On The Move.

The Common Sandpipers at Conder Green are always amongst the first to show themselves as early movers having been there since last month.

Sanderling Brian Rafferty

But on Thursday I had more evidence of movement when on Plover Scar at Cockersands I found 2 Sanderling, at best a rare autumn migrant here and a delight to see. They were accompanied by 5 Whimbrel seen as more movers. A Wheatear was off the headland, my first autumn bird and was another species to join the 'Movers Club' along with a 'few' Meadow Pipit. 

Merlin. Phillip Tomkinson.

Bringing up the rear of movers at Cockersands was a Merlin, a juvenile/female down from the moors at an early date skimming low over the field off Slack Lane. 

A thorough search of Plover Scar just after high tide had me finding two adult Ringed Plover but no sign of any young, but I'm still not prepared to call this final as these birds could well have had their heads down amongst the stones so will give it another try hopefully on Monday. Others on the scar, estimates of 350 Oystercatcher, 60 Dunlin, a Little Egret, and 4 Eider off here. Swallow were in good number over the fields, with an odd House Martin or two, also with counts less than a double figure, Linnet, and Tree Sparrow. 

Stoat. Phillip Tomkinson.

As I drove along Moss Lane a Stoat ran ahead of me for a while on the grass verge.

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock, numbers of Lapwing and Curlew are building up, and I saw 5 Pink-footed Geese here again, with at least 15 Greylag, 2 Goosander, and 2 Little Egret. Unable to ever drive past and ignore Conder Pool, a few minutes here gave a Common Tern on the island, with 6 Common Sandpiper in the creeks, and a Grey Wagtail noted.

Thanks to BR for the Sanderling, and to PT for the Merlin and the Stoat, they are really appreciated.