at least three young seen this morning, two sibling Blackbirds are thriving, and the young begging Goldfinch continue to visit the feeders. 

I got another short 'unsteady' video again on Monday, the Little Ringed Plover on Conder Pool is best viewed on Full Screen.

    

Keeping Tabs.

It was a case of keeping tabs on Conder Pool on Friday, my birding allowance barely gave me time to do it, but it was my fix for the day and thankful for it.

The count peaked at 6 Common Tern today, two were visitors which flew around a few minutes and then disappeared towards the estuary, the other four are the summer resident two pairs, the females of which are now sitting, four of the 6 Avocet seen are also sitting, and at least 25 Sand Martin were hawking over the pool, the Little Ringer Plover allowed good views, 6 Little Egret were in a gang in the creeks, and a Reed Bunting was in the hedgerow. 

A Kestrel was hovering upstream from the A588 road bridge, with 2 Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler seen as I made my way to the coastal path from where I picked out 11 Eider hauled out on the Lune Estuary at low tide. 

Common-blue Damselflies. Pete Woodruff.

Along the canal between Glasson and Conder Green, there was an abundance of damselflies on and around the sections of canal-side vegetation, and I spotted a pair of Common-blue Damselflies in tandem, a mature male coupled with an immature female....

Blue-tailed Damselfly. Pete Woodruff.

....and an immature male Blue-tailed Damselfly.

No Vacancies.

The Common Tern having been beaten to the pontoon by the soon to hatch Black-headed Gull, have been joined by an Oystercatcher with the same plan. All this - and the two ridiculous plastic decoys appearing to be dead and lying on their side - all makes for trouble ahead, and it's not going to be nice. 

Conder Pool 2018. Pete Woodruff.

Add to this, I recently roughly counted 90 sheep on the land surrounding Conder Pool, despite having it on good authority that....'The sheep weren't supposed to go on until mid July to reduce disturbance and try to get a taller sward for breeding Redshank'....Ground nesting birds and 90 sheep are not compatible and are a dangerous mix.

Edit.

I've edited the post to add a relevant comment found in records from Conder Pool on Sunday....'Several sheep on the 'island' last week were practically standing on the nests'.... 

Thanks to Ian Mitchell once again for his excellent header image of the Conder Pool LRP.

The Estuary Terns et al.

Not easy to be accurate about the number around the Lune Estuary yesterday, but I reckon over a five hour period 6 Common Tern were seen in five sightings. When I arrived at Conder Pool, two birds were present, whist I was there four joined the two and flew around the pool briefly before heading off towards the River Lune. In the afternoon a bird was patrolling the canal by Christ Church, later I presumed the same bird was leaving the canal basin towards the estuary where I found two birds plunge diving, both to return to the same area of the river bank before soon taking off to plunge again, they returned to the bank together three times. I went back to the car to get my telescope to see if I could make out what this behaviour was about, I thought perhaps a male was feeding a female, but when I returned the pair were heading back off the river towards Conder Pool. I drove straight to Conder Green to find 3 Common Tern on the pool, two on the pontoon and one in the background on the island.

There's no telling what will happen on the pontoon, having beaten the Common Tern to it, the Black-headed Gull is obviously sitting by now, and a Common Tern was creating a scrape yesterday and looking intent on nesting there. I think I know the outcome....watch this space.

Stock taking on Conder Pool, 6 Common Tern, 6 Avocet, a Little Ringed Plover, 28 Black-headed Gull, 13 Oystercatcher, 10 Tufted Duck, 2 Shelduck, 2 Wood Pigeon.

Turnstone Plover Scar 20 May. Pete Woodruff.

At Cockersand high tide, Plover Scar held up to 550 Dunlin, 80 Ringed Plover, and a single Turnstone, a Whimbrel was on the marsh off Lighthouse Cottage, and a Whitethroat was singing on the wires. The only butterfly was my first Common Blue at Cockersand, with 3 Orange Tip at Glasson Dock.   

Late News....Again.

There was a peak count of 10 Avocet at Conder Green on Thursday, five in the creeks, and five on Conder Pool which brings me to believe only the one bird was still sitting. I saw a Common Tern briefly on Conder Pool, it was on the right hand end of one of the newly constructed islands behind the pontoon, but the next time I looked it had disappeared and I didn't see it again. Until I saw this bird it had been missing for two days with no sightings. Also of note on the pool, a Common Sandpiper and 3 Black-tailed Godwit. On a brief wander Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler.

Ringed Plover/Dunlin Plover Scar. Pete Woodruff.

At the high tide roost on Plover Scar it was good to find 3 Sanderling, seen as a wader with the status of being an uncommon passage migrant at both spring and autumn periods, and rare winter visitor in our recording area. Also on the scar, up to 550 Dunlin and 65 Ringed Plover, 3 Eider where off here.

