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Tour de Conder/Glasson/Cockersands.

For some reason or other I felt yesterday was going to be a day something good would turn up, and when I arrived at Glasson Dock three hours after the tide to view the Lune Estuary I thought maybe it would.

 Golden Plover. Richard Pegler.

It didn't take long to realise a large number - roughly estimated at something like 10,000 birds - were viewable on here - waders and gulls combined - and goodness knows how many out of view. But despite a good grilling in excess of an hour a Ruff mingling with c.2,000 Dunlin and a similar number of Redshank was my best shot. A conservative estimate was of at least 5,000 Lapwing, and it was good to see my first decent count of c.220 Golden Plover back in the area, a number of Curlew were present but not counted, a Little Egret was also noted. 

Earlier in the day I had called at Conder Green but the creeks were underneath the tide leaving Conder Pool to check. Since 22 July for the past nine visits here, the first bird I've seen on the pool has been the Little Egret with 14 counted on the 27 July, a Little Egret was here again today, with Spotted Redshank, a Greenshank, and Common Sandpiper. Also of note, 2 Little Grebe were new on here one being a juvenile, also new on here were 2 Teal my first this autumn, with the resident 2 Wigeon and Goldeneye, 42 Redshank, c.70 Lapwing, and another female Tufted Duck, this one with seven chicks.     

Greenfinch. Richard Pegler.

At Cockersands I checked Plover Scar at high tide to find, 110 Dunlin, 24 Oystercatcher, 6 Ringed Plover, and a solitary Turnstone. The biggest surprise here was a Common Sandpiper on the scar, a first in my records as I've never seen one on here before, 2 Eider were off here. Another surprise for today was a flock of at least 15 Greenfinch, my best count since I don't know when, the only butterfly of note was a single Gatekeeper. 

My thanks go to Richard Pegler for the Golden Plover and Greenfinch....Thanks Richard  

A couple of Lancashire sightings for today Wednesday 7 August courtesy of RARE BIRD ALERT 

An Osprey flew over Brockholes LWT at 3.00pm. 
A female Common Scoter on Alston No 2 Reservoir at 8.00pm.

Rainy Days and Mondays....

....always get me down. 

A record by The Carpenters which failed to chart in the UK 42 years ago in 1971 and reflects today's weather and its affect on me and my birding. But this is all about last Fridays day with BT as the leader and was going to be titled....'Here, There, and Everywhere'.

In the 45 minutes spent at Aldcliffe, a 'few' Goldfinch noted with Long-tailed Tit, 2 Black-tailed Godwit were on the wildfowlers pool, beautiful birds in brilliant summer plumage and ignored by 99% of the traffic on foot and cycle who use this path daily, 2 Little Egret seen, one on Aldcliffe, the other Heaton Marsh. Butterflies included my first Comma this year, with Peacock, Meadow Brown, and Speckled Wood. 

Lapwing Martin Jump

Around 30 minutes at Conder Green, interestingly after Thursdays House Martin negative at River Winds, Friday saw them there again into double figure. Conder Pool held a high 320 Redshank and 200 Lapwing, with one juvenile Little Ringed Plover showing, and the Goldeneye and 2 Wigeon noted. 

The Lune Estuary from Glasson Dock showed an increase in wader numbers with figures of at least 1,500 Lapwing, 450 Redshank, 150 Curlew, a Spotted Redshank was almost certainly the 'Conder Green' bird, and a pristine Red Admiral was seen. At Cockersands I had the time to note c.550 Curlew in the Cocker channel.

Large Skipper Martin Jump   

A tour along Gulf Lane and Cockerham Moss Edge resulted in a zero of anything of note. But Pilling Lane Ends made it a 'butterfly day' with at least seventy seen, up to 50 Common Blue, c.12 Gatekeeper, a 'few' Meadow Brown, and a Small Skipper recorded.

I think an alternative title for this post could well have been....'The Run-around'. 

Thanks for the Lapwing Martin, not just an image of a Lapwing, but one walking on water, and for the Large Skipper - mine was a Small Skipper - brilliant on both counts Martin. 

The Belted Beauty.

Belted Beauty. Copy Permitted.

Historically there have been records of the Belted Beauty from the south Lancashire coast and searches of its more usual dune habitat. The moth can be found on the ground during the daytime from late March through to early May and the distinctively striped larvae in June and July.

A rare Belted Beauty moth was found south of Heysham at Pott's Corner in 2001, today in 2013 the moth is in serious danger and under threat from an offshore wind farm cabling route.

This moth has been lost from other locations through the construction of coastal defences and other forms of development. In this case at Pott's Corner proposals have included trenching and tunnelling through parts of the site. It appears this developer has been in touch with Butterfly Conservation and Natural England which has included several visits to the site with the groups.

We need to keep up our guard on this one. We all get world-wide visitors to our blogs - I certainly do - and in particular with supporters in the US in mind, I would ask all visitors to Birds2blog to consider signing the petition currently at the top of my sidebar, remembering....you don't have to live within sight of the location near Heysham to sign and help save this brilliant and rare moth the Belted Beauty.  

