An Excellent Afternoon On The Bog!

Yes, I know the title of this post is a little crass, but truth is, a) it actually was 'an excellent afternoon' and, b) I actually was 'on the bog' at Birk Bank. 

To be honest, the best bit of news from my visit here on Wednesday, is that despite many doubters including myself, I can now confirm the Common Lizard is alive and well and lives around the bog after all, albeit that I got just the briefest of glimpse as the tail end of one disappeared off the boardwalk and into the bog.

However, Ian Preston did get excellent views of a Common Lizard, hence it is my header image as a testament to the sighting....Thanks and much appreciated Ian.

 

Keeled Skimmer Birk Bank 16 July. Pete Woodruff.

My records read, at least 4 Keeled Skimmer male seen, although I had several sightings, I never saw more than four together at any one time.

Keeled Skimmer Birk Bank 16 July. Pete Woodruff.

Two Golden-ringed Dragonfly obliged perfectly, patrolling along the ditch towards me on the boardwalk, to return back along the ditch, then to repeat the behavior several times to my delight.

Golden-ringed Dragonfly Male Birk Bank 16 July. Pete Woodruff.

The second Golden-ringed Dragonfly sighting was of a female which was later seen egg laying.

Broad-bodied Chaser Female. Pete Woodruff.

A Broad-bodied Chaser female - not the one above - was egg laying, with 5 Common Blue Damselfly and 2 Common Darter male both on the boardwalk.

But what took the biscuit, was one of the 2 Emperor Dragonfly seen, a male which flew the length of the boardwalk barely 3 metres out on the bog from me....Magic!

Bombus monticola Ottergear Bridge 16 July. Pete Woodruff.

I walked to Ottergear Bridge to find my target, a Bilberry Bumblebee. The resulting image was terrible, but who cares if you're going to find one these little beauties.

En route to Ottergear Bridge, a pair of Stonechat were the only birds to qualify for the little black book.

Garden Magic.

Small Skipper. Gary Coulburn.

There was more magic in our garden this week, when a Small Skipper was seen as a first here, also a lovely Holly Blue yesterday....Thanks to Gary for the excellent image.

Conder Pool.

I'm in receipt of some good news from Conder Pool, and some rather impressive images in the inbox again.

Avocet C6 Conder Pool. Howard Stockdale.

The news from Conder Pool, was that the last of the fledged Avocets has been ringed. This is good news tinged with sadness, in that it is one of just five to survive from the predation inflicted upon the birds of Conder Pool this year. 

But more good news, is that I understand the Little Ringed Plovers have nested again. This is their fifth brood which has now reached the two chicks out of the nest stage, and unless I'm well out of date with my stats this is quite amazing. The Little Ringed Plover is known to be double-brooded in the south, and single brooded in the north of it's range.

Thanks again to Howard Stockdale for updates and photographs from Conder Pool.

Picture Gallery.

More images from my inbox. 

Little Owl. Martin Jump.

Martin Jump has been doing a series on the Little Owl recently and has come up with some excellent results including this one coming in to land.

The Spectacle. Ian Mitchell.

Ian Mitchell has been seeing some brilliant moths recently, including this remarkable and appropriately named moth with specs.

Erratum.

In my writing about the Little Ringed Plovers under the heading 'Conder Pool' where the piece reads....'This is their fifth brood'....this is misleading and not up to my usual high standard in the use of the English language, and should read 'This is their fifth attempt'....Whoooops! 

Sluggish Start To 2025!

Sluggish and little to report, but never any less the pleasure of birding for me.

The tide was well advanced when I arrived at Glasson on Thursday and had driven most of the waders off the estuary. But I noted a pair of Goosander, and it was good I saw two drake and a female Goldeneye, seen as the only three individuals found here this winter, and looking like a scarce bird for our area now. This despite its status being recorded 3 years ago in the LDBWS Annual Report as....'a fairly common visitor to the Lune at Glasson'....I doubt that the Goldeneye will be recorded as 'common' in the next report!

I couldn't resist a video of the ducks on a cold but beautiful January day, on a calm river in an attractive setting....Pump up the volume to hear 17 secs of 22 delightful whistling Wigeon.

There was nothing to report at Glasson Dock, until a Kingfisher flew across the canal basin toward the marina. Neither was there much action at Cockersand, but over a couple of hours here, it did turn out to be something of a mini raptor fest.

Although the high tide was a little under 10m, 4 Rock Pipit were pushed off the marsh and were on the shingle. There was up to 1,500 Golden Plover in fields, with 150 Curlew, and possibly 180 Whooper Swan scattered over three fields.

