Birds2blog: Off To A Good Start!

A Mediterranean Gull is a good a bird to start any days birding with, and if its on Conder Pool that's an even better start. But it isn't all that many years ago I would have overlooked the 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull on Conder Pool yesterday morning with just a pair of binoculars round my neck, but the instant my telescope panned onto this bird I knew it didn't quite add up to any age of Black-headed Gull, or Common Gull either, both species of which this individual was accompanying.

Also noted at Conder Green, Common Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshank, and a Greenshank. Seven Little Grebe seen in creeks and pool, but I strongly suspect there are as many as ten still here. On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock my estimate was up to 650 Black-tailed Godwit here today and a clear indication of more than the number (600) seen Wednesday 12 February, also noted 80 Goldeneye is a personal best count here this winter, 5 Bewick's Swan were off Bodie Hill. On the canal basin 3 Little Grebe and c.40 Tufted Duck, a drake Pochard on here is always something of a bonus.

The 'Moss Lane Swans' have moved even further away and have become even more inaccessible from the field they were initially found almost six weeks ago on 15 January, but my suggestion is that the number remains at up to 300 birds with 85 Whooper Swan and 11 Bewick's Swan - possibly/probably from this group - in the field to the south of the Caravan Park at Cockersands, also seen from here, c.2,500 Wigeon were in the Cocker channel, a Peregrine Falcon was on the hunt around here, and 80 Pink-footed Geese went over heading towards Pilling. Also to note on Plover Scar, 165 Knot, 80 Oystercatcher, 50 Turnstone, and 2 Grey Plover.

I failed to find any appropriate images for the post, but here are three members of the 'tit' family, all excellent photographs of course, and helping to liven up and brighten up Birds2blog.