A Few Hits & A Big Miss!

The hit and miss day started at Conder Pool - no surprises there then - where another first for this amazing site was finding 16 Shoveler present. Seen as migrants in a group never seen in this number on Conder Pool ever before according to my records. Another good record was 2 Gadwall drake, seen as a species I last recorded on Conder Pool 10 years ago, on 8 April 2016.

My other notes from Conder Pool, up to 130 Black-headed Gull, 28 Wigeon, 12 Teal, 8 Tufted Duck, and 2 Little Grebe. In the creeks, 65 Teal and 2 Goosander noted.

Black-tailed Godwit Conder Pool. Pete Woodruff.

Up to 3,000 Black-tailed Godwit were on Conder Pool 2 years ago today 26 February 2024.

I paid an all time briefest of visits to Cockersand to find a female Stonechat playing hide and seek in the long grasses behind Bank Houses, where I spent a little time behaving like someone hunting down the owls and raptors for a picture without success.

Todays big miss came when I drove past Haresnape's Farm twice, on the way to and returning from Cockersand, and failed to spot 135 Russian White-fronted Geese on the north side of the farm....FBC WhatsApp

The Pink-footed Geese were dropping into the field north side of Cockersand Abbey as I arrived on a recent visit here.

Bewick's Swans. Ian Walker.

On the receiving end of a heads-up about some swans at Cockerham, I went off to find 2 Bewick's Swan with 105 Whooper Swan off Hillam Lane.

Thanks to Ian Walker for his excellent image of the Cockersand Bewick's December 2025.  

Black Redstart male Bank End. Paul Ellis.

I then continued down the road to Bank End to gain the brief view of a stunning male Black Redstart before flying off to disappear amongst the farm buildings, then standing around for an hour to see if it returned....I'll leave that story there then!

Thanks to Paul Ellis for the excellent image of this stunning bird.

This female Black Redstart I found on the flood defences 21 years ago at Fluke Hall in March 2005.   

The swans at Cockersand and Cockerham where all over the place today, spread over six fields, and amounted to an estimated total of up to 400 Whooper Swan.

Brown Hare. Pete Woodruff.

On my wanderings today, I found a pair of Brown Hare, they had been behaving like it was the Mad March season, but just chilled out as I got the camera out.  

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Brilliant Birds Staggering Numbers.

Christmas saw the start of what has become a mass influx of Russian White-fronted Geese (WFG) into the country. For much of this year so far, the wind has come from the east, particularly so in the first days of February. The combination of this easterly flow and lowering temperatures on the Continent has resulted in huge numbers of these geese building up across Britain, culminating in what is best described as staggering.

A couple of examples of these numbers are, a flock of WFG in West Midlands increased over three days, from 5 birds to 305, but this count was soon buried by a flock nearer to home, by that of an estimated 507 WFG at Pilling Moss in Lancashire on Sunday 8 February.

Cockersand Goose Fest.

Tundra Bean Goose. Tom Parkinson.

I'll start my share of experience of this unprecedented event, with the record of a Tundra Bean Goose at Cockersand 7 February. Found and photographed by Tom Parkinson, and was accompanied by 138 Russian White-fronted Geese. Thanks for this Tom, much appreciated.

Cockersand Monday 9 February.

White-fronted Geese/Pink-footed Geese

Nothing pleasant about the weather, dull with a cold wind, when I went to Cockersand today. Otherwise I would refer to the experience as, brilliant birds in staggering numbers. 

Barnacle Geese/Pink-footed Geese

There has been a range of varying numbers recorded over recent days, but personal counts today were, totals of 35 White-fronted Geese, 61 Barnacle Geese, and an estimate of up to 1,000 Pink-footed Geese.

Stonechat/Pink-footed Geese. Pete Woodruff.

Whilst viewing the geese in the field north side of Abbey Farm, I noted a Stonechat on the spoil heap being the sentinel for the Geese. 

1st winter male Stonechat Cockersand 9 February. Pete Woodruff.

A pair of Stonechat have been around here since I found them here 29 December. Up to 2,500 Black-tailed Godwit were feeding on the shore between Lighthouse Cottage to Crook Farm, 6 Skylark flew over >south.

