The Moth Has It.

I was beginning to feel desperate at Cockersands on Monday, although I spent three hours in the area, waders were virtually non existent, and birds on the circuit were few and far between.

Wheatear. Geoff Gradwall. 

But it was good to see the Wheatear on the shingle along the headland, c.30 Goldfinch were in Bank Houses horse paddock again, and a sift through the Black-headed Gulls in a recently grass-cut field revealed one of those brilliant adult Mediterranean Gulls you can come across now and again....more often than now and again if you're at Heysham Harbour!

Hummingbird Hawk-moth. Pete Woodruff.

But the moth got the 'Gold Award' for me, as I walked from Cockersand to Bank End, when I saw ahead of me a moth in flight showing orange hindwings, it settled on the wall to allow me the picture of a Hummingbird Hawk-moth M.stellatarum. Not a particularly striking moth which unfortunately also has a damaged outer right wing, but no less a beautiful creature and an excellent find....The walk to and at Bank End was otherwise a fruitless affair.

Lapwing Noushka Dufort

Conder Pool had me seeing one Common Tern briefly in the air before returning to the island, with nothing to indicate anything precise about the state of the game. Also on Conder Pool, 5 Little Grebe, 2 Great-crested Grebe, and to make me feel like my birding had meaning I counted 30 Lapwing. In the creeks 2 Greenshank, a Grey Wagtail, and a Little Egret.

Thanks for the Wheatear Geoff, and for the Lapwings Noushka....Excellent.

The Conder Common Terns.

One of my Fylde birder contacts was in touch Tuesday to tell me of fish being brought in every 15 minutes over a one hour period, with one adult staying at the nest site....the best evidence of young to date.

Nothing Ventured....Nothing Gained.

I ventured again on Friday, but gained nothing too exceptional.

Kingfisher. Howard Stockdale.

But I was overdue a Kingfisher at Conder Green and one obligingly came on to the pool outlet briefly before flying off. Both Common Tern were seen on Conder Pool, 3 Little Grebe, Great-crested Grebe, and a Little Egret. In the creeks, Spotted Redshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, and the solitary Black-tailed Godwit looking lonely though splendid in its summer plumage.

On the Lune estuary, an adult Mediterranean Gull wasn't Thursdays green ringed bird, c.150 Golden Plover seen again, with c.500 Lapwing/Redshank appearing to be a pretty even mix, a 'few' Dunlin. Four Little Egret included two on Colloway Marsh.

The Lighthouse Off Plover Scar. Pete Woodruff.

Birding at Cockersands doesn't just afford a good variety of common birds, it offers - and has an excellent history of - the scarce and rare, it also has superb scenery in all directions.

Turnstone. Howard Stockdale

Plover Scar held a lower number of waders than on Thursday with little more than 100 birds by the time I left 30 minutes prior to high tide, with a single Sanderling, an estimated 75 Dunlin, 25 Ringed Plover, 10 Turnstone, 2 Whimbrel, and Whimbrel heard in flight. Two Little Egret were off Crook Farm.

Thanks to Howard for the brilliant Kingfisher and Turnstone, to see how brilliant 'clik the pik'. Also thanks to Warren for the excellent header image of the stunning little Whinchat, I'm hoping to see one on passage anytime soon. 

The Conder Common Terns.

A Fylde birder contacted me yesterday with news that he had observed the best evidence to date to suggest young being fed in the nest. With two lengthy sessions of watching them both adult birds were seen in the air together, one carrying fish to the nest, and the other going away presumably for more.... nothing 100% but looking good.

Conder Lake!....

....and some other places I visited yesterday.

The recent high tides have turned Conder Pool into a 'hopeless for waders' lake once again, and it was almost deserted by Monday/Tuesday standards when hundreds of 'em were present, yesterday just 3 Little Grebe, a Great-crested Grebe, and barely anything else to save it from a blank. In the creeks, 3 Common Sandpiper, a Spotted Redshank, and Greenshank. The House Martins at one of the locations at Conder Green remain active, but I was distracted by some building activities at another to check out the situation there but must take a closer look next time.

