My Best Shot!

I gave Conder Green and the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock - if not my best shot - at least a good shot yesterday, but could only give Cockersands a short visit....not enough hours in some of my days.

At Conder Green 54 Wigeon is my best count on Conder Pool this winter, also 4 Tufted Duck and 7 Little Grebe noted, 2 Goosander went over and towards the estuary, and a Dunnock seen.

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock I counted 80 Goldeneye, but I note the report of an excellent all time best this winter of 122 seen here late afternoon. Also of note, c.300 Black-tailed Godwit were only a half the number seen here Wednesday 12 February, 12 Bar-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank, Little Egret, and 3 Little Grebe, a Merlin attacked the waders twice 15 minutes apart and came close to causing the end for a Dunlin on the second run. From Bodie Hill 11 Bewick's Swan seen. 

Whooper Swan Gary Jones

On Moss Lane numbers have increased yet again and yesterday's count was of 290 Whooper Swan and at least 8 Bewick's Swan, some of these birds have been in this field for over a month now when I found 32 Whooper Swan and 16 Bewick's Swan on 15 January. I think Gary's Whooper Swan may have featured on Birds2blog before but not too worried about that if it has. Thanks Gary.....Brilliant image.

If the Snow Bunting was still present at Cockersands for its 36th day it evaded me, but I noted 43 Black-tailed Godwit and 87 Dunlin being pushed in ever closer by the incoming tide.... 

Stoat In Ermine Norse and Viking

....and saw a Stoat just beginning to come out of its winter ermine.  I have no records to hand of Stoat in winter ermine, but reckon I've seen around 16 over the years mostly in our area.