Keeping The Faith.

Late off the mark again yesterday, I went directly to Cockersands for the high tide to find Plover Scar deserted and immediately recalled 30 minutes earlier I had been advised to 'keep the faith' when I had said Cockersands had fallen flat on it's face for birdlife, including migrant birdlife....sound advice from a sound birder which I've taken. 

Buzzard. Pete Woodruff. 

I saw 2 Buzzard from Cockersands Abbey, one on a spoils heap by Abbey Farm, and one high and soaring distant over Cockerham. On the abbey roof 8 Linnet, a Wren, and one of the 2 Wheatear I saw, a few Meadow Pipit were in a stubble field, with Reed Bunting and Tree Sparrow noted. What 'bush bashing' I did produced nil, and I know of one birder who would'nt disagree with me that autumn 2015 at Cockersands has been a poor one to say the least.    

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock, 2 Curlew Sandpiper still here, as are c.250 Black-tailed Godwit, with a Spotted Redshank and up to 320 Golden Plover. I counted 14 Little Egret here again, a species which bred for the first time in our recording area in 2012, and little surprise they bred at two private sites in 2014, one of which is related to the large numbers now being seen on the Lune Estuary, and which had a peak roost of 43 last year.

A Merlin was seen on Jeremy Lane, and at Conder Green, the latest count on Conder Pool was 14 Little Grebe. I noted 5 Little Egret in the creeks, and saw 2 Ruff with Redshank in the Conder channel downstream from the iron bridge.

The Moth.

Angle Shades. Pete Woodruff.

I found this Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa in Lancaster on Sunday. An unmistakable moth, though you would be forgiven for not finding one, having mistaken it at rest with wings folded for a dead leaf.