The raptor foursome started with views of a Barn Owl followed by a Merlin soon followed by a Buzzard.

The Little Owl was again basking in the sun on its favoured girder on the farm building at Bank Houses with a horse appearing to be on guard duty.

The Cockersand Barn Owl.

I had the same experience with the Barn Owl today as I had at the start of the year on 7 February, the account of which is copied here.... 

The Barn Owl took off from Bank Houses at the same time I started my circuit of Cockersand. It was in view for up to an hour as I walked along Moss Lane until I reached the Lighthouse Cottage at 2.25pm. In the hour, the owl crisscrossed every field in the area, and hunted along every ditch and hedgerow, diving to the ground at least six times without success, and perched on fence posts about the same number of times.

Thursdays sighting ended with views of the Barn Owl flying south toward Abbey Farm, I then picked up a female Merlin rocketing south across the same field to cause up to 2,000 Golden Plover/Lapwing/Curlew and Starling to panic. I myself panicked when I saw the Merlin mobbing the Barn Owl, but the pair disappeared behind bushes. I didn't see the Merlin again, but was sure the Barn Owl escaped the attentions of the raptor to take refuge at Abbey Farm.

And Finally.

In my inbox I received two brilliant images recently, both of which represent my appreciation and respect for the ability to freeze a moment in time with excellent photography. 

Goosander. Martin Jump.

This one from Martin shows the Goosander with the catch of an Eel and lookers on, one showing anger, and one with envy.

Blue Tit. Ian Mitchell.

This one of a Blue Tit coming in to land on Ian's garden feeders. Thanks Martin and Ian....Amazing stuff. 

Godwits And Plovers Hit The Fields.

Best sight of the day for me, was the Stonechat perched briefly on the post close to the viewing platform at Conder Pool....It says in my book, if you see a Stonechat get some footage if it!

Also on Conder Pool, 46 Mallard, 32 Wigeon, 4 Little Grebe, 3 Goosander, and a Snipe.

To note on the Lune Estuary, 348 geese were seen as last weeks 252 Greylag on Jeremy Lane, and 96 Canada Geese. Also, at least 300 Dunlin, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 450 Wigeon, and 2 Goosander.

Another great sight was c.500 Black-tailed Godwit in a field south end of Jeremy Lane, with a 'few' Curlew/Redshank/Lapwing/ and a lone Golden Plover.

Little Owl Cockersand. Pete Woodruff.

At Cockersand, nice to find another Stonechat behind Lighthouse Cottage, and nice to see the Little Owl sunning itself behind the barn at Bank Houses. 

In excess of 1,000 Golden Plover were scattered over three fields north and south of Abbey Farm, and by Cockersand Abbey. A wonderful sight, which would have looked even more wonderful in the sun, but waiting for it to come from behind the clouds didn't happen, so the ones with backs to the light, look more like Lapwing in the video!

A healthier number of c.113 Whooper Swan again at Cockersand and surrounding area, with 7 off Slack Lane, an uncounted estimate of a distant 50 from a moving car Thursland Hill area, and 56 Jeremy Lane.

Bird Of The Year.

Barred Warbler Conder Pool. Howard Stockdale.

I received some interesting data about the Barred Warbler on Conder Pool 19 November, including that it is thought to be the first ever to be photographed in the county of Lancashire. From a selection of images taken by Howard, one is to be used on the front cover of Lancashire Bird Report 2024....Many thanks for information from Howard Stockdale.

Little Owl.

My header of the Little Owl at Cockersand is the best I can manage at the distance with my standard Sony camera at 30x zoom. As a bird in serious decline, I know of no other Little Owl currently to be found in our recording area.  

Conder Pool Delivers....And So Does Cockersand.

Of note on Conder Pool Wednesday, a Stonechat flew west past the viewing platform to perch briefly on a fence post below the hedgerow. Given time and patience every visit here, the Kingfisher perched by the sluice, and 7 Little Grebe counted. At the north end of Jeremy Lane, 252 Greylag and 12 Canada Geese.

As I drove towards the shore at Cockersand, a Short-eared Owl was quartering the field on the north side of Bank House Cottage.

Five minutes later as I set off on the circuit, the owl was obligingly perched up on a fence post by the paddock at Bank Houses, as it has been for dozens of photographers according to several websites I've visited over the past few days.

