The Black And White Twitch.

Although chasing other peoples birds isn't the norm for me, finding myself in Carnforth on Monday afternoon with some business finished the obvious choice was to head off to Cote Stones to see the Black Redstart, but on arrival at the location and with not a soul or bird in sight I soon realised I had a twitchers 'dip' on my hands. 

Eurasian White-fronted Goose. Chris Batty.

So off I went about a mile down the road towards Silverdale to turn down the track and go under the railway bridge to look west into the fields where I eventually found 5 Eurasian White-fronted Geese in company with c.150 Greylag as viewed through a telescope like a jelly on a plate in an cold westerly howler....well that was fun!

An adult White-fronted Goose is easily distinguished with it's white facial blaze and black belly barring, and in favourable conditions is separable from the Greenland race by being slightly paler, and with a pink bill as opposed to the Greenland orange bill.   

A visit to the Allen Hide overlooking the salt marsh - which by now was almost totally submerged beneath a 10m tide - produced, a Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, 10 Snipe, a single Turnstone was noted with Redshank and Dunlin, a few Pintail were with Wigeon and Teal, a Red-breasted Merganser, and at least 12 Skylark seen.

From the Eric Morecambe Hide I saw at least 350 Black-tailed Godwit, and in the far distance I could just make out an Avocet, presumably one of Sundays two new arrivals here. 

Robin. Pete Woodruff.

From the path to the hides, this Robin posed nicely for me whilst I practiced any photographic skills I might have, ending quite an enjoyable three hours 'hide hugging' to be honest. 

Thanks to Chris for his excellent image of the Eurasian WFG.