There was an estimate of 220 Whooper Swan in a field south side of Moss Lane, and the 2 Bewick's Swan were in the field by Slack Lane. 

Lune Estuary.

Wigeon/Black-tailed Godwit

I called in at the bowling green to view the south shoreline to find at least 3,000 Black-tailed Godwit, 1,500 Lapwing, 250 Wigeon, and 220 Curlew.

Bewick's Swans.

The 2 Bewick's Swan seen off Slack Lane on Monday are the birds I found there 20 November 2025. But something of a mystery has developed since November, there have been several records of Bewick's Swans between Cockersand and Braides. The latest three sightings are....

9 Feb. Slack Lane Cockersand 2 Bewick's Swan

10 Feb. Braides Cockerham 4 Bewick's Swan

11 Feb. Slack Lane Cockersand 3(!) Bewick's Swan....*Note the 3(!)  

So the mystery of 'how many' Bewick's Swans rages on.

We Have Lift Off!

It was 17 days since my last spell of birding, and my first session for 2026....Lift Off!

I suppose lots of visitors to Conder Pool, wouldn't know the drake Shoveler and Pintail present today, were both at best only occasional here, but I note 5 Shoveler were recorded here last Thursday, and I reckon this is an all time best count of the species on Conder Pool. My last Shoveler here, was a pair last year on 23 February 2025, and my last Pintail was a drake 24 November 2025. Also noted today, 9 Redshank, 8 Tufted Duck, and 2 Little Grebe.

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson, I found my first Goldeneye of the winter and was a drake. I've seen no previous records of Goldeneye this winter around the Lune Estuary, but low end double figures at Aldcliffe.

 

A smart drake Goosander was close in with the Wigeon, and thinking I may not get any more opportunities for piks today, I grabbed a video. A pair of Red-breasted Merganser were diving by the Conder mouth, seen as a species at best irregular here, my last were a pair seen on the estuary 3 years ago on 13 January 2023. Also of note, 550 Black-tailed Godwit, a lone Bar-tailed Godwit, and 52 Knot.

At the south end of Jeremy Lane, a splendid 2,500 Black-tailed Godwit, with single figures of Curlew and Dunlin, and up to 60 Redshank in the field opposite.

Stonechat Cockersand 14 January. Pete Woodruff.

At Cockersand, a pair of Stonechat were on the spoil heaps, presumably the same pair seen on my last visit here 29 December. Off Slack Lane, 8 Whooper Swan were the only ones at Cockersand. I think the bulk of swans seem to have pitched up in fields at Cockerham/Braides where the 2 Bewick's Swans also seem to be currently residing.

Breaking News.

Bewick's Swans Cockersand 21 December. Ian Walker.

It was great to see the news that 4 Bewick's Swans were found this morning at Lower Thurnham, begging the question....are there 6 Bewick's Swans in the recording area now?

Thanks to Ian Walker for his excellent image of the stunning Bewick's Swans. 

The Header.

Couldn't resist this one....Long time no see a Stonechat header image on B2B, but Dave Mudd delivered the goods when he got this excellent shot of the pair at Cockersand recently. Not unique, but I reckon Dave or anyone else will achieve an image of two Stonechat so close together in the frame any time soon.    

Reviewing 2025.

I enjoyed flicking through the little black book for some highlights of birds found or seen through 2025. It was never going to be regarded as a spectacular year, but at least it resulted in getting much more of a fix from my birding than anything else.

* Excellent species and or location records....Photos & Video Pete Woodruff.