On the circuit, up to 350 Golden Plover were in a field south of Abbey Farm. Numbers of Curlew and Redshank were in coastal fields feeding, and at least 15 Meadow Pipit were in stubble by Lighthouse Cottage. A Snipe lifted out of a field, from where I saw a pair of Greenfinch and a Song Thrush.

The swans have moved on again, with only 7 Whooper Swan including 2 juvenile in the field off Slack Lane. 

On my return from the circuit to the parking area near the caravan park two hours later, 12 cars were parked up and at least 20 birders/photographers were filling their boots with Short-eared/Barn/Little Owl piks, with possible Hen Harrier/Marsh Harrier/Merlin/Sparrowhawk/Kestrel. That's a list of 8 raptors at and around the Cockersand area, all recorded in the past week, and doesn't include Buzzard which can be seen here frequently. 

Picture Gallery. 

I'm in receipt of four excellent images, each one much appreciated and with a little story behind them....All worthy of viewing Full Screen.

Goosander Haslam Park. Martin Jump.

Martin has been getting some great results from a project involving a peak count of 21 Goosander as a first record for Haslam Park....Thank You Martin.

Short-eared Owl Cockersand 20 November. Susan Wilson.

On request Susan sent me this image of the Short-eared Owl currently performing for all comers at Cockersand. But following my request, having processed my own efforts, to discover I achieved some decent stuff worthy of publishing. However, this takes nothing away from my gratitude for sending me this stunning image of the equally stunning owl....Thank You Susan.

Barred Warbler Conder Pool 19 November. Howard Stockdale.

Quite remarkably, Ian Hartley found this smart little 1st year Barred Warbler whilst engaged with a work party erecting a new tern raft on Tuesday. With the same working party, Howard Stockdale took some amazing images of the warbler....Thanks for the find Ian, and thanks for the image Howard.

Merlin Conder Pool 29 October. Howard Stockdale.

It gave me much pleasure when Howard sent this unsolicited image of my most favourite raptor....Thank You Howard.

Conder Pool & Cockersand Deliver Yet Again....NEXT PLEASE! 

Brief With A Little Quality.

By usual standards it was a bit of a whizz around the estuary surroundings on Friday, but at least there was a little quality about the findings, not least because the sight of up to 2,000 Black-tailed Godwit on the Lune Estuary at Glasson was a delight, also a Mediterranean Gull was amongst the gulls, and a Peregrine Falcon was on the south end of Colloway Marsh, recommended if you'd like to see one regularly there, or on the hunt and putting a few thousand waders to flight.

As I was leaving, 6 Whooper Swan flew upstream by me, before swinging south towards Conder Pool or Jeremy Lane I thought.

Thirty minutes later, it was my second guess the swans had chosen and settled on a flood on Jeremy Lane.

Little Owl At Cockersand.

On 28 November 2023, a visiting birder I met opposite Cockersand Abbey, was searching for a Snow Bunting. In a conversation he pointed towards Bank Houses and told me of a Little Owl he had seen on an out building there. In amazement, I told him this was the first Little Owl for Cockersand in 9 years when I had found one at Abbey Farm on 28 November 2014.

I never did find the owl the birder reported to me, but 9 years later on 25 October 2024, I connected with a Little Owl in the very same area he talked of 11 months ago.

Historically, the Little Owl could be seen regularly for many years on the derelict barn, now converted and called Bank House Cottage.

Action In The Garden.

Our resident Robin is friendly, bold, and very entertaining, following anyone digging in the garden. Also on Friday, a flock of 12 Long-tailed Tit worked their way through the garden, and our first Coal Tit in 11 months paid a visit. 

Thanks to Martin Jump for the excellent header of Little Owl.

News From The Bog!

Odonata enthusiasts in particular, may be interested in the news that the boardwalk along the perimeter of the bog at Birk Bank, has been removed and relocated from the corner of the old one, straight across to the east side.

On the positive side, this may be good news for the dragonflies and insects, in particular the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary with its partiality to Marsh Thistle.

And Finally....An Owl At Cockersand.

It was good to find 2 Grey Wagtail on Conder Pool yesterday, they were collecting insects on the tern raft for several minutes, and according to another birder had been doing so earlier in the day when he called in. A rare sight, I don't recall the last time I saw Grey Wagtail on Conder Pool. Other notes from a stock taking exercise, 112 Mallard, 45 Wigeon, 2 Tufted Duck, 5 Goosander, 10 Little Grebe, and a Grey Heron.