Little Ringed Plover. Pete Woodruff.

I decided on a detour on the way back to Lancaster and went to Aldcliffe for a short 30 minute circuit. It was a good idea if only because I found 3 Little Ringed Plover along the edges of the Wildfowlers' Pools, with 2 Gadwall drake, and also noted 3 Whitethroat, a Chiffchaff, and 2 Song Thrush.

Thanks to Ian Mitchell for another of his Avocet images he kindly sent me in the new header.

Should Have Gone To Specsavers!

I met a birder as he drove away from the car park at Lighthouse Cottage on Friday, to learn I'd missed a decent passage experience from here including 54 Arctic Tern....Thanks for the conversation and info Ian, much appreciated.

Perhaps some drifters from a major passage into Morecambe Bay which was observed and recorded by a dedicated team of four over a 9 hour period....Birding at the cutting edge.

Avocet Conder Pool. Ian Mitchell.

On Conder Pool, 42 Black-tailed Godwit included four in the creeks with a Greenshank. Also on the pool, the currently resident Spotted Redshank and 6 Avocet, a White Wagtail, and the Greylag pair with five young still thriving and surviving, and my first Swift went over.

On the circuit, the Lesser Whitethroat still sings north of the picnic area, with Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler. A pair of Dunnock and Reed Bunting of note along the coastal path, and I watched 2 House Martin collecting mud in the creeks to take it to two nests at the Cafe d' Lune

My little bit of passage came on a check of Plover Scar, and had 6 Sandwich Tern lingering briefly with their distinctive loud grating call to plunge dive around the lighthouse before flying off. On the scar, 485 Dunlin, 85 Ringed Plover, and 3 Wheatear. Off here, a pair of Eider and Teal.

Green-veined White. Pete Woodruff.

Of the good number of Large/Small White butterflies seen today - I didn't see a single 'coloured' one - I was able to identify 3 Green-veined White feeding.

Thanks to Ian Mitchell for the Avocet image he kindly sent me after I had met him at Conder Green last Tuesday.

More Catch Up.

A couple of hours around Conder Green on Tuesday began with me looking for other people's birds again....This is in danger of becoming pretty boring.

Today's catch up was the Common Tern which had arrived on Conder Pool last Friday. The bird hasn't attracted any company as yet, though I'm told of two birds on the pool before my arrival, but I've yet to see any other reports to confirm the claim.

Little Ringed Plover Conder Pool 7 May. Pete Woodruff.

The Little Ringed Plover came to rest a while just off the viewing screen, giving the opportunity for a pik. Also on Conder Pool, 6 Avocet, a pair of Goosander, and the Greylag pair which have already lost four goslings, down to five from nine seen last Friday, 2 Sand Martin came down on a muddy edge and briefly showed pairing behaviour before flying off.

Spotted Redshank. Pete Woodruff. 

The Spotted Redshank was sweeping up in the creeks, also a lone Dunlin. On a wander, the House Martin are around River Winds and Cafe d' Lune, and there was healthier numbers of Swallow seen today particularly around Conder Green Farm. A singing Reed Bunting, with Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, and 2 Orange Tip seen.

A look in on Plover Scar at Cockersand around the high tide produced a low count of Dunlin and Ringed Plover in a ratio of c.110/50, also a Wheatear on here, and 2 Whimbrel were off Lighthouse Cottage.

Thanks to Ian Pinkerton for his Sedge Warbler header.

Good Afternoon.

Having been a little tied up in the morning, I decided to give Conder Green the benefit of my birding for Friday afternoon, and spent what developed into a pleasing three hours there.

Spotted Redshank Conder Pool 3 May. Pete Woodruff.

As with Tuesday, when it was catch up with the Little Ringed Plover, I caught up with another 'Conder Special' this time it was the Spotted Redshank.

Spotted Redshank/Black-tailed Godwit. Pete Woodruff.

Thinking it was one of the 48 Black-tailed Godwit it was in company with, it was obligingly enjoying the feeding frenzy in front of the viewing screen at Conder Pool.

A mass arrival of Swallow and Sand Martin today included a mix of up to 200 over Conder Pool, with a few House Martin seen. A Little Ringed Plover seen again, with 6 Avocet and a pair of Greylag with nine gosling. In the creeks, a Greenshank and Common Sandpiper, and on a wander, a Lesser Whitethroat included my getting a good recording - but not quite as good as the one below - of the singing bird heard on Tuesday north of the picnic area at Conder Green. A Whitethroat, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, and a Dunnock, a Whimbrel heard calling on the estuary.



Common Tern.

A Common Tern was back on Conder Pool again yesterday, the earliest date of the five previous years, and three days earlier than last years arrival on 7 May. Thanks to Ian Pinkerton for the alert text.