January

15  Bullfinch pair Lanc's Cemetery *

17  Common Scoter Stone Jetty M'cbe

17  Scaup Broadway M'cbe

25  Blackcap male home garden *

February

13  Hen Harrier male C'sand

18/ 27 Marsh Harrier female C'sand

March

6  Tundra Bean Goose with c.5,000 Pink-footed Geese C'sand *

12  Barnacle Goose Conder Pool *

12  March Harrier C'sand

12  Whooper Swan c.500 C'sand *

19  Hen Harrier in flight N>S over Moss Lane C'sand

20  Bullfinch 2xmale/female Lanc's cemetery *

24  Mediterranean Gull adult/Little Ringed Plover Conder Pool

26  Spotted Redshank Conder Pool

April

9  Garden Warbler Crag Wood early record *

11  Ring Ouzel female Hawthornthwaite *

29  Willow Warbler at least 50 Birk Bank circuit

29  Bullfinch 2/Cuckoo 2 Birk Bank *

May

7  Crossbill 15 Tower Lodge Bowland *

18 Cetti's Warbler Glasson

28 May Little Gull 2 x 2nd summer Conder Pool *

June

25 June 7 of 17 Mediterranean Gull Conder Pool *

July

9 Swift at least 20 Fairfield Lanc's

August

6 Green Woodpecker Birk Bank *

20 Yellow Wagtail 2 Conder Pool * 

22 Ruff 20/Wood Sandpiper Heversham Moss

28 Ruff 19/Green Sandpiper Conder Pool *

September

5 Greenshank 32 Conder Pool *

9 Curlew Sandpiper Lune Estuary

25 Crossbill pair Ottergear Bridge *

October

8 Oct 9 of 18  Whooper Swan Conder Pool *

30 Merlin male C'sand

November

12 Snow Bunting 2 C'sand

20 November Bewick's Swan 2 Slack Lane C'sand *

24 Pintail drake Conder Pool

24 Pink-footed Geese c.3,500 Slack Lane C'sand

25 November Barnacle Goose Lune Estuary *

December

23 Brent Geese 52 Heysham

.....................................................................................

Hoping you have good birding in 2026....

A Very Happy New Year 

The Wild Goose Chase!

Not a wild goose chase in the strictest sense, but I think the title fitted reasonably well.

The Greenland White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons flavirostris is a scarce winter visitor to Lancashire, in fact to reflect recent declines, there were no confirmed records of the species in 2024. The European White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons albifrons is an uncommon winter visitor, with a peak count of 3 at a site in 2024. However, although regarded as 'usually uncommon' in our recording area, there's been a huge influx of European White-fronted Geese into the UK, at least 30 have been recorded in the LDBWS recording area in recent days, including a few seen in the Cockersand area.

So based on this exciting news, off I went to see if I could get a share of the action, but here's the rub....having spent 3 hours in the area around Cockersand, not a goose in sight!

But never mind that, on a more rewarding note, parking up at Lighthouse Cottage, I put up the telescope to get some positive ID on waders over at Sunderland Point. Scanning through the birds, I found them to be up to 2,100 Black-tailed Godwit, but better still, half way through the scan, I picked out an Avocet. 

Avocet Conder Pool 2019. Ian Pinkerton.

I know of no winter records of Avocet in our recording area, but note a highest-ever peak winter count in Lancashire, was of 16 Avocet on the December 2020 WeBS, with another 11 Avocet on 26 December on the Fylde Coast. 

Other notes of interest, out in the channel south-west of Plover Scar, at least 3,500 Wigeon, also 130 Curlew in the field south side of Abbey Farm, and up to 120 Whooper Swan were scattered over three fields.

Stonechat C'sand. Pete Woodruff.

Best enjoyment of the day for me, was to watch and follow 2 Stonechat working their way along the fence posts to the spoil heaps, before eventually flying off inland over the field.

Stonechat C'sand. Pete Woodruff.

With many thanks to AC for the heads up, the 2 Bewick's Swan are again back at Braides. 

Struggling for an up to date image of Avocet, I decided to use one of Ian's for old times sake....Thank You Ian!

Thanks to Paul Ellis of the header image of Russian White-fronted Geese at Braides March 2025. 

Back Big Time!

The Cockersand Whooper Swan are back, better still they were accompanied by the 2 Bewick's Swan. 

Clarkson's Farm: 44 Whooper Swan

Tomlinson's Farm: 67 Whooper Swan, 2 Bewick's Swan

Abbey Farm: 75 Whooper Swan

Braides: 126 Whooper Swan

Cockersand 186, Cockerham 126....The grand total being 314.

Whooper Swans Cockersand. Pete Woodruff.

The swans took up most of my time on Tuesday, but it was good to find up to 2,25o Black-tailed Godwit off Crook Farm. Also to note, 8 Stock Dove and 2 Buzzard, and I finally found my first winter thrushes when about a dozen Fieldfare were seen from a moving motor on Moss Lane....Better late than never!

