The fields around Cockersand on Monday held hordes of waders as they had on 30 January, in particular the field by Abbey Farm which was covered with up to 4,000 Golden Plover, a good number of Dunlin, with Lapwing, Curlew and Redshank, an amazing sight, even more amazing when a dread brought about an aerial display en masse....truly spectacular.
A couple of other good counts on Monday were the 120 Twite I saw, they were pretty evenly split at Bank End and in the recently favoured field behind Bank House Cottage at Cockersand. The swan herd spread across several fields from Moss Lane to Bank End is still in tact with 450 Whooper Swan at least, 8 Bewick's Swan were viewed from Slack Lane.
Snow Bunting. Cockersand Plover Scar 26 February. Pete Woodruff.
Bird of the day was a Snow Bunting which gave itself away as it flit across the inner edge of Plover Scar and eventually gave me a brief opportunity to get at least a shot for the record, 4 Snipe were also seen.
It was good to find the 4 Shoveler on the flood again, and at Bank Houses horse paddock, a single Redwing, a Grey Wagtail and Dunnock, 10 Blackbird, 4 Tree Sparrow, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Robin, and 2 Magpie.
The Great White Egret was accompanied by 2 Whooper Swan and 64 Mute Swan in the field by Jeremy Lane at the Saltcote Pumping Station. On the canal basin at Glasson Dock, 3 Goldeneye and 3 Goosander were of note, with c.250 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Goldeneye my only notes from the Lune Estuary.
A cursory glance at Conder Pool would have had you think it was deserted, and it almost was, with not a bird in view on the water, but 15 Wigeon were grazing on the far bank, 9 Oystercatcher and 3 Curlew were also loafing around. The Common Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, and 3 Little Grebe were in the creeks.
Stonechat on Conder Pool.
I note with interest (Fylde Bird Club) a Stonechat found on Conder Pool yesterday. This is a first for Conder Pool, and leaves you wondering if this is an undetected wintering bird in the area, or is migration really underway.
Whatever, this is a WOW for me, and a bloody good excuse for yet another Stonechat pik....Thanks Gary.
A cursory glance at Conder Pool would have had you think it was deserted, and it almost was, with not a bird in view on the water, but 15 Wigeon were grazing on the far bank, 9 Oystercatcher and 3 Curlew were also loafing around. The Common Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, and 3 Little Grebe were in the creeks.
Stonechat on Conder Pool.
I note with interest (Fylde Bird Club) a Stonechat found on Conder Pool yesterday. This is a first for Conder Pool, and leaves you wondering if this is an undetected wintering bird in the area, or is migration really underway.
Stonechat Gary Jones
Whatever, this is a WOW for me, and a bloody good excuse for yet another Stonechat pik....Thanks Gary.
A large flock of Golden Plover is always a magnificent sight, but 4,000 must be utterly amazing!. Thank you for thinking my Bluethroat was good enough to use. Thought of you whilst photographing Stonechat last Friday!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes - - - Richard
Yes....Amazing Golden Plover, and definitely a good enough to use on Birds2blog Bluethroat image, and kind of you to link photographing the Stonechat with me Richard.
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