Was It Worth It!

I waited six days to get back out birding again on Thursday....but was it worth the wait. 

It was a day of two halves as I had to have a break at noon to meet an appointment in Lancaster, after which came birding part two. But the 'buzz' never came, though the day was excellent weatherwise given it was 24 October and Cockersands was pure magic....so why the whinge!

Common Sandpiper Antonio Puigg

At Conder Green the Common Sandpiper appears to have settled in for the winter and showed in the creeks, apart from a lone Snipe it was the only bird I noted in the creeks, two skeins of 30/90 Pink-footed Geese went over south.  I was my intention to visit Conder Pool later in the day but I ran out of time, so shock of shocks missed the pool altogether. Thanks to Antonio for the excellent Common Sandpiper. 

Common Gull Arkive

I decided the healthy thing was to leg it to Glasson Dock from Conder Green to see 42 Goldfinch, and whilst checking the Lune Estuary from a few viewpoints along the coastal path I noted at least 300 Common Gull to be the dominant of the gulls today, an adult Mediterranean Gull was excellent as ever and though distant appeared to have a metal ring on its right leg though I saw no sign of any other marks on the left leg from several angles. Other estimates in the book, 680 Golden Plover, 110 Bar-tailed Godwit, 55 Dunlin, a count of 4 Goosander, and a Little Egret, on the Marina I noted up to 50 Tufted Duck.

Cockersands Lighthouse Off Plover Scar. Pete Woodruff.

The ship having past the Cockersands lighthouse is as big - 'clik the pik' - as they come for Glasson Dock, a small port just around the river bend upstream from where I'm standing on Plover Scar when I got back to my birding after the return from Lancaster at high tide to find, 420 Oystercatcher, 70 Turnstone, 7 Dunlin, and 5 Redshank. A Kestrel inland was a welcome sight as wherever I go I'm not seeing many these days, also 10 Tree Sparrow and 2 Skylark to note. I had five butterfly sightings of 3 Red Admiral and two brief and distant which escaped ID. 

The Little Grebe and Spotted Redshank at Conder Green.

Little Grebe Phillip Tomkinson

I note a record of 16 Little Grebe seen at Conder Green last Sunday 20 October, this equals that of the same number I saw here on 18 October 2010 and the best count to date. I know of no other location in our recording area where so many Little Grebe congregate. Thanks to Phillip for the Little Grebe, not seasonal with the adult in breeding plumage and the young one having a lift, but a brilliant image.

Spotted Redshank. Geoff Gradwell. 

I've seen no Spotted Redshank at Conder Green since 15 October, but I note one recorded here on Thursday, both this and the Common Sandpiper have wintered here in recent consecutive years and are almost certain to do so again this winter. Thanks to Geoff for the excellent winter plumage adult Spotted Redshank.