There was a large selection of wildfowl on Conder Pool today, including a near 50/50 mix of 200 Greylag and Canada Geese, 62 Mallard, 3 Wigeon, 2 Goosander, 23 Mute Swan, and a Little Grebe. Bird of the day here for me was a female Stonechat.

Hen Harrier.

I had a chance and very fortunate encounter with someone at the viewing platform at Conder Pool. Through an interesting conversation which developed, I gleaned some info regarding the Bowland Hen Harriers. I make no mention of who this person was, nor any mention of details about the site location. I learned only what I was entitled to, and if I'm honest the meeting ended with my wishing I could have heard more, but details were guarded and sparse.

Hen Harrier Forest of Bowland. Simon Hawtin.

Bowland held good numbers of Hen Harrier in 2024, although there was a below average breeding success. But the site I heard about held three pairs of Hen Harrier, all of which had broods successfully raising 12 young to fledging.

Simon Hawtin held a license which offered him to get close enough for many brilliant images of this stunning bird. I'm grateful to Simon for the use of these images of the Hen Harrier in Bowland. 

The Disappearing Act.

By necessity this is a little repetitive as a update on the disappearing swans, and it begins with the 'repetitive bit'.

Since I last saw up to 200 Whooper Swan and 2 Bewick's Swan at Cockersand on 24 November which were destined to winter here, they mysteriously disappeared. Well not mysteriously really, as I'm convinced it was because a similar number of sheep - up to 200 - were driven into the same field, and the swans have never been seen since.

By coincidence, at the same time of the disappearing swans, at least 3,500 Pink-footed Geese also vacated a field a short distance away, and are also gone for good it seems. To be honest, this is not such a mystery as with the swans, the geese tend to roam around during the winter, so are now probably settled somewhere on the Fylde.

But good news came to me in the form of a message from AC to tell me of c.160 Whooper Swan he had seen in a field at Cockersand on 8 December, also on the same date, 30 Whooper Swan were at Braides, which sounded to me like the Cockersand herd made a short flight south to Cockerham.

Two days later on 10 December, more good news - excellent news actually - from AC, when he reports 2 Bewick's Swan at Braides with 123 Whooper Swan. But better still, was that 73 Whooper Swan were in a field on the north side of Abbey Farm. So the Cockersand Whooper Swans are back, albeit fragmented and now located at two sites....Wonderful stuff.

Friday 12 December.

I only had a couple of hours of freedom on Friday, but no matter, that was all I needed to get an update on the swan issue at Cockersand.

Whooper Swan Cockersand 12 December. Pete Woodruff.

Not quite as good as hoped for, just 44 Whooper Swan were in the field north side of Abbey Farm....So the Whooper saga goes on!

It was a pleasant sight to see and hear the trumpeting 'yak-ak-ak' of four skeins of up to 3,000 Pink-footed Geese in flight out of the Lune Estuary south and over towards Pilling Marsh. This was a good number probably leaving the Colloway/Aldcliffe Marshes. 

Four Of Six Moorhen. Pete Woodruff.

It was good if unusual for me to see 6 Moorhen in procession through stubble. I'm not acquainted with seeing numbers of these rails, though I did find 22 Moorhen together around the frozen wildfowlers pool at Aldcliffe 11 years ago in December 2014.

One of our resident Blackbird was enjoying a feast of Cotoneaster berries yesterday, whilst our Robin looked on before quickly flying off.

Hit And Miss!

Actually very few hits, the rest all misses on my latest visit around the estuary, and some concerns to be going on with.

I suppose I would have to admit, the birds seen on Conder Pool were representative of what is to be expected on a moderate day in the first week of December, and it was necessary that I recorded every thing seen here today in order to create a bit of something to read on the report. 

If I'm honest, the most exciting thing to be seen was 14 Long-tailed Tit in a procession working through the hedgerow by the viewing screen. On Conder Pool, 3 Snipe, 3 Little Grebe, 8 Wigeon, 20 Mallard, 9 Black-headed Gull, and a lone drake Tufted Duck.

A couple of decent counts on the Lune Estuary at Glasson, up to 2,520 Black-tailed Godwit and at least 1,500 Golden Plover. At the south end of Jeremy Lane, 5 Whooper Swan were seen as a family of two adult and three 1st winter. These were the only swans I saw in a 4 hour trawl around the Lune Estuary....More on that subject later.

