The Big Bash!

I gave Conder Green/Glasson Dock/Cockersands a good seven hour bashing yesterday. As the weather turned out it would have been ideal for an overdue visit to the uplands, but too much of a risk of running into the 'Rambo Brigade' and having my ear drums burst with the sound of gunshot with these lot on double barrels until the novelty of the new season wears off and they start to spend more time setting up more traps to maintain their land management exercises.

By the way....

If you're planning some birding at the end of the month and it involves travelling south beyond Conder Green on the A588....you'd best take note of the pic above.

At Conder Green a Spotted Redshank was soon seen, also a Common Sandpiper appeared to be alone, the House Martin activity seems to have fallen off at River Winds but I noted a Swallow obviously visiting a nest site here today. The best bird at Conder Green was on the pool and was a Little Grebe in full breeding plumage....must check my dates for this species here on today's date as this one could be a first record of Little Grebe in breeding plumage on Conder Pool.

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock, the Spoonbill found here again, the bird appears to like the area around the mouth of the River Conder which is where I saw it last time on 23 July. Also to note, 2 Mediterranean Gull were both adult, 2 Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, and c.250 Golden Plover.

At Cockersands the 'hard labour' kicked in but I noted a Whimbrel and estimates of 200 Golden Plover, 85 Curlew, and 25 Dunlin, 9 Eider were off Plover Scar. The circuit resulted in little more than a healthy exercise, plus 12 Tree Sparrow, and 2 Greenfinch.

Meadow Brown. Pete Woodruff.   

Apart from a few 'whites' I saw just three butterflies today and that is serious, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, and the male Meadow Brown pictured above which I hadn't realised was in such poor condition until I saw it on the computer.

And finally, well almost....

Photo Geoff Gradwell

Geoff took full advantage of the photo opportunity of the Common Tern youngster in the company of a Common Sandpiper at Preston Dock....Nice one and thanks GG.

No time in this post to address the subject of a cull of Canada Geese taking place just north of Carnforth at Pine Lake, but if you happen to be interested in this latest 'local' criminal act against wildlife perhaps you should watch this space.