The Cockersand Shortlist.

If I'm honest, theres a shortage of enthusiasm for this post.

But hey....a days birding never fails to turn up at least a little something of interest, and my interest on Tuesday was that I found an impressive c.250 Linnet, flighty in and around the stubble field behind Lighthouse Cottage, where 65 Golden Plover were still lingering. From Slack Lane, I heard Raven with its repeated deep 'korrp-korrp' call. My first Whimbrel flew by off Plover Scar from where I saw a lonely pair of Eider, soon followed by my first Cockersand Wheatear, an area which usually produces my first of the year.

Pied Wagtail. Pete Woodruff.

Pied Wagtail were notably seen in small number, but no continental birds with grey backs yet. Skylarks were seen throughout my walk on the circuit, and a skein of c.300 Pink-footed Geese flew south....obviously not yet read the script to go north!

Conder Pool. 

With management work being carried out, Conder Pool was a no go zone when I called there in the morning. Looking in on there a few hours later on my way back to Lancaster, there was little of note save c.80 Black-headed Gull obviously determined to stand their ground. We will not, we will not be moved....but everything else seemed to have been.

Mediterranean Gull Conder Pool 16 April. Howard Stockdale.

On 14 April I found two stunning Mediterranean Gull, two days later a different adult pair were seen and photographed behaving in a manner in the image above, indicating the possibility of breeding on Conder Pool. Later the same day, this was followed by a conclusive report of a bird with nesting material.