On 17 June 10 Avocet young were reported on Conder Pool, but since then - with the exception of the one surviving first hatched young bird seen - Conder Pool has joined Leighton Moss as another disaster zone for the Avocet. Leighton Moss has had no successful breeding seasons in three years since nine Avocet fledged there in 2014, this despite 57 hatching in 2015, and 22 in 2017. Last year was the first for breeding Avocet at Conder Pool, when one bird survived to fledge from four hatching at one nest.
On Mondays visit I found 4 Avocet adult and just the one young which hopefully should have fledged by this time next week or there about. The Common Tern are all well and thriving, and 3 Common Sandpiper are no doubt a build up to a double figure number at Conder Green by the beginning of July, at least 60 Redshank included two young in the long grass.
The recent long stay Black-tailed Godwit which peaked at 185 on Conder Pool 26 May, not seen since 15 June, and I've not seen the summering Little Grebe on Conder Pool since 9 June.
The wander along the coastal path to Glasson Dock and return along the canal seems to be the habit of mine recently. On the way, the man at River Winds tells me of nests at the rear of the house, and three others I've noted, adds up to seven House Martin here this year. A Chiffchaff and Whitethroat were along the path, and Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Song Thrush on the canal, where a few Swift and a single House Martin was over, with a male Emperor Dragonfly seen again.
On Plover Scar at high tide, with little left above water, no more than 25 waders seen, the best of which was a solitary Grey Plover, with 10 Dunlin, similar Ringed Plover, 4 Oystercatcher, and a recently dead Guillemot, 2 female Eider were off the scar.
The return via the road at Cockersand was almost birdless, with a Sedge Warbler in full song, the summering 2 Whooper Swan seen, and a Whitethroat in the garden at Lighthouse Cottage.
Butterflies and a moth seen....
9 Red Admiral
6 Small Tortoiseshell
5 Meadow Brown
4 Small Skipper
2 Silver Y
On Mondays visit I found 4 Avocet adult and just the one young which hopefully should have fledged by this time next week or there about. The Common Tern are all well and thriving, and 3 Common Sandpiper are no doubt a build up to a double figure number at Conder Green by the beginning of July, at least 60 Redshank included two young in the long grass.
The recent long stay Black-tailed Godwit which peaked at 185 on Conder Pool 26 May, not seen since 15 June, and I've not seen the summering Little Grebe on Conder Pool since 9 June.
The wander along the coastal path to Glasson Dock and return along the canal seems to be the habit of mine recently. On the way, the man at River Winds tells me of nests at the rear of the house, and three others I've noted, adds up to seven House Martin here this year. A Chiffchaff and Whitethroat were along the path, and Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Song Thrush on the canal, where a few Swift and a single House Martin was over, with a male Emperor Dragonfly seen again.
On Plover Scar at high tide, with little left above water, no more than 25 waders seen, the best of which was a solitary Grey Plover, with 10 Dunlin, similar Ringed Plover, 4 Oystercatcher, and a recently dead Guillemot, 2 female Eider were off the scar.
The return via the road at Cockersand was almost birdless, with a Sedge Warbler in full song, the summering 2 Whooper Swan seen, and a Whitethroat in the garden at Lighthouse Cottage.
Butterflies and a moth seen....
Small Skipper Coastal Path Conder Green. Pete Woodruff.
9 Red Admiral
6 Small Tortoiseshell
5 Meadow Brown
4 Small Skipper
2 Silver Y
So sad to hear about the plight of the Avocet young on Conder Pool, Pete. Have the losses been due to predation, and if so, do you know by what?
ReplyDeleteWith my best wishes - - - Richard
Predation Richard, but by what is anyone's guess if it's not observed, always plenty of gull/corvid/heron/stoat/and likely fox around, but nine young Avocet in a week is pretty serious stuff.
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