....all my troubles seemed so far away. Well I'm not too sure about that, but some good rewards for the five hour trawl I undertook.
It was good to see 4 Bewick's Swan had returned to the River Lune at Glasson Dock, though they are late this year, in 2013 four were found at Cockersands on 4 November, with twelve seen on the Lune Estuary eight days later on 12 November. Also noted here, 42 Goldeneye, 2 Mediterranean Gull were both adult, c.400 Common Gull, 60 Black-tailed Godwit, an estimated 600 Golden Plover, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, and 2 Goosander. On the canal basin I counted 70 Tufted Duck.
On Jeremy Lane, the Whooper Swan above was with 22 Mute Swan, its head and neck stained by iron-rich water. I was taken by surprise to find c.1,500 Pink-footed Geese accompanied by a Barnacle Goose, and in an adjacent field 85 Greylag were accompanied by a Bar-headed Goose.
At Cockersands, stars of the show were up to 600 Pintail off Plover Scar, in my records by far the greatest number ever seen here, they were seen with small numbers of Wigeon, Teal, and Mallard, an adult Mediterranean Gull was in the Cocker channel. Waders off Crook Farm were, c.350 Curlew, 26 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, c.50 Knot and similar Dunlin, 22 Greenfinch were on telephone wires overlooking the cover crop field, and the local male Kestrel seen.
At Conder Green, 18 Little Grebe were seen as 15 on Conder Pool and 3 in the creeks where a Spotted Redshank and Common Sandpiper were also seen. Two Rock Pipit, 17 Twite, and a good count of up to 50 Chaffinch were on/around the marsh....
and a female Kestrel seen....inferior photography as usual by yours truly!
A better than average birding day for me.
It was good to see 4 Bewick's Swan had returned to the River Lune at Glasson Dock, though they are late this year, in 2013 four were found at Cockersands on 4 November, with twelve seen on the Lune Estuary eight days later on 12 November. Also noted here, 42 Goldeneye, 2 Mediterranean Gull were both adult, c.400 Common Gull, 60 Black-tailed Godwit, an estimated 600 Golden Plover, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, and 2 Goosander. On the canal basin I counted 70 Tufted Duck.
Whooper Swan. Pete Woodruff.
On Jeremy Lane, the Whooper Swan above was with 22 Mute Swan, its head and neck stained by iron-rich water. I was taken by surprise to find c.1,500 Pink-footed Geese accompanied by a Barnacle Goose, and in an adjacent field 85 Greylag were accompanied by a Bar-headed Goose.
At Cockersands, stars of the show were up to 600 Pintail off Plover Scar, in my records by far the greatest number ever seen here, they were seen with small numbers of Wigeon, Teal, and Mallard, an adult Mediterranean Gull was in the Cocker channel. Waders off Crook Farm were, c.350 Curlew, 26 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, c.50 Knot and similar Dunlin, 22 Greenfinch were on telephone wires overlooking the cover crop field, and the local male Kestrel seen.
At Conder Green, 18 Little Grebe were seen as 15 on Conder Pool and 3 in the creeks where a Spotted Redshank and Common Sandpiper were also seen. Two Rock Pipit, 17 Twite, and a good count of up to 50 Chaffinch were on/around the marsh....
Kestrel. Pete Woodruff.
and a female Kestrel seen....inferior photography as usual by yours truly!
A better than average birding day for me.
What an amazing five hours that was, Pete - 3 species of Swan, and 4 of Goose! I'd love to have seen that tinted Whooper Swan! Did any of the other birds show such staining?
ReplyDeleteBest wishes - - - Richard
Well that sounds like a good days birding to me Pete, some very exciting species, at least they would be here anyway!
ReplyDeleteGood to see some of your photo's on your posts :-)
Wow, that Whooper swan is something else!
ReplyDeleteI bet you left your worries behind seeing this mob!
Fantastic sightings!
I hope your weather is better than ours, here it has been quite miserable for a week and it won't get any better for ages... :(
Keep well!
Pete.You are obviously enjoying this spell of fine and settled weather.More on the way tomorrow.An excellent days birding for you with great variety. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteThat a great session Pete, I wouldn't mind that. A stunning header too, what a shot.
ReplyDeleteI love your Whooper Swan, and the Kestrel.
ReplyDeleteRichard/Warren/Noushka/Brian/Marc/Bob....I note all your comments with interest and with thanks.
ReplyDelete