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.