BIRDING THE LUNE ESTUARY THE FOREST OF BOWLAND AND BEYOND..............................................................................SCAUP CONDER POOL 5 MARCH PAUL ELLIS

Tuesday 21 August 2012

At it again!


Something of a repeat of last Tuesdays birding with another seven hours given over to Conder Green/Glasson Dock/Cockersands/Bank End with some better rewards this time to be honest.

At Conder Green, another build up of numbers after a fall in recent days with at least 14 Common Sandpipers found today, also of note a Spotted Redshank and Greenshank, with 2 Little Grebe in their summer finery on Conder Pool, and a Peregrine Falcon putting the wind up a few waders in the creeks.


Temper, temper....
Whooper Swan David Cookson


OK....you don't expect a Whooper Swan on the River Lune at Glasson Dock in August, but an adult was with a group of Mute Swans at the mouth of the River Conder late morning. Also a Ruff with up to 500 Redshank and a solitary Black-tailed Godwit, a Spotted Redshank and Greenshank, c.150 Golden Plover, and the Spoonbill asleep at the south end of Colloway Marsh. 

Sanderling David Cookson

On a 'mutt free' Plover Scar at Cockersands it was a delight to observe something like 350 waders at close range quietly roosting at high tide and an excellent opportunity to find the next 'mega' here. But a single Sanderling was likened to a mega for me, a scarce species here and a joy to find. Also an estimated 225 Dunlin and 125 Ringed Plover, 2 Turnstone, a Whimbrel,18 Snipe, and 3 Wheatear.

Curlew
Curlew Brian Rafferty


I legged it down to Bank End to find the gull roost a minor event today with few in number, but noted up to 1,000 Curlew opposite here and on Cockerham Marsh as far as my eyes would take me. A Sparrowhawk was overhead on my way back from here, and on the day a 'large' number of Swallow noted, some lingering, some south. 


Common Blue Warren Baker 

A few 'whites', 3 Small Tortoiseshell, and a Common Blue were the only butterflies seen today.  

2 comments:

  1. Just noticed your header Pete - Conder Pool, looks like a nice piece of habitat, wish there was a nice clean pool like that here!

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  2. A bit too nice Warren, though the weather at the time I took the pic was excellent and enhances the scene as a whole....But Conder Pool needs roughing up a bit to benefit the birds.

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