In terms of the weather Wednesday was a day of two halves, the first half I spent a good time sat in the motor rain/snow watching, by the time I got to Cockersands the second half was an absolute delight .
I took this shot of the snow which took me by surprise when I set eyes on the Bowland Fells from Glasson Dock. I took it through the telescope, it's a resounding failure photographically, but when I got it on the computer I found I'd stopped a raptor in flight at least 4 miles away from Glasson as the crow flies. There's almost nothing to go on, but it's not a Buzzard as I see it, it has flat wings and zoomed in takes on a blurred reddish appearance....kite/harrier?
Spotted Redshank. Pete Woodruff.
I also took another shot of our friend the Conder Green Spotted Redshank, another of my moderate attempts at photography and a bit repetitive too, not all black yet including it's legs, but with the birds fine white speckling showing now, it becomes clearer why the bird is so called.
Also seen in the creeks, 2 Greenshank, 'the' lone Black-tailed Godwit, and 5 Common Sandpiper, which - if 2015 is anything to go by - I reckon will have departed here by the end of next week, when the last in my book were four seen on 1 May, with the first returning bird seen under seven weeks later on 18 June, 2 House Martin were lingering.
Also seen in the creeks, 2 Greenshank, 'the' lone Black-tailed Godwit, and 5 Common Sandpiper, which - if 2015 is anything to go by - I reckon will have departed here by the end of next week, when the last in my book were four seen on 1 May, with the first returning bird seen under seven weeks later on 18 June, 2 House Martin were lingering.
On the canal basin at Glasson Dock, up to 60 Sand Martin were hawking. The Lune Estuary notes amounted to, 14 Eider, and 5 Red-breasted Merganser which in itself was at least a decent count of the species here.
By the time I got to Cockersands it was a complete turn around with the weather, with brilliant sunshine and not a breath of wind, it was a delight to be on Plover Scar with up to 650 waders to scan through with which here could have been anything....but wasn't. I broke them down to estimates of 300 Dunlin, 250 Ringed Plover, 50 Knot, 40 Turnstone, and 4 Whimbrel.
I got no further than Plover Scar at Cockersands today, but from the motor driving away, I saw my first Lapwing pair with two chicks in a field off Slack Lane....I called out Good Luck to them as I drove by!!
Erratum.
In Sunday's post 'Up And Down Birding Again', you may have noticed I referred to a Mallard female as having 10 goslings stringing along....Mmmmm....Not a senior moment at my young age surely, but they were ducklings....were'nt they!!
Cockersands Lighthouse 27 April. Pete Woodruff.
By the time I got to Cockersands it was a complete turn around with the weather, with brilliant sunshine and not a breath of wind, it was a delight to be on Plover Scar with up to 650 waders to scan through with which here could have been anything....but wasn't. I broke them down to estimates of 300 Dunlin, 250 Ringed Plover, 50 Knot, 40 Turnstone, and 4 Whimbrel.
I got no further than Plover Scar at Cockersands today, but from the motor driving away, I saw my first Lapwing pair with two chicks in a field off Slack Lane....I called out Good Luck to them as I drove by!!
Erratum.
In Sunday's post 'Up And Down Birding Again', you may have noticed I referred to a Mallard female as having 10 goslings stringing along....Mmmmm....Not a senior moment at my young age surely, but they were ducklings....were'nt they!!
Infuriating weather pete! But I reckon it should get back to ''normal'' soon. At least you are seeing some decent birds :-)
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