On the Lune Estuary, an adult Mediterranean Gull was my first post-breeding bird at Glasson Dock, and was ringed on the left leg but too distant to read, c.400 Redshank were the only notable waders, 6 Goosander were of note, as was a single Ringed Plover, and a Little Egret.

 Sanderling Martin Jump 

At Cockersands, an hours sift through the high tide waders which kept on coming and going on Plover Scar was rewarded by 4 Sanderling, with 2 Whimbrel, estimates of 450 Dunlin, up to 90 Ringed Plover, and a solitary Knot.

Yellow Wagtail Warren Baker  

A wander on the circuit was also rewarded by a juvenile Yellow Wagtail, with c.30 Goldfinch in Bank Houses horse paddock. A 'large' female Sparrowhawk was twice seen rocketing through the area, first across a field, and then worryingly across the horse paddock. At least 40 Tree Sparrow were seen again along Slack Lane by the cover crop field.

The Conder Common Tern. 

I'm puzzled by the Common Terns on Conder Pool, though we can't expect to see any young with the vegetation so high, the female seems to sit tight with no activity indicating young being fed in the nest and no sign of the male bird today in two visits here. But the female came off the nest three times, once to bathe, once to attack the Lesser Black-backed Gull on the water, and a third time it came off and flew around whilst a Mute Swan walked by the nest....Difficult to know precisely what's going on here.

Thanks to Martin and Warren for the posts 'clik the pik' material. 

Lets Celebrate!

I celebrated the 'Inglorious Twelfth' on Tuesday by shooting off to Conder Green/Cockersands again....its a drug I'm hooked on and not looking for a cure.

Juvenile Sandwich Tern Arkive  

Conder Pool was lively again as the tide came racing in to displace good numbers of waders off the estuary. I was greeted by the sight of a juvenile Sandwich Tern, another first for the pool on the appropriate recently christened 'Tern Island', the bird eventually flew off to go SE along the canal and out of view. Meanwhile a Common Tern sits tight on the nest waiting for its mate to return with the next meal.

By the time I left, the wader number on the pool had reached in excess of eight hundred, broken down to c.450 Redshank, 300 Lapwing, 55 Dunlin, 4 Common Sandpiper, singles of Black-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank, and Greenshank. Also of note, 5 Little Grebe included a juvenile, and a Great-crested Grebe, 3 Swift over were the only ones of the day.

At Cockersands, I found the 'Bird of the Day' in a stunning juvenile Yellow Wagtail in the Bank Houses horse paddock, it was accompanied by around 12 Pied Wagtail with up to 40 Tree Sparrow in the bushes. Further down the lane I had good views of a Sedge Warbler, and along the way, 8 Linnet and 6 Greenfinch.

Waders were taking refuge from the tide and wind again in the abbey field as on Monday and showed as c.220 Dunlin and up to 100 Ringed Plover. When I got to Plover Scar 1.5 hour later it was reasonably obvious by the number present that they had returned to the scar, with 4 Whimbrel, 3 Turnstone, and a Little Egret. A Peregrine Falcon flew leisurely overhead disturbing all in the process. 

Sandwich Tern. Paul Foster.

Thanks to Paul Foster for the two added photographs of Sandwich Terns - an adult in flight, and the breeding colony - from his visit to the Farne Isles earlier in the summer....Excellent.

They have shops all around the UK including one in Penny Street Lancaster. The company supports the fight against the slaughter of our Hen Harriers and I think we should support them in return where and when we can....I've added Lush to my sidebar.   

Birding With Bertha.

High Tide Cockersands. Pete Woodruff.

Although my photographic efforts don't show the force of the wind at Cockersands yesterday, a walk along the headlands proved to be an adventure in quite a howler, presumably the tail end of Hurricane Bertha which soon had me in the 'why am I doing this' mood.

