And a good time was had by all!

I hadn't seen the bird at Conder Green on my last two visits here, but the Common Sandpiper was on Conder Pool again yesterday, almost certainly the bird set to winter here again this year, though at the end of September 2014 two birds were still here. I also made the count of 10 Little Grebe, they were on the pool in this number on the same date last year and had been so since the first day of the month. 

Spotted Redshank with Redshank. Howard Stockdale.

An adult Spotted Redshank was with 2 Greenshank in the creeks, and a traditional wander round the circuit had a Grey Wagtail below the A588 road bridge, with a Whitethroat, c.40 Goldfinch, a Robin and Blue Tit along the way. The scarcest bird in my book and good to see here today was the Song Thrush, one species of 52 on the Red List and in serious decline.

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock, 2 Ruff, a Greenshank and a solitary Black-tailed Godwit were the notable waders, with c.60 Wigeon seen. With the exception of several hundred Lapwing, the numbers of Redshank, Dunlin, and Golden Plover were remarkably low and probably not much above 200 in total.

Whitethroat. Howard Stockdale.

A snoop around some farmland hedges at Cockersands produced no more than a Whitethroat and a Robin. The walk along the headland was pleasant, though the brisk cool north west breeze took the edge off it, but turned up 3 Wheatear, a flock of c.60 Linnet held 2 Tree Sparrow, and the local female Kestrel was again around the lighthouse cottage area when I arrived here, and still in the same area 2 hours later when I left....And a good time was had by all!

Garden Wildlife. 

Red Admiral butterflies have been visiting our garden over the past couple of weeks, also the Speckled Wood on ocassions. 

Thanks to Howard for the excellent images in this post, they are much appreciated.