Now the concerns began to develop at Cockersand....At first it wasn't particularly worrying, but an example of the days misses were, no sign of the short stay Snow Bunting, no sign of the even shorter one day Black Redstart, and despite the distinct possibility of three pairs wintering at Cockersand this year, no Stonechat today.

But now things get really serious....Since 27 October, at least 200 Whooper Swan have been resident at Cockersand, lately they have been spread over fields south from Moss Lane down to Bank End, but today zilch. Not a single large white bird in the fields around the Cockersand area....Misery!

The one thing I did find was the reason why the herd of swans have 'disappeared', but to see why in the bigger picture you have to clik the pik.... 

The c.200 Whooper Swan have been replaced along the same length of fields by a similar number of c.200 sheep. 

Bearing in mind, at least 3,500 Pink-footed Geese were at Slack Lane 24 November, they have now also 'disappeared'. But the good news out of all this is, the Bewick's Swans had relocated to fields by Gardner's Farm yesterday 6 December....Alleluia!

In short, not a swan or goose to be seen on this weeks visit to Cockersand, in my book this is a disaster.

The Bewick's Swan.

It was my latest of many magical birding moments to find 2 Bewick's Swan at Cockersand 10 days ago on 20 November. 

I will always remember the comment by my mentor John Leedal the day we found them many years ago, when he said....'how privileged we are, to have such beautiful creatures fly thousands of miles from the Russian tundra, to visit us in Lancashire during the winter months'.

The Birds of Lancashire Clifford Oakes 1894 - 1965

I've been digging into the past about the Bewick's Swan, starting with some records from his book published in 1953. 

In the book, Clifford Oakes says the Bewick's Swan is a frequent winter visitor to Lancashire from November to April, they are seen in moderate numbers, but sometimes in herds of thirty and occasionally in larger numbers. He goes on to say, 'it is a more regular immigrant and more widespread than the Whooper Swan....F.S.Mitchell 1850 - 1929 writes of the Whooper Swan as being 'very rarely seen'....Oakes claims this is more likely to mean the winter range of the Whooper Swan has changed during the last half-century.

The most interesting account in Oakes book, was of an assembly totaling nearly 100 Bewick's Swan near Oldham in March 1940. He then records the species as being almost unknown at Leighton Moss, and goes on to say, it is an occasional visitor on the coast of Morecambe Bay and the Lune Estuary. There is a record of 9 Bewick's Swan seen as 2 adult and 7 juvenile at Bolton-le-Sands in November 1948, and closes his account of the Bewick's Swan with 'this is the most recent offshore occurrence'.

.............................................................

2005.

Twenty years ago in January 2005, the wintering population of the Bewick's Swan in Britain stood at little more than 7,200. By then the swans had abandoned Martin Mere WWT, and most were feeding and roosting on and around the River Ribble. The only record in our local recording area in 2005, was of 4 Bewick's Swan on Aldcliffe Marsh late November.

The status in 2005 in our recording area was that of a scarce winter visitor, the only records were of one at Glasson on several dates in Jan/Feb, and two at Pilling Lane Ends in February. Autumn records consisted of no more than 6 birds at two sites.

2015.

Ten years ago in 2015, the status in our recording area took a slight but welcome upturn from scarce to that of an uncommon winter visitor. Throughout January, up to 19 Bewick's Swan were in and around Jeremy Lane. The first to return in the autumn was a single bird at PLE at the end of October, and no more than 4 birds at two sites.

Summary.

One of the most interesting claims in the book by Oakes....'it is a more regular immigrant and more widespread than the Whooper Swan, whilst F.S.Mitchell writes in his book....'the Whooper Swan is very rarely seen'. Another notable record in 2015, was that of 19 Bewick's Swan around Jeremy Lane throughout January, this peaked to 22 by mid-February.

The Bewick's Swan status in Lancashire and nationally, is that of an uncommon and declining winter visitor. Up to 1/3 of the worlds population winter in the UK, and is a bird included with another 70 bird species on the BTO Birds Of Conservation Concern Red List, and apart from reading about Oakes 'herds of thirty Bewick's Swans' in Lancashire, there appears to have been little change in their status, and certainly not since the start of the 21st century, since when it has declined and continues to do so.

