Keeping My Eye On The Ball.

Into July now and even more reason to keep my eye on the ball with migration getting tuned up for the off. But I've not had my eye on the ball at Conder Green for a week now, not having visited since last Monday, but I was off down the local today to get up to date on things here and about.

Common Sandpiper Findlay Wilde 

Although on average a few days late I found 10 Common Sandpiper at Conder Green today, I found six in the creeks on a morning visit, and found them still in the creeks and another four on Conder Pool on the return in the afternoon. I also found a Little Ringed Plover on the pool again, only my third sighting of the LRP here since the first two seen on 2 April, the second sighting was nearly two months later on 29 May. Another sign of the times was at least 140 Redshank, the Spotted Redshank is due to return here by the end of the week or early next week. The immature drake Goldeneye remains on the pool, with 2 drake Wigeon. A Shelduck had five young in the creeks, and House Martin are still very active at River Winds. I saw just one butterfly today, a Speckled Wood was at Conder Green. The Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock was - if I can be excused the pun - a dead duck, save a distant group of c.50 Bar-tailed Godwit. Thanks for the Common Sandpiper Findlay much appreciated, the photograph is a credit to you 'clik the pik' to really see why.

At Cockersands, the only birds of note, 25 Eider were hauled out opposite Crook Cottage on the Sunderland side, a singing Whitethroat, up to 10 Tree Sparrow, 2 Skylark, and a Little Egret. The only wader to enter the book was a solitary Black-tailed Godwit off the Caravan Park.

Birds aside....

Brown Hare. Martin Jump.

Some brilliant images of the Brown Hares boxing on this blog HERE ....Thanks Martin.

And finally....Bringing a smile into birding.

Buzzard. Howard Stockdale.

Thanks to Howard for this humorous photograph of a Buzzard 'going round the bend'....Oh Dear!!