The Hat-trick!

Three in a row with Thursdays visit to Conder Green and a good look over the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock. A passion for the birds and the place, or just mad....take your pick.

Numbers peaked at 17 on Monday 22 July but have fallen since then, but at least 10 Common Sandpiper were at Conder Green again yesterday. Amongst the 'little change at CG' were the Spotted Redshank which was once again in company with c.50 Redshank and 3 Dunlin on Conder Pool, just one juvenile Little Ringed Plover put in an appearance as did the Little Grebe, the two drake Wigeon and drake Goldeneye remain faithful. But the 'big change at CG' was only one Little Egret today, another big change was the eerie silence at River Winds were I saw not a single House Martin though one did enter a nest above the house at Cafe d' Lune and was the only House Martin seen in the Conder Green/Glasson Dock area over four hours. A single Black-tailed Godwit was in the creeks as were 2 Linnet on the mud bank and which appeared to think they were waders, a Buzzard drifted overhead.

An extensive search over the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock was worth the effort if only for the find of 2 Mediterranean Gull, both adults amongst c.350 mainly Black-headed Gull, also Little Egret seen. Wader numbers were a little more like than of late with a number in excess of 1,200 of which I estimated 400 Lapwing, 350 Redshank, 250 Curlew, and 80 Dunlin.

And finally....I reckon we should take a look at a couple of 'mean close ups' in the Dragonfly category. 

  Male Emperor. Marc Heath.

Like the male - Blue Emperor - Emperor Dragonfly....A common and conspicuous dragonfly of African origin, which has only relatively recently colonised large parts of northern Europe. 

Norfolk Hawker. Marc Heath.

And the - Green-eyed Hawker - Norfolk Hawker, which I somehow think you won't be seeing up here in the north. Widespread but very local in much of its range especially in the south-west, and often numerous where it is present . 

Two images up to the usual high standard of Marc Heath....'clik the pik' to see what I mean. Many thanks Marc for allowing them on Birds2blog to brighten the whole thing up, and to add some interest to it.

Pay Day!

It was pay day at Conder Green yesterday. 

Little Ringed Plover Juvenile Antonio Puigg  

After at least 28 visits and just three sightings I finally caught up with 3 Little Ringed Plover fully fledged and independent juveniles. Obviously with a few hidden corners on the pool but hard to believe this successful breeding pair - and eventual three young - could hide away for almost 16 weeks with little detection. Void of a records search I'd claim this is the best ever result for breeding LRP's on Conder Pool....contradictions welcome.

Grey Wagtail Geoff Gradwell

A Grey Wagtail was on the River Conder below the A588 road bridge, this is my first at Conder Green in something like 3 years and was set to have been bird of the day until I saw the LRP's. Also of note on Conder Pool, 2 Little Egret, a Little Grebe, Spotted Redshank, a Snipe, Goldeneye, and 2 Wigeon. In the creeks 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Common Sandpiper, and 3 Dunlin. A Whitethroat was seen from the coastal path, I reckon a crawl along here to Glasson Dock would produce 'a few more' of this species with up to six seen over the summer. Later in the day a Curlew Sandpiper was reported on Conder Pool again at 5.48pm via RBA.

Whimbrel Brian Rafferty

I decided to look over the River Lune from Waterloo Cottage area and noted a Whimbrel, c.70 Curlew, at least 40 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Golden Plover, 4 Ringed Plover, a few difficult to count Dunlin, and a Little Egret....by which time I was defeated by the rain.  

My thanks to AP/GG/BR for the ever excellent images on Birds2blog, they are always very much appreciated.   

Another Whiz Round.

The whiz was around Conder Green yesterday, with a quick look in on the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock....and the P R's Turaco. 

Conder Green had the usual pluses and minuses from recent visits with the Spotted Redshank on Conder Pool well into its transformation to winter plumage accompanied by 102 Redshank, 4 Black-tailed Godwit were a brilliant addition to the pool in their stunning summer plumage, 2 Greenshank, 4 Common Sandpiper, 9 Dunlin, a Little Grebe, 2 Little Egret, and the summer Goldeneye and 2 drake Wigeon all showed well, whilst others stayed elusive.

On the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock, c.250 Dunlin were a sign of things to come with their return here, also a similar number of Lapwing and a Little Egret to note....otherwise a little thin.

Prince Ruspoli's Turaco. John Darbyshire.

It was good to meet John and Kath at Glasson Dock....long time no see. They briefly mentioned a trip they had made to Ethiopia a couple of years ago where they not only saw this brilliant bird the Prince Ruspoli's Turaco, but John had achieved an excellent image of this stunning bird endemic to Ethiopia. John asked if I'd like the image of the bird and I think you know my reply. I promised John I would write up a piece on this bird and its finder, a promise I was keeping until I came across THIS ....talk about memory loss. But then I recalled finding the story of the Turaco on the Birdlife International website which is where John's image was. All quite a coincidence.

