Conder Pool....the lull.

Ringed Plover and Dunlin thanks to Pete Woodruff.

It was good to get John Bateman out and birding again today after another couple of weeks off the road. It would have also been good for JB to see Conder Pool at its best again but there was a lull there today following my two previous visits when just the opposite was the case, but we were three hours ahead of the high tide today which made all the difference.

The difference was c.25 Redshank, 5 Knot, a solitary Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Goldeneye, 2 Greylag, 17 Tufted Duck, and a fly through Sparrowhawk caused a bit of a stir. On the canal basin at Glasson Dock 4 Great-crested Grebe were to note, and on the Lune Estuary another lull in place with circa.550 Bar-tailed Godwit, 280 Redshank, and a Raven over. On Jeremy Lane 7 Whooper Swans today which means I probably 'missed' one yesterday. At Cockersands, 2 White Wagtails both male were in the field opposite Bank Houses with 3 Wheatear, and a pair of Reed Bunting. At the lighthouse end 8 Eider, at least 19 Turnstone, 2 Grey Plover, and circa 50 Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plover, and 250 Oystercatcher.

At Braides c.1,700 Pink-footed Geese, and at Fluke Hall west of the slipway 3 Wheatear, at least 12 Twite and 20 Meadow Pipits, and a Little Egret was seen in flight.

I'm well on the way to being convinced the Little Ringed Plover won't be gracing Conder Pool this year. Since the recent high tides the place looks more like Lake Windermere. I want to avoid too much technical jargon but this terrain just doesn't suit this bird as it stands today....could I order a couple of wagon loads of gavel/stones please!

I just couldn't resist posting this simply stunning 'mug shot' of this beautiful creature the Kestrel courtesy of Brian Rafferty....Thanks once again for this Brian I really appreciate being able add interest to Birds2blog with images like these.