BIRDING THE LUNE ESTUARY THE FOREST OF BOWLAND AND BEYOND.................................................................................EIDER MORECAMBE BAY PETE WOODRUFF

Sunday, 10 November 2024

Well At Least My Species Count Looked Slightly Healthier This Time!

It was good to find a female Stonechat at the east corner of Conder Pool. In truth the chat added a bit of brightness to an otherwise dull visit, with just two other species present, being 5 Wigeon and 3 Little Grebe.

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson, at least 2,500 Lapwing were to note, with 350 Wigeon, a Snipe and just 2 Golden Plover looking forlorn, and by way of a change close in on the south shore below the bowling green, it would have been more expected to have seen up to 1,000 Golden Plover across on the north side below Colloway Marsh.

Off Moss Lane, 26 Whooper Swan were the first at Cockersand since I found 13 on 10 October, these were a one day wonder, didn't settle here and moved on. Todays Whooper Swan were accompanied in the field at Clarkson's Farm by up to 200 Greylag.


The Greylag were a bit of a mixed bunch as can be seen in my header image, including an odd one with three juvenile birds.


As I set off for my Cockersand circuit, the Hawthorns are stacked with berries, a larder waiting for the winter thrushes to arrive. 

A few hundred Lapwing, Curlew, and Starling were put to flight by a 'brown' Merlin whizzing over the field, then hedge hopped to disappear from view. Also 25 Black-tailed Godwit flew south, soon followed by 16 Pink-footed Geese over the sea from the west, and inland to soon turn south towards Pilling.

On the way round, I saw 3 Skylark drop into stubble, up to 200 Canada Geese and 125 Wigeon were in and around a flood by Slack Lane, from where 8 Long-tailed Tit were seen. Off Plover Scar, 5 Eider, and when I returned to Bank Houses, 22 House Sparrow were accompanied by 3 Greenfinch.


There are 2 Kestrel to be seen daily at Cockersand this winter, one in the area around Lighthouse Cottage, and one in the Caravan Park area showing its mastery of hovering. 

Tree Sparrow.

It's over 12 months since I last saw Tree Sparrow at Cockersand where they could been seen regularly, 16 were at Bank Houses on 10 October 2023. Before this, it was 12 months since my previous record of one Tree Sparrow on 1 December 2022, and before this it was another 12 months since my last record of 3 Tree Sparrow on 14 December 2021....The Tree Sparrow is absent from Cockersand!

Whooper Swan.

The species is slow to be seen at Cockersand this winter, 26 Whooper Swan is my best of two counts to date. Last year I recorded 245 Whooper Swan here on 24 November 2023.    

13 comments:

  1. Varied and interesting blog Pete which I enjoyed reading.
    The winter visitors seem to be a bit slow arriving this year wonder if the calm weather conditions are playing a part. It is with me as I haven’t been out due to the miserable weather.
    Nice video of the Kestrel. Tree Sparrows seem to be a bit hit and miss at Cockersands I have found.
    Thanks as always for the update.
    Ian Mitchell

    ReplyDelete
  2. Always important for me to thank you for your interest here. You have a chance to get out this week, and I recommend you do so Ian.

    Regards....Pete.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes decorating nearly finished now which I started due to the depressing weather.

      Delete
  3. Hello Pete,
    all in all you have seen a lot, I really like the video with the falcon, when I get the chance I always enjoy watching this spectacle. It is sometimes amazing how fast these birds are.
    Greetings Frank

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you Frank. In fact I only needed to find the Stonechat on Conder Pool to make it a perfect day for me.

    Regards....Pete.

    ReplyDelete
  5. A few species I would love to see there, particularly the pink feet and the Whooper Swans. Sounded like a good outing. Take care.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Often a few species I would like to see in your neck of the woods too. Looking forward to your next post on the Nethergong site Marc.

    Regards....Pete.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Beautiful photos and videos Pete. Greets

    ReplyDelete
  8. Caroline....Just to let you know, I had to publish your comment as it was in spam again for some strange reason! But none of this takes away my thanks for you always showing appreciation for B2B with your kind comments.

    Regards....Pete.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks Pete for the video of the Kestrel, lovely .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank You Bob....Long time no see/hear from you, I'm hoping all is well with you Bob.

      Kind Regards....Pete.

      Delete
  10. Hi Pete!!... Despite everything you had a good day of birding... Even a Stonechat...:-)) Regards

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank You Ana....I am very much enjoying your videos on NATURANAFOTOS. Hope you have escaped the terrible floods, my prayers for those who didn't.

    Kind Regards....Pete.

    ReplyDelete