Back To Work.

A full week since my last visit to the Lune Estuary, not recommended, you just can't neglect the birds like that....So it was back to work on Monday.

 Fieldfare Simon Hawtin  

There was a noticeable thrush presence around the east end of Conder Pool when I got there, with a mix of at least 120 Fieldfare and Redwing on and flying around the berries. The pool was quiet, though 62 Black-headed Gull were noted, with 2 Wigeon and 8 Curlew. Of the 8 Little Grebe seen, three were on the pool and five in the creeks with 6 Wigeon.

Eight Goldeneye were my best count so far this winter, with six on the canal basin at Glasson Dock, and two on the Lune Estuary. I've seen few reports of Goldeneye anywhere in our recording area, and fourteen on Freeman's Pools on 30 November is by far the best count I've seen anywhere to date. Also noted on the estuary, a healthy looking up to 4,000 Lapwing, 2,500 Golden Plover, with 200 Redshank and slightly fewer Dunlin, 25 Black-tailed Godwit, a single Snipe, up to 400 Wigeon, and a Great-crested Grebe was to note, a Peregrine Falcon was surveying the landscape on Colloway Marsh.

Redwing Bob Bushell 

It wasn't looking good by around 1.30pm and cars were already with sidelights on, but I decided to leg it along the coastal path from Glasson Dock and ended up as far down the path towards Waterloo, birds noted were at least 18 Blackbird, more Fieldfare and Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, and 2 Robin, a flock of 12 Chaffinch, 3 Great Tit, a Wren and a Kestrel.

Thanks once again to Simon and Bob for their respective thrush images, much appreciated.