The First Swans-The Last Dragons....Perhaps!

There were one or two visitors to Conder Pool whilst I was there on Wednesday, and with a cursory look would have regarded the place as 'dead', and that's because they failed to picked up eight of the nine Spotted Redshanks, being an all time record for Conder Pool and the species.

Conder Pool & Area.

The 8 Spotted Redshank were lined up along the waterline at the back of the pool, the reality being that Conder Pool was in fact otherwise deserted. 

Curlew Sandpiper/Redshank Conder Creeks. Pete Woodruff.

A Curlew Sandpiper was in the creeks with a Redshank for company, also a Snipe was to note. The call of the Spotted Redshanks was an indication they had been disturbed from Conder Pool, and all eight flew to the creeks.

I went off in pursuit of the Spotted Redshanks, and caught up with five of them downstream towards the old railway bridge, and later all eight were beyond the bridge and towards the Conder Estuary.

Lune Estuary.

On the estuary viewed from the bowling green, I was pleased to find my first 15 Whooper Swan hauled out just beyond the Conder Estuary. Also of note, at least 250 Greylag, 190 Curlew again, 18 Canada Geese, and 12 Snipe.

Whooper Swans Conder Pool 8 October 2025. Pete Woodruff.

Last years first Whooper Swans were on Conder Pool 8 October when they were seen as 9 adult and 9 juvenile.

Saltcote Pond.

I called in at Saltcote Pond and found a Migrant Hawker and 4 Common Darter including a pair in cop. 

Birk Bank.

Birk Bank Bog. Pete Woodruff.

By the time I arrived at Birk Bank, the weather was threatening to turn wet and not conducive with dragonfly hunting.

Common Darter. Pete Woodruff.

But at least I found a lone male Common Darter making the most of any suitable weather conditions remaining for a rest on the boardwalk....More proof that I hadn't yet seen my last dragons of the year. 

As I walked the path from the bog, I heard a Chiffchaff calling, and having walked little more than 50 metres I had heard and seen 4 Chiffchaff. Given 24 Chiffchaff were ringed at Heysham in an early morning fall this sighting seems significant. 

Hawk-moths.

The Hummingbird Hawk-moth was in our garden yet again on Friday 9 October, making this its 40th visit here since it was first seen 17 June. It behaved impeccably, lingering for periods on the Salvia.

The Hummingbird Hawk-moth was first found in Crosby 1857, it has been annual in Lancashire since 1998, often in double figures with occasional large influxes occurring, 309 were recorded in 2006.

Convolvulus Hawk-moth. Ian Mitchell.

Ian Mitchell has shared with me an image of a stunning large Convolvulus Hawk-moth at rest on his garden wall. 

As a migrant visitor to the UK, the Convolvulus Hawk-moth was first found at Chat Moss in 1841. Since then up to 150 records of the moth have been in Lancashire.

Pleasantly Quiet.

There were 9 Spotted Redshank with Greenshank on Conder Pool 27 September, and the header image is perfect as my introduction to this weeks post on B2B. Thanks to Paul Ellis for this amazing image of record numbers for Conder Pool. 

I missed the good stuff again on Conder Pool, with recent records being, 35 Greenshank, and 9 Spotted Redshank, both all time peak counts.

Conder Pool.

When I arrived at Conder Pool on Thursday, I was pleased to be able to count 22 Greenshank and 4 Spotted Redshank.

Although there was just the 26 waders to note, it was good that a lone Bar-tailed Godwit was feeding in front of the screen, at best an irregular visitor to Conder Pool, and not a bird I have ever seen here beyond single figures.

Lune Estuary.

At the estuary on the rising tide, 8 Golden Plover were seen as the vanguards of returning winter birds. Also 190 Curlew was a decent count for the end of September, 550 Lapwing, 220 Redshank, 85 Greylag, and 45 Wigeon completed the picture.

Saltcote Pond.

At the pond, 4 Migrant Hawker, a pair of Common Darter in cop, and a Clouded Yellow butterfly.

Hawker Down.

Whilst at Saltcote Pond, I observed some interesting behavior by three of the Migrant Hawkers, an incident which ended badly for one of the males. I watched a pair in cop for several minutes, they were flying around erratically until they eventually separated, at which point a second male started an attack on the other. I have no idea which of the males ended up in the drink, but it started to swim frantically, then stopped before swimming again.

 

I watched this desperate attempt to reach some vegetation to emerge from the pond which was impeded by the fact that it kept changing direction.

Migrant Hawker Saltcote Pond 1 October. Pete Woodruff.

I left the site feeling helpless, having had to watch this unfortunate creatures desperate attempt to escape from drowning....an experience I hope to never witness ever again. 

Hummingbird Hawk-moth. 

The regular HBHM to our garden broke its own record on Saturday 3 October, paying its 28th visit in the past 2 months, this time it was around the Honeysuckle when I spotted it....Truly amazing stuff! 

Hummingbird Hawk-moth on Salvia 20 September

I reckon any HBHM seen into October, is outside its flight period by the end of September, but interestingly, it is recorded to have occasionally survived mild winters in southern Britain. 

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