On the Lune Estuary, up to 2,000 Black-tailed Godwit, half the number disturbed and flying downstream, with a 'white' individual amongst them but not discernible in the video. An adult Mediterranean Gull was ringed on the left leg, unreadable at the distance, but looked white or possibly very pale green with a metal ring on the right leg, otherwise gull and wader numbers were low.

At Cockersand, despite the effort made for a circuit, there was little to report, and the 13 Whooper Swans of 10 October obviously decided to move on. However, I did manage to log 3 raptor species, with a Buzzard atop of a telegraph pole, a Kestrel which thought it was a Merlin zipping at a metre height over a stubble field before hovering, and a Sparrowhawk. As I left Cockersand, a Barn Owl flew across the road in front of the car and over the Bank Houses paddock.  

Little Owl.

In company with Andrew Cornall on Monday, Ian Mitchell had good views of the Little Owl in residence at Cockersand, and in the circumstances with poor light, achieved a decent image of the bird....Thanks for this Ian, it is much appreciated.

Little Owl. Ian Mitchell.

According to my records, this is the first record of Little Owl at Cockersand for 10 years, with one last seen at Bank Houses 10 November 2014. I also found a Little Owl at Abbey Farm on 31 October 2014, at the time I thought this was the Bank Houses bird having a day out as I had never found one at the farm ever before or since.

Little Owl 10 July 2020. Pete Woodruff.

This Little Owl was a surprise find at the junction of Green Lane and the Kirkby Lonsdale Road 4 years ago. I managed this grab shot from my car with traffic behind me....I've not seen a Little Owl anywhere else since.

Cockersand News.

Little Owl Abbey Farm 10 November 2014. Pete Woodruff.

At Cockersand yesterday, the amazing record of a Little Owl. Amazing because this is the first record of Little Owl at Cockersand as far as I am aware since I last saw one 9 years ago.

Snow Bunting Cockersand 28 Nov. John Whittle.

Two Snow Bunting were seen off Lighthouse Cottage. Thanks to John for news and image.

1st Winter Merlin Cockersand 12 October. Ian Mitchell.

Merlin seen yesterday also at Cockersand. A female, probably the same bird seen 12 October. Thanks to Maurice for the news.

Disaster...Well A Bit Of One!

I called the visit to Harrisend, Hawthornthwaite and deeper into Bowland a disaster, but I have to say that is a bit of an exaggeration, perhaps a disappointment would be more appropriate. But a few hours birding without the sight of a single Stonechat, did tempt me to call it a disaster.

I've not been on these two fells since 18 October, when I found a total of 15 Stonechat. Since then these birds have retreated to the lowlands, mainly on the Fylde coast, including Cockersand where a peak count of 8 Stonechat was made recently as the best ever winter count here. 

I was in the good company of Martin Jump on Thursday, and 2.5 hour on Harrisend has to be labelled a disappointment, but not totally....it never is.

Roe Deer Harrisend. Martin Jump.

Two Roe Deer seen at a range of 80 metres had to take top spot on the visit, they were seen 30 minutes later bounding off in the opposite direction and away from us. Also seen, 2 Raven, 2 Red Grouse, and 3 Buzzard. On Hawthornthwaite, Buzzard and Red Grouse were the only sightings. Martin took note of at least 8 Wren heard on the day.

Star Jelly.

Lets be honest, a frog has to take credit for a first and interesting record made on Hawthornthwaite Fell on Thursday.

Star Jelly. Pete Woodruff.

Void of anything scientific, or the folklore of which there is much surrounding it, here's the simple explanation and the most plausible theory of what we found on moorland on Thursday....This is frog spawn and reproductive organs, regurgitated by a predator that has taken and eaten a frog. On contact with water the mucus jelly has expanded in the stomach and the predator has vomited, leaving a perfect example of Star Jelly.

Black Redstart/Bullfinch/Little Owl.

Black Redstart Cockersand 26 January. Ian Mitchell.

Thanks to Ian for the excellent image of the long staying Back Redstart at Cockersand, and to Colin for reporting another brilliant record of 2 Bullfinch he saw on Rigg Lane on Friday, these follow my record of 2 Bullfinch seen on Rigg Lane on 24 October last year. Thanks also to Martin who found a Little Owl as he drove toward Oakenclough on Thursday late afternoon, seen as a scarce and declining breeding bird in our area.

Thanks also to Ian Mitchell for the brilliant header image of the Golden Plover at Cockersand....Note the stunning plumage detail. 

News & Views.

This morning I was in receipt of some excellent news and images regarding some of the management work completed on Conder Pool.

