Conder Pool Shank Day!

Over the hour I spent at Conder Pool, up to 650 Redshank assembled there to escape and seek refuge from the high tide surge. I was chuffed to have found another personal all time record on Monday, and I became even more chuffed to find the Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank in the pack, a lone Black-tailed Godwit was also present. Also to note, 75 Wigeon, 4 Goosander, 5 Little Grebe, 3 Snipe, and 3 Tufted Duck. An Oystercatcher appears to have taken a liking to the old square pontoon, early days but perhaps planning on breeding there as it has in the past.

As I approached the junction of Jeremy Lane/Moss Lane, 3 Cattle Egret and 4 Little Egret were in the field accompanied by several hundred gulls.

 

At Cockersand, only a small patch of Plover Scar was visible above the high tide, and little joy on the circuit especially in a bit of a howler on the headland. I was surprised to find the fields deserted of waders at the height of a 10.30 metre tide, and I found not a single Stonechat, but it was good to find 8 Rock Pipit on the shingle as the tide dropped.

Sand Hopper.

Sand Hopper. Pete Woodruff.

Following on from finding Rock Pipits on the shingle at Cockersand, I made an interesting discovery when I found an abundance of Talitrus saltator on and around the same area of shingle. With some afterthought I'm convinced the 8 Rock Pipits, which were in close proximity of each other, were feeding on them.

Summer Visitors.

The first migrants have arrived on UK soil with a Wheatear seen 6 February in Shropshire, and a Sand Martin seen 10 February in Kent. And I have a suspicion that the Stonechat spring passage has taken off with 6 Stonechat seen at Fairhaven Dunes on 13 February....Thanks to AC for passing on to me this excellent news.

And Finally.

Didn't get any piks today, so struggling for a header I thought the ferry 15 minutes out of Heysham and into the Irish Sea, made a cool shot.