Returning Waders, Returning Rain

Early morning visits are best for Conder Green, a place which gets pretty busy soon after 7am with passing traffic, cyclists, and walkers, even birders on occasions, all of which can make finding birds a bit of a challenge. I hadn’t motored up there for a week or two, and unable to sleep this morning I set off early for the Conder, Cockerham and Pilling circuit. 

The month of June often sees waders returning south, typically Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank and Green Sandpiper, but also the more common ones such as Curlew and Redshank, whose numbers begin to build. So no surprises in finding two of the less common returnees in Conder Creek this morning, singles of Common Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank. Good numbers of Redshanks too with circa 35 birds which no doubt includes locally bred youngsters. Other waders: 12 Oystercatcher, 6 Lapwing and 2 Curlew. 

Redshank

 

Oystercatcher

 

Common Sandpiper

Waterbirds were represented by 1 Grey Heron, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 7 Goosander, the latter a party of recently fledged juveniles, no doubt originating from a few miles upstream of the River Lune. 

Great Crested Grebe

Not much doing in the passerines department with just 3 Whitethroat and a singing Blackcap at the car park and 30+ Swift between here and Glasson, plus 15 Swallow and 8 House Martin. I am not seeing many Swallows on my travels: has anyone else noticed a shortage of Swallows this year? Their poor and late arrival in April, the only average spell of May weather followed by the appalling wind and rain of June must have had an impact on the breeding success of Swallows and other insectivorous species. 

Barn Swallow

When at 7am the first jogger rattled over the bridge to scatter the Redshanks, I headed south towards Pilling where just past Braides Farm I noted a roadside Buzzard, a Corn Bunting in song, 90+ Curlews, a post-breeding flock of 100+ Lapwings and a Grey Heron. 

Nearing Lane Ends the previously bright sky turned darker again as rain spattered the windscreen. I didn’t fancy a soaking so restricted myself to the area of the car park, with a few bits and pieces of 2 Jay, 2 Reed Warbler, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebe and I then watched from the sea wall as 170+ Curlew flew from inland and out to the salt marsh.

 Curlew

The morning ended with four Kestrels, two at Damside and then two more through the village. Sorry about the gloomy Kestrel pictures - by now there was more continuous rain and I headed home for breakfast. 

Kestrel

Kestrel

Kestrel

Kestrel

Its 1630 now, the sun has got its hat on and the weather forecast looks better for mid week. About time too.