The tide was at 10m around 12.25pm, and on what little was left of Plover Scar at the landward end stood, c.220 Dunlin and around 12 Ringed Plover. As I walked along the headland I found in the field south of the abbey, estimates of another 230 Dunlin and 100 Ringed Plover, with 8 Turnstone taking refuge from the tide and wind, all of which tolerated me observing them at just a few metres.

Conder Pool an hour before and up to high tide proved quite active and eventually c.350 Redshank and 6 Dunlin had assembled here. I also noted, 4 Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, a Ringed Plover which is by no means a regular on the pool or anywhere else at Conder Green, also a Great-crested Grebe which isn't a regular here either, whilst a Little Egret certainly is these days. Four Little Grebe were seen as three adult in summer plumage, and a juvenile, 2 Swift over were the only two seen on the day....I had to leave, the tide was lapping at my tyres.

The Conder Common Terns.   

Common Tern Noushka Dufort

Interest yesterday started with four Common Tern on Conder Pool at one point, including a bird on the nest, one attempting to feed it with a fish, and two visitors showing interest in the nest site, though I saw no sign of any aggression and they eventually departed, but three birds in the air for several minutes.

When I returned to Conder Green late afternoon, the male gave an excellent display fishing from and close to the viewing platform, and was taking small fry out of the pool at a ratio of around every other dive, two of which at intervals it took to the nest. Although nothing could be seen below the vegetation, and with no sign of the female reaching to take the fish, by my reckoning this pair now have young in the nest. 

Wood(ruff)Sandpiper.

I've always been an advocate of returning to a location visited earlier in the day, to see if anything is to be found which may have been missed on the first visit. 

Lesser Yellowlegs Martin Lofgren

The best example of success in this regard has to be the day in September 1997 when - having been there in the morning - I returned later in the day to the Eric Morecambe Hide at Leighton Moss with John Leedal to find a Lesser Yellowlegs....a memorable 'birding booster' day indeed.

Wood Sandpiper Marc Heath

But Thursday was no exception to this practice, when I returned to Conder Pool five hours after my first visit to find a Wood Sandpiper which came into view from behind 'Tern Island'....magic birding moments.

But back down to earth and my first visit to Conder Green, I saw 2 Common Tern on the island, which by now I reckon should have young in the nest, though the vegetation is too high to see them yet. Also on the pool, 3 Little Grebe which appear to be a pair and a juvenile, and 17 Greylag. In the creeks I could only find 2 Common Sandpiper, with 4 Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank, with up to 200 Redshank in the Conder channel.

The Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock probably held c.800 waders as viewed from the bowling green, with Curlew and Lapwing present, c.400 Redshank, 250 Dunlin, and 2 Little Egret noted.

Herring Gull. Scott Wieman. 

At Cockersands, a plan to include checking out Plover Scar was thwarted by people out there seeking adventure in the sun, but before they got too close to the birds I was able to note, c.350 Herring Gull, up to 8 Whimbrel, and 2 Little Egret, all departing at the arrival of the aforementioned human invaders, 11 Eider were off the scar. Five Linnet were flighting along the headland, and I again saw a flock of up to 80 Tree Sparrow. Feeding over the wheat field SW of Lighthouse Cottage were at least 400 Sand Martin with a few Swallow and House Martin seen. 

Thanks to Marc for his excellent Wood Sandpiper which includes the new header, to Martin for his image of the glorious Lesser Yellowlegs, and to Scott for the Herring Gulls.

And finally...

Stonechat. Findlay Wilde.

Couldn't resist this excellent shot of the young Stonechat, seen and photographed by the equally young 'keen as mustard' Findlay Wilde on his recent holiday to stay at Portreath in Cornwall.

And the weather....Many parts of the country will be on storm alert today as the remains of Hurricane Bertha track across the Atlantic....out with your sea-watching gear!

The Five Hide Wander.

Great White Egret Brian Rafferty 

1. Of a five hide wander round Leighton Moss on Tuesday, the one with the most rewarding records was the Public Hide where I had good views of a Great White Egret. The small stoney island on the mere held a nice gathering of eleven waders, 6 Greenshank, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, a Spotted Redshank, and a Ruff. A pair of brutish but smart looking Greater Black-backed Gull gave the appearance of 'ruling the roost' on the island, and a Reed Warbler gave excellent close views in the reeds in front of the hide where 2 Black-tailed Skimmer were also seen.

