Great Stuff!

An excellent and rewarding days birding today with two firsts in my book. 

Tundra Bean Goose. Copyright Granted.

I'd have been very fortunate to have found this bird yesterday when it was probably - but not necessarily - with up to 7,000 Pink-footed Geese distant on Pilling Marsh.

Greenshank. Pete Woodruff.

Today I didn't linger at Conder Green but found 2 Spotted Redshank and 2 Greenshank - one of which I managed a second rate pic - a Goldeneye and 4 Greylag were noted on  Conder Pool. On the canal basin at Glasson Dock I found my first summer visitor a lone Sand Martin. On Jeremy Lane the 3 Whooper Swans - adult and two immatures - were back today having been absent as I drove along here on Tuesday.

Wheatear. Phil Slade

At Cockersands my second summer visitor a smart male Wheatear - thanks for the female PS and much appreciated - a bird which can make me jump up and down with joy at being my first spring migrant though today it lost that position by about 30 minutes. Also of note, 10 Linnet in the winter seed, c.650 Golden Plover, at least 30 Turnstone, 46 Eider, 7 Red-breasted Merganser, and a Grey Plover. Off the Caravan Park, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, an adult and 2nd winter, I observed some display/posturing between these two birds for quite some time, a Little Egret seen, and 10 Whooper Swans came over - from I don't know where - and appeared to head off towards Bank End Farm where I have seen them for several days now.

From the A588 opposite Sand Villa 28 Whooper Swans counted. On Pilling Marsh, a smart male Merlin was distant on the marsh, a Kestrel hovering over head, and just c.450 Pink-footed Geese on here today. On Fluke Hall Lane, 62 Golden Plover were with 46 Lapwings and 3 Redshanks, and at Fluke Hall at least 90 Meadow Pipits. 

And finally....

Great-crested Grebe. David Cookson

Another excellent image of the Great-crested Grebes in courtship display....great stuff DC and much appreciated.