Estuary Stock Taking....Again.

On a ridiculously sunny, windless and warm day compared to the summer we've had, the Lune Estuary won't look anything like as nice again this year as it did on Thursday, with blue skies reflecting in a calm river like glass.   

Yet another new peak of 16 Little Grebe on Conder Pool, with the Common Sandpiper along the back terrace, 4 Snipe hunkered down on an island, and 33 Mute Swan dropping in.

On the Lune Estuary, I found 2 Mediterranean Gull adult, the number of gulls was large and near equal that of waders today, c.550 Golden Plover was down at least 400 on Tuesdays count, but the 25 Shoveler was up by 7.  A Ruff, 7 Greenshank, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 32 Snipe, 8 Wigeon, a Goosander, and 22 Greylag were noted. 

Chiffchaff. Warren Baker. 

A wander in and around the churchyard and area at Christ Church, a Chiffchaff was a very olive individual, characteristically making frenzied movements through the branches and tail flicking as it fed, also 4 Blackbird, 3 Robin, 3 Great Tit, and a Blue Tit. 

Migrant Hawker Marc Heath

Further along the canal I saw 6 Migrant Hawker males patrolling along the reedy bankside and frequently hovering.

Garden Birds.

Our garden was pretty lively on Thursday morning, with a Goldcrest seen, up to 18 Goldfinch, 3 Blue Tit, a Great Tit, 2 Dunnock, a Robin, and a Red Admiral.

Thanks to Warren and Marc for their images, and to Bob for his header Ruff.