Redshank/Oystercatcher Conder Pool 18 Feb. Howard Stockdale.

From a personal point of view, it was the perfect medicine for my cure of the wind and rain currently battering the country.  The weather has been in the main, the cause of my being off the road for another one of those depressing weeks of no birding. But the header image of the stunning Black-tailed Godwit on Conder Pool yesterday, instantly killed storm Eunice for me.

 

Sand Martin Bank Conder Pool. Howard Stockdale.

The new islands and the Sand Martin bank are completed, though the birds probably won't use the bank this year as the ground will need to settle to be suitable for nesting.

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Little Owl. Martin Jump.

Martin sent me a series of Little Owl images which I tried to produce as a slide show, but I failed as the file size was way over the limit of 100mb to publish with blogger. I decided on this as the best individual in the set.

Blackbird. Mike Robinson.

Mike sent me this excellent image of the leucistic Blackbird in his garden recently.

I'm grateful for the info and images from Howard. And for the images from Martin and Mike, they are all very much appreciated.

Early Days!

I was intrigued by the report of a Yellow Wagtail seen at Queens Manor, Lytham St Annes on 14 February. The earliest ever record of Yellow Wagtail in Lancashire, was of a bird seen 26 years ago on 23 March 1996.

Picture Gallery.

The header image is a 22 year old from my file labeled 'Golden Oldie Birds'. The Long-billed Dowitcher at Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve in October 1998, courtesy of the late John Leedal. 

Whilst I plan my next bid for freedom, I selected a few piks taken over the years, but don't expect any world beating images, they only just got past quality control.

1.   Snow Bunting Plover Scar

2.   Whinchat Newby Moor N.York's

3.   Spotted Flycatcher Bowland

4.   Wheatear Bowland

5.   Black Redstart Fluke Hall

6.   Eastern Black Eared Wheatear Fluke Hall

7.   Skylark Fluke Hall

8.   Blackbird Home Garden

9.   Little Ringed Plover Conder Pool

10. Turnstone Plover Scar

11. Snipe Conder Pool

12. Brent Geese Heysham

13. Little Owl Roeburndale

14. Purple Heron Eagland Hill

    

View Full Screen

Stonechats.

My records to date now stands at 95 Stonechat since I found 18 on Caton Moor 2 months ago on 26 August, mostly in Bowland, with some records taken from local websites. This is a good indication that the species has had a good breeding season in 2020, though I tried twice without success to contact the RSPB, to find out what their records - if any - showed to get a handle on numbers in Bowland.

Black-tailed Godwits. 

View Full Screen

I was grateful to Howard Stockdale for the video of the Black-tailed Godwits, including this one ringed OL-RZ, Arnessysla, Austurey, Iceland, 4 July 2012. The bird has collected 58 sightings, none of which were in our area until this one at Cockersand Wednesday 20 October. Otherwise it favoured Essex and Merseyside, and was seen twice back in Iceland in June 2013 and August 2018.

Conservation.

Below is an excellent post I copied from a website which touched on one of my favourite subjects on conservation and farming practices. I'm also aware of some ongoing local and bigger conservation issues which I intend to follow. 

'34 Fieldfare were a welcome sight this morning, these Scandinavian travelers on their annual visit to forage on the winter berries, however the dreaded hedge munching machine had other ideas and has now destroyed all the food that was lying in wait to keep our visiting Fieldfare well fed along with many others that would have foraged on same, no need to look very hard for the demise of wildlife when this goes on country wide, modern farming practices indeed' 

Lockdown Miscellany.

I was grateful to David for sending me the Bar-tailed Godwit image as my new header. 

David is a visitor to the area and wouldn't have realised at the time, the significance of the Bar-tailed Godwit at Conder Green, seen as an unprecedented number and a first record summering on Conder Pool. All roosting non-breeders, but one in the centre in breeding plumage adds a little more interest. 

Despite the Bar-tailed Godwit being recorded as a species summering in small numbers around the Lune Estuary, the monthly WeBS counts in 2018 didn't reflect this when, just two birds aside, none were recorded on the Lune Estuary for four months May - September.

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A walk with KT through Williamson Park and on to Lancaster Cemetery wasn't without a little interest. 

Little Grebe.

On the old Moor Hospital reservoir at Fenham Carr, it was good to find 7 Little Grebe, seen as two adult and five young, with one adult and three young being fed 100m apart from the other adult feeding two young on the opposite side. These are almost certainly the nesting pair seen on 31 March.

