Another Afternoon Job.

 Wigeon Martin Jump  

I didn't make it on to the birding scene today until 1.00pm at Conder Green where 115 Mute Swan have taken over Conder Pool, accompanied by 3 Wigeon, 14 Tufted Duck, and a Goosander. In the creeks 2 Black-tailed Godwit one in full breeding plumage, 3 Dunlin, long time no see Dunlin in the creeks at Conder Green. On the circuit, just into a double figure of House Martin at River Winds this year again, with a similar double figure of Swift over the area. Also noted, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, and a dead Grey Heron. Thanks for the Wigeon Martin, another excellent 'pic with a difference'.

Reed Bunting. Howard Stockdale.

At Cockersands, if you'd have been walking a dog you would have been forgiven for thinking Plover Scar was void of birds as viewed off the headland at high tide today, but following a close look I spent the best part of an hour grilling c.3,500 Dunlin, in excess of 200 Ringed Plover, a Whimbrel, and a solitary Turnstone with its back to me and its head deeply embedded into it, and which - for 1.5 seconds - had me jump to attention. Three Eider and a drake Red-breasted Merganser were off the scar, and 4 Wheatear, 4 Linnet and a Skylark noted. A Peregrine Falcon put up the entire c.4,000 aforementioned grilled waders and a Dunlin singled itself from the mass but escaped the falcons talons. I just don't understand how this small wader got away with its life from an attack by this accomplished aerial predator, but this individual killer and small wader proved a point....they don't win them all. Thanks for the Reed Bunting Howard. 

Turtle Dove. Copy Permitted.    

This Turtle Dove was found yesterday in a field 1 mile SE of St Michaels-on -Wyre but not seen since....Certainly a very big 'WOW' bird for our area and beyond.