Same Again Please!

Back doing the rounds again on Friday, for once I tried for some accuracy with gull numbers on Conder Pool and came up with a total of 239 birds, 172 Common Gull, 65 Black-headed Gull, and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull. Also noted on the pool, 3 Goosander and 3 Little Grebe, a Spotted Redshank was in the creeks. On the Lune Estuary, a good count of at least 850 Black-tailed Godwit, and the 56 Goldeneye here today was an increase of two on Wednesdays 54 peak count.

Off Moss Lane, 7 Bewick's Swans were in a field by Clarkson's Farm, the c.350 Whooper Swans had spread out once again, from here all the way south towards Bank End, but I have no reason to suggest they numbered any less than Wednesdays count, a Sparrowhawk was over Slack Lane.

Plover Scar. Cockersand. Pete Woodruff.

By the time I reached Plover Scar c.480 waders were estimated at 200 Oystercatcher, 180 Turnstone, and 120 Knot. But the photograph above a half hour later, shows the Oystercatcher and most of the Knot had departed leaving the Turnstone and a few Knot to move ever closer landward as Plover Scar disappears under the incoming tide. 

Turnstone/Knot. Pete Woodruff.

In the thirty minutes I was on the path towards Bank End 8 Snipe came up off the marsh one of which was a Jack Snipe, 3 Reed Bunting also came off the marsh. Up to 800 Curlew were again on and around the flood north of Bank End Farm, with 4 Little Egret present.

As I came back along the headland, a single Grey Plover was on the shoreline, and the local Buzzard was again in 'the' tree. I had no idea the Buzzard was so persistent in its habits, this bird has been perched in the same tree and even on the same branch on at least six of my visits to Cockersands over recent weeks.

Barn Owl. Gary Jones @  Walksnwildlife

I had the pleasure of watching two Barn Owl hunting together today at Cockersands.

Thanks to Jan for the header Black-tailed Godwits and Spotted Redshank, and to Gary - also on Facebook - for the Barn Owl, much appreciated.