Game On.

Stonechat. Ian Stephenson. Clik the pik

Stonechat migration is in full swing. Over the two days 2-3 March, I've taken note of 30 Stonechat, the majority being passage birds on the Fylde, with 15 credited to AC who I met on Jeremy Lane to be told he'd already seen 10 yesterday before lunch.

My score stood at one male Stonechat, being the wintering bird at Cockersand in the rough field behind Lower Bank House. A full circuit failed to turn up any more Stonechat, but excellent views of a female Merlin gave me some quality compensation. A few thousand waders were again in the fields, the one east of Abbey Farm held at least the same as my last visit here a week ago, with Golden Plover and Dunlin each reaching a five figure count. On the Cocker Estuary, at least 180 Curlew, and 150 Pink-footed Geese flew SW towards Pilling Marsh.

I see no change in the swan numbers in the Cockersand and Thurnham area, with up to 400 Whooper Swan but no check for any Bewick's Swan with them. 

The godwits on the Lune Estuary at Glasson were challenging again, they were packed into two groups, with two more in lines along the shore, my best figures today were, with no apologies for nice comfortable numbers, up to 4,000 Black-tailed Godwit and 1,000 Bar-tailed Godwit, also noted 13 Goldeneye. There was little to excite on Conder Pool, with 32 Wigeon, 28 Curlew, and 26 Greylag noted.

I'm grateful to Ian for his female Stonechat rubicola, taken on his recent visit to Pathos in Cyprus. Also to Howard for his stunning drake Goldeneye header a bit nearer to home at Glasson Dock.