A Step Nearer.

If you don't happen to agree with me that Conder Green and surrounding area is becoming - if it isn't already - one of our prime birding site's, well today - and recently - it took a step nearer to being one. OK it isn't turning up anything to make the twitchers hire helicopters, but it kind of makes me glad to live so close to the place like so many other places within - and without - the LDBWS recording area. I've made the comment more than once before but it has to be said....around twenty minutes later, after seeing these birds recorded below, I 'could' have had a Hen Harrier in my sight's below Hawthornthwaite Fell....beat that for living in prime birding country!

The Common Sandpiper put in an appearance for me at Conder Green but I must confess the sight of 3 Stonechat's - 2m/f - went to the top of the list in my book. Also 6 Twite were on the marsh, c.40 Goldfinch, a singing Dunnock, 2 Grey Wagtail, and a good count of 9 Little Grebe - though I think 10 is an all time best count here - were amongst the smaller bird's, other wader's included a Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 2 Grey Plover, and 2 Snipe. Conder Pool had sign's of thawing but only held 4 Wigeon, 12 Shelduck, and 35 Mute Swan's with others arriving as I left.

I made just one or two notes on the Lune Estuary, c.800 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, c.50 Knot, a 'few' Dunlin, 2 Goosander, and still at least 100 Goldeneye here.

At Cockersands, the 1w male Stonechat again, only 4 Twite seen today outside the entrance to the Caravan Park, 8 Grey Partridge, 2 Snipe, and 6 Brown Hare were of note. The numbers of waders seen here today could only be regarded as insignificant.

Opposite Sand Villa a single Whooper Swan was with 12 Mute Swans in the same field as Tuesday's Bewick's. On Pilling Marsh 2 Little Egrets saved the place from being near deserted. And from Gulf Lane a Little Egret was by a ditch on Cockerham Moss Edge, they really are just about anywhere these day's, a Little Owl, and 2 Song Thrush were noted.