A Little Post Meridiem.

It was after mid-day before I escaped yesterday, I was raring to go earlier in the morning but abandoned the idea when the rains came down by the bucketful before I got out the front door.

Conder Green was a little quiet, but 4 Goldeneye were on the pool as was a Goosander and a Great-crested Grebe, I made a count of 125 Teal 75 of which were on the pool, with a count of 13 Little Grebe made today. A Ruff was the only bird of note in the creeks.

Snipe. Patrick at 1000-Pattes  

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock, an impressive count of at least 50 Snipe on the mud below the marsh edge as the tide raced in. I also found my first 7 Goldeneye this winter on the River Lune here, and noted a Red-breasted Merganser and Great-crested Grebe, most of the waders had departed to their high tide roost. Note in this image, the capture of the Snipe's brilliant fanned tail. Thank You Patrick....Excellent.

A single Whooper Swan was with Mute Swans on Jeremy Lane. At Cockersands, a Rock Pipit was alongside a Meadow Pipit for a comparison opportunity below Crook Cottage, and 22 Greenfinch were in the cover crop field. Plover Scar held similar numbers of Oystercatcher and Turnstone as Monday, c.350 Lapwing were in an Abbey Farm field with a 'few' Golden Plover scattered amongst them. Two Stoat seen, and a Red Admiral in anything but ideal conditions.

Notes.

 Looking To The Fylde. Pete Woodruff.

At Cockersands I had to do my best to guess the arrival of this rain belt and failed miserably in the timing of my retreat ending up a wet Mackerel once again by the time I got back to the motor....

The Bow. Pete Woodruff.

....and got more of a soaking taking a pic of the rainbow, with Crook Farm distant centre, and Crook Cottage the small white speck on the right....and a good time was had by all!!

The unfortunate Mute Swan bearing this ring - which has been appropriately reported - was found on the marsh below the old railway bridge at Conder Green. The bird appeared to have been predated, there were many feathers scattered around the corpse which had been eaten into. 

Worth bearing in mind these birds are ready targets for the dogs of the 'doggie brigade'. I had cause to draw attention to someone recently whose hound was attacking a Mute Swan down and actually in the Conder channel, he was oblivious to this until I called out to tell him to call his dog off the bird....he wasn't exactly a bundle of fun this fella and showed a distinct air of indifference.