Routine....But Pleasant With It.

By 2.00pm on Monday at Cockersands it was pleasantly warm in the sun and the wind abated. I got closer views and was able to count 95 Whooper Swan in the field NW of Bank End accompanied by 2 Bewick's Swan. Off Plover Scar up to 3,000 Wigeon were spread over a wide area with some birds distant on the sea, also at least 65 Pintail were of note, with 4 Eider and a Red-breasted Merganser seen. Few waders to be seen here today, but 28 Golden Plover were in a field, with Redshank, Curlew, and Lapwing in small numbers in various fields.

 

Reed Bunting. Pete Woodruff.

Small birds during my wander at Cockersands, 26 Greenfinch seen in three small groups, 7 Reed Bunting - one of which obliged whilst I tried my hand at photography - 3 Wren and a Dunnock. 

Peregrine Falcon Wildsnaps

A Peregrine Falcon was again perched up on the railings around the lighthouse, and a local Kestrel seen, I also decided to take particular note of 4 Brown Hare.

Scaup. Martin Lofgren @ Wild Bird Gallery  

On the canal basin at Glasson Dock a drake Scaup mingled with 15 Goldeneye and uncounted Tufted Duck, with a Little Grebe and Kingfisher which gave me brief views as it disappeared over the lock gates.

On the Lune Estuary, waders were a little sparse again today, but 38 Bar-tailed Godwit and 14 Black-tailed Godwit were of note, with an estimated 300 Dunlin way over below Waterloo Cottage and 3 Red-breasted Merganser seen. Off Jeremy Lane, 5 Whooper Swan were a family party of two adult and three juvenile. In the same field, c.600 Pink-footed Geese and 40 Greylag.

At Conder Green, in the creeks and on the pool I got a double figure again of 12 Little Grebe, with Spotted Redshank, 4 Snipe, a pair of Goosander and 14 Wigeon. Two species noted from the coastal path, c.15 Chaffinch and a Reed Bunting.

The Cockers Dyke Skua.

Pomerine Skua. Stuart Piner.

The juvenile Pomerine Skua which - since having been first found at Knott End on 10 January - has pitched up in the Cockers Dyke area to the joys of many a birder. It appears healthy in the photograph above and gives the impression it could fly off over the sea and disappear into the sunset. I went to see this bird yesterday and it now appears to have at best a problem with it's left wing, and at worst a broken one. I find it difficult to believe it can still fly but will be well pleased to see the next photograph or being told of it doing just that.

For 'something better 'clik the pik'....With thanks to Phillip/Martin/Stuart.