2. At the Lower Hide 55 Black-tailed Godwit represented the first time I ever saw the species here, a Great-crested Grebe noted, and at least 200 Sand Martin were too and fro feeding over the water with a 'few' Swift and House Martin seen.

3. The Lillian Hide turned up a juvenile Yellow Wagtail, with little else of note save 5 Teal, a drake Gadwall, probably 200 Coot, and a single Swift over.

Marsh Harrier Phillip Tomkinson 

4. The Grisedale Hide had a patrolling juvenile Marsh Harrier over, 3 Snipe, c.20 Goldfinch, and 55 Lapwing found their way into the black book.

5. The Eric Morecambe complex had another Marsh Harrier sighting, waders were estimates of 165 Redshank and similar Dunlin, 6 Greenshank, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, and a Little Egret. 

Kingfisher Noushka Dufort   

As I was about to leave the hide a Kingfisher put on a decent in flight show for me. From the path to the hide I had seen a lot of movement in the bushes and I caught sight of a Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Greenfinch, and 2 Robin were both juveniles. 

A pleasant five hide wander around the RSPB flagship reserve.

The butterfly and the moth. 

Small Tortoiseshell. Pete Woodruff.

I managed a decent pic of a Small Tortoiseshell in the garden on Tuesday, but it wasn't until the butterfly flew off that I realised a moth was on the flower to the right, it was a smart colourful little creature and I had no idea it was there until I took my eyes off the butterfly by which time the moth too had taken off never too be seen again. A close look and the moth is seen on the right hand flower of the image

Pyrausta purpuralis. Mike Pike. 

But n'er mind I identified it to have been a Pyrausta purpuralis and I'm grateful to Mike Pike for allowing me to copy his image of the moth. Also thanks to Brian/Phillip/Noushka for the other images on Birds2blog in this post, all much appreciated and as always even better with a 'clik the pik'.  

Now you see me....

....now you don't.

The Conder Common Terns had us fooled yesterday morning. I had an e-mail from a Fylde birder to tell me there was no sign by just after ten o'clock, and when I arrived at mid-day....no sign. But leaving my scope trained on the nest site I eventually picked up a black cap, followed by a red bill and....there she blows. The bird was squat and hidden by the vegetation which is going to make it difficult to see any chicks which should be there by this weekend according to my mathematics.

Humble though it may be, the Conder Green list for Monday looks like....

On Conder Pool, a Common Tern still sitting on the island, also 3 Little Grebe, and a Little Egret. In the creeks, a Greenshank, a solitary Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Common Sandpiper, and in the channel downstream from the rail bridge, c.400 Redshank and a 'few' Dunlin. 

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock, the number was swelled by the birds from the Conder Channel which I watched fly off to join and make a total of c.600 Redshank, 25 Dunlin, and a Little Egret.

At Cockersands, the high tide was at 5.33pm, was a relatively low 7.80m, with the sun directly into my eyes, all making for a not so perfect set of circumstances for observing birds, but I managed to estimate at least 200 Dunlin, and 8 Ringed Plover including a juvenile.

Yellow Wagtail Martin Jump 

Prior to the Plover Scar session I did a wander along the headland to be rewarded by a juvenile Yellow Wagtail in the field behind Bank House Cottage. I also noted c.20 Goldfinch and 60 Tree Sparrow. Thanks for the photograph Martin, my bird was a juvenile but I'm pleased you was granted access to see this excellent adult Yellow Wagtail.  

Over the same field as last Thursday, I again estimated 'hirundines' virtually all of which amounted to 300 Sand Martin with a 'few' Swallow, House Martin and a single Swift seen....This field/area is presumably producing an emergence of insects.

