Birds....

....two of DC's brilliant pics....and a short illustrated story.

Goosanders. David Cookson



First, one of DC's brilliant images. I'm not absolutely sure what this drake Goosander is up to, but it looks like some display it is engaged in.

It was good to be out with JB again today and although I didn't do the circuit at Conder Green from the viewing platform at Conder Pool found a Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, and a Snipe took off from the marsh to relocate about 10m away. On the pool just one Goldeneye seen, 6 Wigeon, and to make it appear that I'm the true birder/recorder I pretend to be I counted 23 Common Gull and 22 Black-headed Gull.

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock, having left my recorders hat on from Conder Geen I noted estimates of, 100 Dunlin 65 Redshank, 55 Bar-tailed Godwit, 40 Curlew, the count of 54 Goldeneye included some seen from Bodie Hill, 55 Wigeon, and 2 Goosander, 16 Cormorant together was notable, also notable today was the total absence of Lapwing, something I don't ever recall here before, also no Golden Plover. Up to 2,000 Pink-footed Geese were still on Colloway Marsh. On Jeremy Lane 3 Whooper Swan still here.

At Cockersands where the tide still dominated, I counted at least 80 Turnstone, 2 Grey Plover, 9 Eider, and 2 Red-breasted Merganser. We pulled in off the A588 to count the birds in the field for several days opposite Sand Villa to find 47 Whooper Swans representing almost half the number counted of late, also here - spread over a wide area and very difficult to observe with no other access - at least 3,000 Pink-footed Geese, these kind of situations always frustrate as you leave with the feeling you missed finding something of interest tagging along. Of note on Pilling Marsh were c.140 Grey Plover.

And the other brilliant pic....

Wren. David Cookson

And now....A short illustrated story which - to be fair to those who may be offended - contains some strong language and is called....ME AND MY DOGS.

 As JB and I pulled in at Cockersands two women were unloading at least 18 dogs - the pic above doesn't justify that claim of 18 but it's true - from two vans and promptly went off in the direction of the shore. Only two seconds into the exercise one of the dogs took the stand of a canine about to shit, I made the comment to JB that it was likely all 18 of these animals were about to follow suit in due course of the 'walkies' and I regard this as unacceptable, but wait a minute....one of these women was about to collect some 'Gold Awards' because she pulled out of her pocket a bag and promptly scooped up the dogs shit, but wait a minute....

....five seconds later this bitch - no not one of the dogs - threw the bag from the shore - shit and all - onto the road and continued on her way with her charges towards the tide line, like I said....BITCH!

OK, now I need to put the record straight. I love all animals especially wild ones, and as an example never do - nor ever will - subscribe to shooting the poor bastards for fun and particularly birds....but we need to leave that one for another time. We do need to sort out these people with dogs - though please don't ask me how - why don't they make sure they let their dogs shit in their own gardens before venturing out into the countryside with them....but then, that defeats the object of the exercise, because its one of the prime reasons they take them out....to share their shit with everyone else.