Hope you enjoy this John and Kath....I did, and hope to see you both again soon. 

Saturday Birding....Who Me?

With an adult and three young Little Ringed Plover seen on Conder Pool on Friday, and a text message on Saturday morning from a Fylde birder to tell me they were showing well....I had to see this for myself.

But the Little Ringed Plover at Conder Green continues to cheat me and I found only one juvenile.  But Conder Pool has been invaded big time with 14 Little Egret having taking a liking to the area and present today. Also noted on the pool, Spotted Redshank, Goldeneye, 2 Wigeon, a female Tufted Duck with five ducklings and the threat of a Grey Heron close by. In the creeks I could only find 7 Common Sandpiper and a female Mallard with 12 ducklings, there was at least 25 House Martin around River Winds.  

Bonaparte's Gull ARKive 

So whilst I'm out and about I may as well have another go at the Bonaparte's Gull at Heysham....to no avail, but a Mediterranean Gull moulting to 2nd winter was seen, though hardly an excellent result as double figures are currently being seen here, with 36 Turnstone and 10 Ringed Plover on the seaward end of the old wooden jetty.

 

Grey Seal. Pete Woodruff.

The biggest surprise had to be the sight of a Grey Seal below the seawall, though according to conversations with the local fishermen it seems this individual has been around a while, it plunged at a Sea Bass as it leaped out of the water, it also hauled itself out and onto the sea wall for just 30 seconds.

Little Egret Ana Minguez  

On Monday an overnight roost at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB in Cheshire held a staggering 380 Little Egret.

And finally....  

Large White. Pete Woodruff. 

I thought you may like to see my latest attempt at photography with this Large White butterfly feeding on the Inula hookeri in our garden recently. 

LRP at CG.

Thanks to Peter and Susan at Astland Photography for the brilliant new header.

Little Ringed Plover. Peter Guy.

Always a difficult bird to keep in touch with at Conder Green. The Little Ringed Plover (LRP) is annual here on Conder Pool, but as far as I'm concerned records have always been patchy and this year is no exception. I personally saw my first this year on 2 April when I found two birds. Since then - despite 26 visits - I found a LRP here only three times, and with little time before they depart I may not see them again this year. Void of a search through my records, I probably only ever had the evidence of breeding on maybe two occasions on Conder Pool with young/juveniles seen. All that said, it was excellent to see the report of an adult and three young on Conder Pool on Friday 26 July....Thanks for the LRP Peter. 

There's a read about Conder Green/Pool HERE though depending on how long you've had an interest in Birds2blog you may have already seen it. 

Below is an nice short video which I found to be an excellent way of escapism into the natural world for 1.30 minutes....Thanks Ana.  

And finally....Beauty and the Beast.

Long-tailed Tit Martin Jump 

Four beauties actually. Brilliant image of the LTT's Martin....Many Thanks.

Common Vulture Antonio Puigg

And a beast that is the Common Vulture - Hail Brutus - a beauty in its own right....A great image Antonio, Many Thanks.

Plus And Minus.

I'd dealt with lifes little problems by lunch time yesterday so allowed the Conder magnet to take over and found myself there about an hour before high tide. As a consequence the birds were assembling on Conder Pool and I sorted out the pluses and minuses from Wednesdays visit.

Spotted Redshank. Phillip Tomkinson. 

Seven Little Egret was one up, 6 Common Sandpiper was minus a lot, 5 Greenshank was minus one, and c.70 Redshank was minus 50, another minus was that I saw no Little Grebe. The Spotted Redshank was present and correct, as was 2 drake Wigeon and the drake Goldeneye, from the coastal path I found 2 Whitethroat and a Chiffchaff. Off Jeremy Lane, a grill through in excess of 200 'gulls' in a field produced a Mediterranean Gull moulting into 2nd winter.

All at sea off Cockersands. Pete Woodruff. 

At Cockersands this weather front was on its way when I got out of the car to make a quick check of Plover Scar at high tide before it arrived threatening to drown me, I got back to the car just in time. You can pick out the lighthouse and the 2.15pm ferry out of Heysham to the right of the lighthouse. Clik the pik....its wicked. 

Dunlin. Phillip Tomkinson.   

In the time I allowed myself Plover Scar was a little more lively than of late if only for an estimate of 220 Dunlin and 2 Ringed Plover. A Whitethroat noted, and a single Red Admiral seen.

Thanks to Phillip Tomkinson at Wildsnaps for the Spotted Redshank and Dunlin.

And finally....Two of those 'can't resist this one' images.

Little Owl. Richard Pegler.

A Little Owl in a big tree, with that 'oh no its that fella with the camera again' look. A brilliant photographic example of a bird in it's natural environment ....Thanks Richard   

Griffon Vulture. Ana Minguez.

Bad, Ugly, yet Beautiful Birds and Brilliant Photography...Thanks Ana  

Probably 'off the road' until Monday....Oh dear!!