Wading In.

Golden Plover Martin Lofgren  

I decided on a species count yesterday and managed 48, but there are some decent winter wader numbers building up with estimates of 1,200 Golden Plover, 800 Knot, and 550 Bar-tailed Godwit on the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock where I also noted 21 Black-tailed Godwit, a Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, and an adult Mediterranean Gull. Three Pink-footed Geese were on the south end of Colloway Marsh, and there was a Goldeneye on the canal basin but none seen yet on the River Lune.

Turnstone Simon Hawtin 

At Cockersands, almost certainly my all time best count - need to check my records - of 275 Turnstone on Plover Scar and certainly a better count than the peak at Cockersands in 2013 which stood at 150 birds. Also on the scar, not 50 other waders, with 25 Oystercatcher, 15 Dunlin, 3 Redshank, 2 Knot, and 2 Ringed Plover. Offshore, 4 Red-breasted Merganser noted. I also saw a Wheatear having thought the three seen on 17 October may have been my last this year. A single Grey Plover was below Crook Cottage with Redshank, and I saw 3 Red Admiral during the visit.

Goldeneye Jan Larsson  

At Conder Green my best count on two visits here was of 15 Little Grebe on Conder Pool with another Goldeneye here. In the creeks 3 Goosander, 2 Snipe, and a Spotted Redshank which was downstream from the old railway bridge, 2 Reed Bunting noted from the coastal path.

I took no notes of Little Egret numbers but saw at least eight including the regular winter bird often in the ditch north of Bank House Cottage at Cockersands.

Thanks for the photographs Martin/Simon/Jan.