BIRDING THE LUNE ESTUARY THE FOREST OF BOWLAND AND BEYOND...............................................................RED GROUSE HAWTHORNTHWAITE PETE WOODRUFF

Friday, 4 March 2011

It's Friday!


Grey Wagtail. David Cookson

We - its Friday JB/BT/PW - started with the traditional visit to Aldcliffe where up to 7,000 Pink-footed Geese were on the marsh along with a Little Egret seen in flight on Heaton Marsh. On the Lune Estuary at almost high tide as viewed from the Conder Green picnic area by way of a change, c.250 Bar-tailed Godwit, a solitary Black-tailed Godwit with 2 Grey Plover, 7 Goosander, 2 Red-breasted Merganser drake, 36 Goldeneye, and 2 Greylag, 2 Brown Hare were running around on the marsh seemingly puzzled by being surrounded by water and wondering what to do next....maybe swim!

At Conder Green 2 Spotted Redshank were accompanied by a Greenshank, and on Conder Pool 2 Goldeneye noted. On the canal basin at Glasson Dock Mondays Cormorant P.c sinensis was obligingly on the small jetty in the NW corner with a Phalacrocorax carbo today proving very useful for comparison, also of note on here 6 Goldeneye, 3 Pochard drakes - they are mysteriously nearly always drakes on here - and a Great-crested Grebe. From Bodie Hill 2 Reed Bunting seen. By the way....in two years I've seen only one Grey Wagtail at Conder Green.

On Jeremy Lane the 3 Whooper Swans of late are still in a field with Mute Swans being an adult and two immatures. At Cockersands, 21 Eider off Plover Scar, 12 Blackbirds in the horse paddock at Bank Houses, c.200 Golden Plover were in a field with Lapwings, and 4 Whooper Swans seen from here on 22 February were again in the same field behind Bank End Farm.

In fields opposite Sand Villa from the A588 72 Whooper Swans counted with a single Bewick's Swan, and on Pilling Marsh a Little Egret and up to 5,000 Pink-footed Geese which were apparently accompanied by 3 White-fronted Geese and a dark and light-bellied Brent Goose which I failed to locate given the time allowed with BT as my chauffeur....sorry BT not a complaint you understand! 

And finally....


BR has produced yet another 'pic with a difference' showing this drake Wigeon taking some wing excersise on the water, not as easy as it looks, and a good balancing act I reckon....Thanks for the pics DC/BR much appreciated.    

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