Encore!

I think we can all look forward to three excellent breeding records to come off Conder Pool this year. With one pair of Common Tern already having fledged two birds and departed, and another pair with two fledged young, having survived a near fatal attack by gulls, and well on their way to a hopefully full recovery. And a pair of Avocet which took four day old chicks over the bank from Conder Pool, across the busy B5290, and into the creeks, to survive to within a few days of feldging. Nature....truly amazing.

On Conder Pool, six Common Tern including two young, one of which was fed a large sized fish. Also on the pool, 2 Greenshank and 11 Little Grebe. The two fledged Black-headed Gull were loafing on the small island right of the viewing platform. Six Avocet including the four young, looking good and all set to fledge before the week is out, 4 Common Sandpiper also in the creeks.

The man at River Winds tells me in a conversation, of seven House Martin nests this year, at least 30 birds were milling over and around with one seen to enter a nest. Down the channel, up to 120 Redshank noted.

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock, 2 juvenile Common Tern were a big surprise, they were on the tide-line below the south end of Colloway Marsh, the only other bird was a Bar-tailed Godwit.

Common Darter on canal tow-path. Pete Woodruff.

Butterflies seen in the Conder/Glasson and Saltcote Pool area, at least 70 Painted Lady, 11 Gatekeeper, 2 Common Blue, a Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Meadow Brown. Also on Saltcote Pool, a singing Willow Warbler, and 2 Brown Hawker, and on the canal tow-path, an Emperor Dragonfly and Common Darter. 

In the video, the two young Conder Pool Common Tern Wednesday 7 August, preening and looking good.

View Full Screen