The Bogey Bird!

The Snow Bunting seems to be a declining species, and isn't known to be recorded in any more than single figure numbers in Lancashire these days, though it's status is that of a fairly common winter visitor to summits and coasts. A single female spent the entire month of January in 2024 at Cockersand, and I caught up with it on the fifth of the month. But it's a different story for me this year.....

Snow Bunting Fylde Coast. Martin Jump.

Thursday was my sixth consecutive estuary wander in a row since 8 October, three of them being made since the Snow Bunting was found at Cockersand on 25 October. Despite it having been seen a few times by other birders - the latest one being yesterday Saturday 8 November - I still haven't had any success in finding this little critter....My bogey bird, well this years bogey anyway!

Conder Pool.

Some birds - but not that many to be honest - seen on my latest safari this week, another disappointing 17 birds to note on Conder Pool, 8 Little Grebe, 8 Canada Geese, and a lone Snipe hunkered down in the long grass. Up to 275 Teal and 2 Pink-footed Geese were in the creeks.

I did call back here early evening on my way to Lancaster, and just managed to see up to 32 Tufted Duck before making a hasty retreat as 24 birders complete with tour guide, were descending towards the viewing platform.

Cockersand.

The currently resident c.200 Whooper Swan herd had relocated to fields to the south of Moss lane and were strung out as far as Bank End Farm. 

With the exception of 120 Curlew by Abbey farm, the current high tides haven't driven the waders to take to the fields at Cockersand yet, and as I checked out the fraction of Plover Scar left above water, 9 Turnstone dropped in on a small patch as the tide ebbed.

A Rock Pipit and Skylark were the only other birds of note for the little black book, and I was leaving Cockersand disappointed not to have found a single Stonechat anywhere today, despite having seen 3 pairs here recently.

I decided to video the Grey Heron which had taken the place of the Merlin seen in the same field on 30 October. Until I reviewed the video full screen on the computer, I found I had also recorded a Stonechat which can be seen towards the end of the video as the Magpie takes off.

Dicranopalpus ramosus. Pete Woodruff.

The white-washed wall at Lighthouse Cottage has turned up a little interest recently with this Harvestman and it's amazing long legs, and the Wolf Spider seen this week.

Wolf Spider. Pete Woodruff.

The Header.

Note....Looking horizontally, the Grey Heron, the Magpie, and the Stonechat can be seen at the top right corner of the header image.