Most notable on my latest visit to Conder Pool, was the pair of Shoveler which were seen as nothing more than irregular here. Also of note, the lone Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Snipe, 82 Wigeon, 2 Little Grebe and a Little Egret.
On the Lune Estuary at Glasson, up to 3,250 Lapwing, 1,500 Wigeon, 325 Dunlin, 8 Black-tailed Godwit and a pair of Goosander. In the field north end of Jeremy Lane, 46 Whooper Swan, 78 Greylag, and 34 Canada Geese. As I drove down Jeremy Lane I saw a flock go down into a field to find them to be 15 Meadow Pipit.
At Cockersand, I estimate there to be up to 400 Whooper Swan, 50% of the count being in a field north of Hillam Lane at Cockerham, from where I saw c.1,250 Pink-footed Geese, these were seen as my best local count in our area this winter. In fields north side of Abbey Farm, 800 Golden Plover, 450 Lapwing, 14 Dunlin, and 6 Ringed Plover. Off Plover Scar, 32 Eider and 250 Wigeon, and as I reached the Caravan Park I saw 4 Reed Bunting.
There was a cold east wind in my face as I trundled along the headland, by the time I reached the car it had got the better of me and I had decided to call it a day. But hang on....all of a sudden, the wintering pair of Stonechat were foraging on and off the marsh, the Barn Owl again came out of the Caravan Park entrance as it had my last visit here, soon disappearing out of sight towards Bank End, soon followed by a female Marsh Harrier which disappeared in the same direction as the owl....Déjà vu
February 2024....Some of my sightings worthy of note.
Feb 7. 1st winter White-fronted Goose Conder Pool.
Feb 7. 700 Curlew Cockersand.
Feb 12. Spotted Redshank Conder Pool.
Feb 12. 8 Rock Pipit Cockersand.
Feb 19. 9 Avocet Lune Estuary Glasson.
Feb 26. 3,500 Black-tailed Godwit Conder Pool.
Feb 26. 4 Cattle Egret Cockersand. Entering their 5th month stay in the area.
Another trip where good things turn up at the end!
ReplyDeleteYou are getting lucky with the Hen Harriers.
I too saw a Barn Owl but this was in the field next to the newish car park for the Nicky Nook walk near the Apple Store Scorton.
Thanks for the update.
Ian
Interesting that the 'exciting flurry' happened same place, around the same time as the previous one on my last visit here, and the sequence of events precisely, chats/owl/harrier. Like I said....Déjà vu
ReplyDeleteThanks Ian....Pete.
Hello Pete,
ReplyDeleteover 3000 lapwings and 500 black-tailed godwits, those are huge numbers, plus all the other birds, it's really impressive. Here near me the crane migration is in full swing and the white storks are already here too, that's always a sign that spring is very close.
Greetings Frank
Good to think the crane and stork are with you giving the feeling of spring is close to you Frank.
ReplyDeleteWader numbers in the area I quote around the Lune Estuary can exceed 10,000 on a good day with perhaps a Peregrine Falcon hunting to put them on the wing en-mass.
Regards...Pete.
Je hebt veel gezien. Ik zie bijna niets hier op het moment. Groetjes. Fijne dag.
ReplyDeleteThank you Caroline....The Lune Estuary and its surroundings always has something of interest, and occasionally throws up a surprise.
ReplyDeleteKind Regards...Pete.