Smoke....no fire!

Well there was a little fire but nothing too hot....Oh my gawd this is terrible, and if you're a recorder/counter enthusiast there's some figures lacking in detail and of no value to you coming up.

Robin Isidro Ortiz

I wonder how many Robins will drop in through our letterboxes as Christmas cards over the next few days. 

Yesterday I shared six hours between Cockersands, Glasson Dock, and Conder Green where it was good to find the Common Sandpiper again, first time in my book since almost five weeks ago. Also of note 2 Spotted Redshank and 2 Goosander in the creeks. On Conder Pool, 5 Little Grebe, 4 Snipe, 8 Wigeon, and c.50 Curlew overhead. On the circuit, c.14 Goldfinch, and up to 20 Fieldfare one of which thought it was a wader and accompanied Redshank on the mud in the creeks, and no more than a couple of Redwing.

The Lune Estuary was on a quiet day with Golden Plover barely reaching three figures, and Lapwing numbers barely reaching four figures, c.250 Dunlin were of note, with c.500 Wigeon viewable from the bowling green, as were 6 Goldeneye, a Little Egret was on Colloway Marsh. On the canal basin 8 Goldeneye, 2 Little Grebe, and a drake Pochard. From Bodie Hill I counted 120 Black-tailed Godwit below Overton.

I gave Cockersands three hours today and make no apology for the mention yet again that the first sighting on my arrival here was that of 'Madam 12 Mutts' out on Plover Scar again....OK, so I had a buttie and coffee until she had buggered off 30 minutes later. 

Back to birding, the results of which - considering almost three hours here - were scant, but up to 5,000 Wigeon were some distance to the south of Sunderland Point, also a single drake Goldeneye off Plover Scar. Most of the waders in the area were in the fields in small groups of Redshank, Curlew, and Dunlin, with a single Bar-tailed Godwit seen, a Little Egret was in a ditch. Small birds were represented by 25 Greenfinch, the best count of the species since I don't remember when, 15 Tree Sparrow, at least 10 Blackbird, and 4 Reed Bunting.

As I got back into the car, I put my binoculars on the lighthouse before I drove off to find the smart little Merlin perched up on the railing, in my book one of the best ways to end a days birding on the coast.

And finally....

Bearded Vulture Antonio Puigg

Hail Brutus....Bearded Vulture, sometimes known as the Lammergeier....the bone crusher.

Thanks for the excellent 'little and large' photographs Isidro/Antonio, much appreciated.