In a bit of reading up, I found only two ringing recoveries, indicating that the Lancashire Little Grebe might be a regular long-distance migrant. One ringed in Essex in 1956, was found dead in Liverpool 2 years later in 1958, but more interesting was of a bird ringed in Latvia 1983, and was found dead at Pilling on the Fylde coast 2 years later in 1985.

Ringlet.

In Lancaster Cemetery, 6 Ringlet seen in the grasses and feeding at bramble blossom. The Ringlets status is common, but despite increases in distribution and population, not known as abundant in Lancashire. 

Ringlet Aldcliffe 10 July 2017. Pete Woodruff.

I only have 5 Ringlet records to my name, three of which were in Cumbria. The two records found in our recording area are very interesting in that the single one I found at Aldcliffe on 10 July 2017, resulted in my being unsuccessful in tracing the previous record of this butterfly at Aldcliffe. My second record was of 52 Ringlet seen at Heysham NR on 4 July 2019.

News From Conder Pool.

Arctic Tern Conder Pool 10 July. Howard Stockdale.

Howard found this 1st summer Arctic Tern on Conder Pool on Friday, seen as another excellent first record for the site....Did the 2cy Arctic Tern at Heysham since Thursday, have a day-trip to the Lune Estuary on Friday?

Howard also observed the three ringed juvenile Common Tern developing their flying skills on Friday, and the three young week old Avocet are still doing well.

And Finally....

Little Owl. Green Lane 10 July. SD515659    

Grab shot of a Little Owl on Green Lane before flying off.

Thanks to all who contributed to this post, much appreciated. 

The Rewind.

I've been perusing through my 2017 records, and pulled out some random finds and seen, and included my breeding records of the Stonechat which sadly doesn't make such good reading. In fact the records don't even mention Clougha, which - rightly or wrongly - I have abandoned as our once local stronghold in the same way the Stonechat has. I also visited Barbondale three times and found not a single Stonechat there. The Dalton Cragg record (*) credited to Bryan Yorke.

Eight Stonechat breeding records - 20 young - in 2017....Disastrous.

17 May Hareden, a pair and 2 young.
19 June White Greet, a female and 2 young.

03 July Foulshaw, a male and 4 young.

12 July Birk Bank, a pair and 2 young, a male, and a female. Four visits May - August.
12 July Harrisend, 2 male, a female, and a young.

17 July Hawthornthwaite, a male, two female, and 7 young. 

14 Sept Dalton Cragg, a pair and 2 young *

15 Sept Hawthornthwaite, a pair and one young. Five visits May - Sept.

Five December Lowland Stonechats.

10 Dec Heysham Half Moon Bay, 1st winter male and female.
11 Dec Crook Cottage Cockersand, 1st winter male.
22 Dec Off Caravan Park Cockerham Sands, 1st winter male and female.

Other notable birds found in 2017, and (*) not my credit.

20 Jan Conder Pool, Great White Egret. *

27 Jan Pilling, Red-breasted Goose and 10 White-fronted Geese. *

27 Jan Knott End, Black Redstart. *

03 Feb Conder Channel, Conder Green, Little Stint. 

17 Feb Moss Lane, 22 Bewick's Swan.

17 Feb Lune Estuary, Glasson, 46 Goldeneye peak count.
24 Feb Cockerham Marsh, 2 Shorelark. * (Andrew Cornall)

27 Feb Plover Scar, Snow Bunting. 

06 Mar Jeremy Lane, 6 Stonechat.

23 Mar Deep Cutting Lancaster Canal, 2 Little Owl. *

24 Mar Cockersand, Lapland Bunting.

10 Mar Conder Pool. 2 Avocet.

08 May Conder Pool, 2 Common Tern.
25 May Barbondale, 11 Pied Flycatcher.

25 May River Lune Bull Beck, 6 Little Ringed Plover including 3 chicks.
31 May Sykes Farm Bowland, 15 House Martin nests.
31 May Langden Brook, pair Ring Ouzel.
14 Jun Tower Lodge area, 6 Spotted Flycatcher.
19 Jun White Greet, 3 Stonechat, Bloe Greet 3 Stonechat.
12 July Birk Bank Bog, 3 Keeled Skimmer.

04 Aug Conder Pool, drake Scaup.

26 Sep Lune Estuary Glasson, 18 Ruff.

06 Oct Cockersand, 14 Ruff.
23 Oct Cockersand, adult male Stonechat.
02 Nov Crimbles, 2 Ruff on flood.

A decent selection of records, and if my birding this year is anything like as good as the last was, I'll be well happy.