Tuesday, 7 February 2017

Good Quality Geese....

....and 406+ good quality swans too.

Pink-footed Geese Brian Rafferty  

As I drove along Moss Lane yesterday, the geese were in fields at Thurnham and I pulled in to get good views which got better from an advantage point later off the A588 during which time c.2,000 went into the air north of Hillam Lane to make a total of at least 5,000 Pink-footed Geese which were accompanied by 3 White-fronted Geese and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose....See these geese - 'clik the pik' - as they really should be seen. Thanks Brian.

It was a biting wind to stand in and count geese, so I drove to Cockersand to thaw out, and saw 6 Bewick's Swan at Clarkson's Farm, with the herd of c.400 Whooper Swan noted again.  From here I went to check out the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock, where I reckon there was initially in excess of last Friday's 550 Black-tailed Godwit, but which took off in a dread as I arrived, some of which flew south and inland towards Jeremy Lane. Also of note, up to 100 Golden Plover, and 8 Goldeneye which were both low counts, in the case of the GP's extremely so. On the canal basin I saw 3 Goosander

On the way to Conder Green I heard the Song Thrush singing again around Saltcote Cottage. At Conder Green, the Spotted Redshank and 2 Little Grebe were in the creeks, and the Common Sandpiper was again seen towards the iron bridge....if your looking for a guarantee to see this bird, I recommend starting here.

White-fronted Geese.

Greenland or Russian....A pretty good short video - best seen Full Screen - for White-fronted Geese ID, albeit windy and not ideal conditions, though that's what the situation often is when your trying your best to get to grips with ID.


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