My Records Read....The fact that 2 Bewick's Swans have been and are still resident at Cockersand since Thursday 20 November is beyond wonderful.

Thanks to Paul Ellis for the header image of the Bewick's Swans at Thurnham in 2024.     

B For Bonus.

A bit of life on Conder Pool was represented by something of a rarity in the form of a drake Pintail having a snooze by one of the islands. My other notes were, a female Stonechat in the long grasses east end, 5 Little Grebe, 3 Snipe, 21 Greylag and 12 Canada Geese. A Buzzard flew low over the pool and out of view east over the canal.

At Cockersand, at least 250 Whooper Swan were spread over four fields on this visit, certainly an underestimate with some out of view and distant. From the Caravan Park, 10 Snipe exploded off the marsh, including eight in sync, a Kestrel took off from a barn at Bank House Farm and was immediately attacked in the air by Carrion Crows.

Bewick's Swan. Tom Parkinson.

Up to 3,500 Pink-footed Geese were in the field at the junction of Moss/Slack Lane, also 2 Bewick's Swan same field close by...Thanks to TP who took this excellent image to illustrate our smallest and most elegant of swans. A bird that gives us the privilege of a winter visit from its Arctic tundra breeding ground, and remains in the same field 7 days after it arrived at Cockersand on 20 November.  

A female Stonechat was at Lighthouse Cottage again, and on Plover Scar, a decent count of 15 Grey Plover, 92 Oystercatcher, with low end double figures of Knot, Dunlin, Golden Plover and Turnstone. As I stood checking the scar, behind me in the field north side of Abbey Farm, 440 Black-tailed Godwit.

B for Bonus.

A bit of a surprise as I came away from Plover Scar walking towards the car park, a Barnacle Goose was on the estuary. This was almost certainly the same individual seen on Jeremy Lane with Greylags last Sunday 23 November. As far as I could see, it was fully feathered, no obvious injuries, no rings, and appeared to be quite healthy. 

Barnacle Goose Conder Pool 12 March 2025. Pete Woodruff.

As in this image, the ringed Barnacle Goose with a Greylag Goose is labeled feral, whilst a Barnacle Goose with Pink-footed Geese get the thumbs up. But you can never tell with Barnacle Geese, there are many feral bird species in the country these days, with Lincolnshire alone having an estimated 2,000 individuals. 

Not Much To Write Home About....

 ....but one record on Thursday lit up Cockersand. 

I actually skipped a visit to Conder Pool, three men in high vis overalls were having a discussion on the viewing platform, with a flailing machine parked up in the layby waiting to be fired up, so I jogged on to Cockersand.

In a field south end of Jeremy Lane I counted 62 Whooper Swan and up to 150 Golden Plover. The resident herd at Cockersand are still in fields south towards Bank End, and remain as a count of c.200 Whooper Swan as far as I can see.

Starting the circuit at Lighthouse Cottage where, on a beautiful if icy cold day, I found a male and female Stonechat. The best Plover Scar could muster at low tide, was c.250 Oystercatcher and a 50/50 mix of up to 100 Knot and Dunlin, with 10 Eider off here.

A Buzzard was inland flying purposefully north with its a slow wingbeat and intermittent glides. In the field south side of Abbey Farm, at least 325 Golden Plover. Having checked the shingle area for 15 minutes to find it bunting'less, a Rock Pipit dropped in and immediately took off again, and I was entertained by 12 Turnstone turning the stones as they do.

Dunnock Cockersand. Pete Woodruff.

The confiding Dunnock showed well again at the same location for my third consecutive visit.

By the time I got back to Slack Lane and the Lighthouse Cottage in my sights on the return from the circuit, up to 2,500 Pink-footed Geese were in the same field as Wednesdays 12 November 188 P.F.G.

In the field to the south of the Pink-footed Geese, there was the wonderful sight of 2 Bewick's Swan accompanied by 2 Whooper Swan. The video isn't world class, but it's an excellent record, and the size difference between the Whooper Swan on the right is obvious.

Bewick's Swan.

The status of the Bewick's Swan in Lancashire mirrors that of the national one, being an uncommon and declining winter visitor, teetering on the brink of becoming a rarity. In fact information gained to date, says there are little more than 30 Bewick's Swan anywhere in the country. According to my record of these two seen on Thursday 20 November, appear to be an average first arrival record in Lancashire on that date. 

