Another Day Around The River.

I was rewarded by excellent views of the wintering male Stonechat at Cockersand yesterday, it was on the marsh edge opposite the CP, first time since 8 January. Other interest here was 8 Bewick's Swan with 180 Whooper Swan in fields off Slack Lane, the rest of the Cockersand herd were in fields south of Moss Lane, up to 100 there in total.

The video is a pretty hopeless attempt by me. I only had bino's round my neck, but with a little effort and the pause button, you should pick out four of the eight Bewick's Swans if you view Full Screen....it's good fun anyway.

  

Of c.650 Black-tailed Godwit seen, 500 were in the field south of the abbey, and 150 were feeding on Cockerham Sands off the CP. Other waders in fields, c.450 Golden Plover and 140 Curlew. There are still up to 95 Fieldfare still around at Cockersand, surprising since we're heading to the end of January now, 2 Kestrel seen at Bank Houses and Slack Lane, and the wintering Merlin was on a roadside fence post as I drove away from Cockersand, it was on virtually the same post as seen 8 November.   

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock, there was at least 1,300 godwit in one tight flock and loose groups making life difficult in the murky conditions, they were seen as c.850 Bar-tailed Godwit and 450 Black-tailed Godwit, also 625 Golden Plover and 320 Dunlin. Up to 350 Wigeon were all hauled out, 2 Goosander and a lone Goldeneye noted, also of note c.300 Common Gull. On Colloway Marsh, c.300 Pink-footed Geese through the murk and distant.

On Conder Pool, 9 Goosander, 28 Wigeon, 25 Tufted Duck, and 32 Curlew. In the creeks, 3 Little Grebe.