  Common Tern Brian Rafferty  

I don't think we will be able to see the Common Terns on Conder Pool at this stage, but it would be nice if we did. Thanks for the image Brian, much appreciated.

The Ringed Plover.

 Knot David Cookson    

A multitude of waders use our estuaries during the winter months, and the spectacle of seeing a mass of these birds in the air like the Knot in DC's image is quite an experience. But the scenery is changing and populations of the UK's most popular waders have declined during the past 10 years. The precise reasons behind the declines is not fully understood, but the distribution of wintering waterbirds appears to have shifted, and there may also be a connection caused by young waders produced in the Arctic being fewer in number. 

Ringed Plover Simon Hawtin

Amongst the most abundant of wintering waders on the UK's estuaries, the Ringed Plover (RP) is the species suffering the greatest decline of almost 40%, which to some extent adds to the pleasure of finding a pair with three young at Cockersands on 1 July. 

The relatively small breeding population in Britain and NW Europe today is the most southerly in the world, and a combined total of British and Irish birds in the early 1990's was estimated to be that of 10,000 pairs. Today the figure of this bird breeding in Lancashire is probably fewer than 50 pairs which is another reason for it being an excellent breeding record at Cockersands this year.

Predominantly passage migrants with the largest numbers in spring, it was brilliant to record up to 900 RP's at Plover Scar on 13 May this year. August and early September should show coastal passage birds though usually in smaller number than those in spring.

  

Mitchell recorded the RP as....'the commonest wader of the Lancashire coast which breeds along the entire shoreline'. But even then human disturbance was beginning to take its toll on the species breeding in the vicinity of the then rapidly growing seaside resorts, and both he and Oakes recognised this.

To be honest, taking into account the amount of dog traffic I witnessed  - sometimes six at a time with professional handlers - on almost every visit I made to Plover Scar during July and all along this section of the coast at Cockersands, I'm quite surprised the RP pair with three young were able to tolerate and survive to fledging and the ability to escape the threat by these animals. This kind of disturbance is an issue we really must address, to try and halt the unnecessary threat to these coastal birds. 

Thanks to DC and SH for the must 'clik the pik' images.     

We Have Lift Off....

....well having checked out the dates at Plover Scar in my little black book we should have!

The three Ringed Plover young I've been watching since finding them on Plover Scar at the beginning of the month, have now surely fledged, though I had no evidence of this on my last visit on Friday when I found them once again. This despite the perils of a place like Plover Scar where I had to confront - diplomatically you understand - a dog handler who came out on to the scar with six hounds despite seeing me obviously observing birds and actually walking through my field of view.

OK, so there was no more than 100 waders on here at the time, but that's not the point. To be fair when I approached him he seemed very understanding when I explained the situation and pointed out the need - particularly for the young birds - to be without the danger and disturbance of dogs roaming free. Asked if he could 'avoid the area for at least the rest of this week please' he said he would. 

Also on Plover Scar, c.60 Dunlin and c.40 Ringed Plover. A flock of at least 100 Tree Sparrow seen in the Bank Houses area with another small flock along Slack Lane, 2 Whimbrel were off Crook Cottage.   

Swift Arkive

An estimate of at least 400 'hirundines' were over a field at Cockersands, and were broken down to c.300 Swift, and 100 Swallow, with a 'few' House Martin and Sand Martin.

At Conder Green, 2 Common Tern, 2 Greenshank, a Spotted Redshank, 2 Little Grebe, c.350 Redshank came on to the pool as the tide pushed them off the estuary, with 6 Dunlin and a Snipe noted. Five Common Sandpiper and a Little Egret were in the creeks, and there was at least 20 House Martin around River Winds and Cafe d' Lune, with up to eight nests at the two buildings. I located a Whitethroat nesting in brambles opposite the entrance to the Caravan Park.

Absent without leave.

Little Ringed Plover Noushka Dufort

The Little Ringed Plover, of which I've seen only one at Conder Pool this year, an adult on 30 May and not since. Thank you Noushka....Excellent. Also, many thanks to Paul for the new header of the brilliant little RNP....yes, brilliant.