Records in Lancashire in 2024 can only be described as at best sparse, with just 8 birds recorded up to mid-March. My records of Bewick's Swan for 2024....

6 Cockersand 12 Jan

3 Cockersand 17 Jan

2 Cockersand 12 Dec

But I made an interesting discovery when I found in my notes, a claim that AC had told me in a conversation, that 11 Bewick's Swan were in fields at Jeremy and Moss Lane on Saturday 13 January 2024. Even more interesting was the fact that this record included three 1st winter birds.

And the winner is....The Bewick's Swan! 

Of Geese And Swans....And A Skipper.

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.

Goldeneye January 2024. Pete Woodruff.

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.

Bewick's Swan Cockersand 12 December. Pete Woodruff. 

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.

Dingy Skipper Janice Sutton (Butterfly Conservation Lanc's Branch)

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.

Barn Owls In The Spotlight!

I'm a bit cheesed off at getting it wrong again, but in my defence I never hide behind my errors. My claim at Conder Pool on 12 January....'the vegetation has been cut down, so no doubt goodbye to the wintering Stonechats of several weeks here'....proved to be a hasty and unjustified one. 

I had excellent views of the Stonechat pair at the east end of Conder Pool. The result of the rest of the stock taking exercise was, 6 Little Grebe, 10 Canada Geese, 4 Mute Swan, and a Wren in the hedgerow. 

On the canal basin at Glasson Dock, 4 Goosander seen, and in fields off Jeremy Lane, up to 350 Pink-footed Geese, 175 Greylag, and 125 Golden Plover.

 

Best surprise whilst watching the geese, was the appearance of a Barn Owl which spent a few minutes hunting along the hedgerow around Saltcote Brow pumping station....Perhaps this was the bird seen at Conder Pool 10 November.

At Cockersand, the Barn Owl flew over my car whilst I was watching the Stonechat pair on the marsh where I saw 2 Rock Pipit, 2 Meadow Pipit, and 4 Reed Bunting. Up to 380 Whooper Swan were seen a distant north from behind the Caravan Park.

Sunderland Point from Cockersand with snow on the Lakeland Mountains. Pete Woodruff. 

The circuit was a pleasant walk and resulted in a lone Stonechat just short of the Moss and Slack Lane junction, from where I saw 3 Bewick's Swan, seen as two adult and a juvenile. Also a Snipe came up and out of a ditch, a Song Thrush and 420 Curlew were in two fields with 6 Pink-footed Geese.

 

A pity the footage of 21 Eider off Plover Scar, was taken against the light, but it was a great opportunity to see them on a calm sea. The sighting proved to be quite interesting as I was able to observe some unexpected behaviour with display not normally associated with mid-January. In my experience, the Eider is very vocal during courtship, usually silent at other times, and doesn't start to think about breeding until April....Pump up the volume to hear the Eider 'cooing/crooning'. 

Kingfisher at Cockersand.

There was a remarkable report of 2 Kingfisher flying north past Plover Scar on Wednesday 17 January. 

The Kingfisher isn't known to take to open water like an estuary, more likely to avoid it, and I'm intrigued to hear from anyone able to explain what they thought two Kingfisher were doing flying over the sea and past the lighthouse on a estuary in mid-winter? 

Barn Owl at Cockersand.

In my last post, I made the suggestion that I suspected there might be 2 Barn Owls at Cockersand. Today it seems to be common knowledge that there are indeed 2 Barn Owls here. I met five people on Wednesday who all told me of the roost here. 

I get great pleasure in sharing and reporting the Barn Owl anywhere, but don't agree with any kind of freely published information about any species of Schedule 1 birds that gives even a hint of where they might be holding territory to start breeding by early April.

Picture Gallery.

Howard Stockdale sent me an image of the long staying Snow Bunting on Plover Scar.

Ian Mitchell's image of Long-tailed Tit on his garden feeders.

Martin Jump observed some excellent aerobatics by no less than 7 Buzzard and 3 Raven over the ridge at Harrisend recently.

Thanks to Howard, Ian, and Martin for the excellent and much appreciated images which add some interest and colour to B2B.