A bit depressing when I stepped onto the viewing platform at Conder Pool on Thursday, there was precisely five birds to be seen on the pool, and more noticeably not a Little Grebe in sight. Three Mute Swan were accompanied by a pure white farmyard goose and a Goosander, 2 Blackbird and a Robin were along the hedgerow. But a female Stonechat around the long grasses at the east end, pulled the experience out of the gloom for me.
On the Lune Estuary at Glasson, it was good that I found my first 2 Goldeneye drake of the winter. Waders to note were, at least 2,500 Lapwing, 1,550 Golden Plover, 450 Dunlin, and 4 Black-tailed Godwit. Miscellany, 560 Wigeon, a Little Grebe, Great-crested Grebe, a drake Goosander, and a small flighty flock of 18 Goldfinch.
Geese And Swans.
Up to 900 geese in the field off Jeremy Lane by Saltcote Bridge pumping station, they were seen as 750 Greylag, 116 Canada Geese, and 34 Pink-footed Geese. At Cockersand, 425 Whooper Swan was the best count this winter, the bulk of which was in the field behind Crook Cottage, and they were in company with 2 Bewick's Swan.
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A sight we should relish and appreciate as a bird seen today as an uncommon and declining winter visitor in Lancashire. This bird seemed determined not to face me for a portrait, the other one was asleep to its left.
And A Skipper.
This is a copy from The Lancashire, Manchester and Merseyside Butterfly Report 2023....I have highlighted the relevant section.
In some parts of the UK there has been a significant decline in the distribution of the Dingy Skipper and a moderate decline in its abundance, although recently this trend has in some cases been reversed. In Lancashire its distribution seems stable although the species is almost confined to the limestone pavement around Silverdale where it favours open patches of sparse vegetation and bare ground. It also continues in low numbers at Birk Bank and at its sole known site in Greater Manchester, a location unfortunately without public access, on a former coalfield. There have been no further reports from the location near Burnley where a single example was seen in 2018.
With a mutual interest in Birk Bank and the surrounding area, Steve Graham and myself had a conversation about this report in 2023 and thought it was doubtful.
Below is a copy from the Lancashire Butterfly Conservation latest magazine, which carries proof that our doubts were well founded....Again I have highlighted the relevant section at the end.
Erratum.
The Lancashire, Manchester and Merseyside Butterfly Report 2023 reported the presence of Dingy Skipper at Birk Bank. However, concerns were raised over the validity of these records, and following a number of visits to the site and an appraisal of the habitat it has not been possible to verify the records of Dingy Skipper at this site and the records have been deleted.
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