The hat-trick!

I got out birding yesterday for the third time in over five months - not good for the soul - and managed an excellent six hours in the Conder/Glasson/Cockersands area.

Scaup. Copy Permitted.

I had to be back in Lancaster by 1.00pm, so to get my six hours in I was at Conder Green by 6.30am....and that's what I call living. The very bird in the pic above was the first bird I recorded in my little black book today, the drake Scaup was on Conder Pool in the company of 14 Tufted Duck, also noted on the pool, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Wigeon, and 3 Little Grebe. A circuit produced 3 Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, and a Little Egret all in the creeks.


Viewing the Lune Estuary from Glasson Dock it was interesting to note at least 250 Shelduck here, a similar number of Curlew were too distant for comfort as were c.160 'godwit' which I took to be Bar-tailed Godwit. The estuary was otherwise pretty quiet with barely a double figure of 'gulls' to be seen and not a Goldeneye in sight. 

Black-tailed Godwit David Cookson 

Off Bodie Hill I counted 45 Black-tailed Godwit and 65 Wigeon. Thanks to DC for the excellent image of the BTG.


So by now I've used up three of my six hours, the next three I spent at Cockersands, during which time took in one or two nooks/crannies and an enjoyable circuit. I think my best record here was the sight of 15 Grey Plover, a number unheard of in my book and a scarce species here though regular in low single figures, or have I been visiting Cockersands at the wrong time for all these years. Also of note on a quiet Plover Scar as the tide came in, as counts go these are pretty accurate, 45 Knot, 18 Turnstone, 12 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plover, with Oystercatchers unchecked, 19 Eider were by the lighthouse.

Wheatear Phil Slade 

On the circuit, having found a Ruff on a flood, with my back to another field I had been thinking the field behind me is good for the species I was really 'out to get' today, and yes....2 Wheatear were excellent on my day of escapism, in another field up to 650 Golden Plover were resting quietly. I have no idea of the numbers in this area at the moment but I only saw 2 Tree Sparrows today. I know I'm not the recorders friend on this one but a 'few' Meadow Pipits were noted, as were Skylarks, about eight of the latter. Thanks to PS for the Wheatear.

And finally....

Lesser-spotted Woodpecker Tony Duckett  

Just to annoy the 'local' birders who won't have seen one in years in our recording area and beyond - if ever - another cracking little photograph of the cracking little Lesser-spotted Woodpecker....Thanks to TD and Regents Park Birds.