Waders were back in the fields at Cockersand in their thousands again on Friday. On the day I saw up to 4,500 Golden Plover, c.3,000 here and 1,500 at Glasson. An estimated 2,500 Dunlin were with the Golden Plover, and the uncounted Lapwing, Curlew, and Redshank created an impressive total of c.7,000 waders in the Cockersand fields today.
There was also an exceptional count of at least 90 Meadow Pipit in one field today, with an absolute minimum of 8,000 Starling, and to add to the wader spectacle, the 5,000 Wigeon count of 5 February were again strung out along the tide between the lighthouse at Cockersand and Bank End.
On Plover Scar, 550 Oystercatcher, 82 Turnstone and 3 Redshank, with 11 Eider seen off here, 3 Red-breasted Merganser drake were seen as one south past the lighthouse, then 30 minutes later two north.
I had to do a triple take of the area, but the female Stonechat eventually put in an appearance on the tide wrack at the CP, and at least 70 Twite were in the rough field behind Bank House Cottage again, with the Kestrel around too. I saw just 8 Skylark today, but somehow feel I probably missed seeing many more.
On Conder Pool, 2 Goldeneye, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Greylag, and 8 Oystercatcher probably prospecting for breeding accommodation. In the creeks, Common Sandpiper, 3 Little Grebe, and a Kestrel hovering....long time no see a Kestrel at Conder Green.
The canal basin at Glasson Dock, 4 Goldeneye and a Great-crested Grebe noted, and on the Lune Estuary, 1,500 Golden Plover made up the days 4,500 total, last Monday's 1,500 Black-tailed Godwit again, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 45 Teal, 7 Goldeneye, and a Great-crested Grebe, 52 Pink-footed Geese went over south.
The Meadow Pipit.
Though the estimate of 90 Meadow Pipit at Cockersand today was exceptional, weather dependent, the birds may return to the moors in early February, conversely, if the weather is severe this may not be until mid-March. Movement of Meadow Pipit on a small scale on the coast can begin around today's date, but 90 birds seen on 16 February can hardly be called 'small scale'.
The Wheatear.
The earliest migrant Wheatear seen in Lancashire was on 26 February 2003. I'm hoping to have found my first by this time next month....Nice thought.
By the way....The header Wheatear photograph was taken 6 September last year.
There was also an exceptional count of at least 90 Meadow Pipit in one field today, with an absolute minimum of 8,000 Starling, and to add to the wader spectacle, the 5,000 Wigeon count of 5 February were again strung out along the tide between the lighthouse at Cockersand and Bank End.
On Plover Scar, 550 Oystercatcher, 82 Turnstone and 3 Redshank, with 11 Eider seen off here, 3 Red-breasted Merganser drake were seen as one south past the lighthouse, then 30 minutes later two north.
I had to do a triple take of the area, but the female Stonechat eventually put in an appearance on the tide wrack at the CP, and at least 70 Twite were in the rough field behind Bank House Cottage again, with the Kestrel around too. I saw just 8 Skylark today, but somehow feel I probably missed seeing many more.
On Conder Pool, 2 Goldeneye, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Greylag, and 8 Oystercatcher probably prospecting for breeding accommodation. In the creeks, Common Sandpiper, 3 Little Grebe, and a Kestrel hovering....long time no see a Kestrel at Conder Green.
The canal basin at Glasson Dock, 4 Goldeneye and a Great-crested Grebe noted, and on the Lune Estuary, 1,500 Golden Plover made up the days 4,500 total, last Monday's 1,500 Black-tailed Godwit again, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 45 Teal, 7 Goldeneye, and a Great-crested Grebe, 52 Pink-footed Geese went over south.
The Meadow Pipit.
Meadow Pipit Antonio Puigg
Though the estimate of 90 Meadow Pipit at Cockersand today was exceptional, weather dependent, the birds may return to the moors in early February, conversely, if the weather is severe this may not be until mid-March. Movement of Meadow Pipit on a small scale on the coast can begin around today's date, but 90 birds seen on 16 February can hardly be called 'small scale'.
The Wheatear.
The earliest migrant Wheatear seen in Lancashire was on 26 February 2003. I'm hoping to have found my first by this time next month....Nice thought.
By the way....The header Wheatear photograph was taken 6 September last year.
Hi Pete. .Beautiful pic of my friend Antonio..
ReplyDeleteHappy week ahead..
I'm always pleased to see you've been looking in on Birds2blog, and this time with a compliment for Antonio's Meadow Pipit.
ReplyDeleteA happy week ahead to you too Ana.