A little getaway somwhat up North brought me a few firsts.

We started at Preston Dock, where the Ring-billed gull was nowhere to be seen.

Next stop was Conder Green, where a Spoonbill had been seen regularly for the last week or so. On arriving, we first looked at the upper part of the Conder estuary, and were rewarded with excellent close-up views of Greenshank, as well as a Common Sandpiper and numerous Redshank.

Lunch at The Stork was excellent, then we proceeded to the picnic area carpark that has a view of the estaury mouth. There I immediately spotted what I believe was the Spoonbill, but it flew off to the West before I could get my scope up.

Next we spotted Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail from the assorted bridges at Crook o’Lune, which was nice.

Day 2 of our trip took us to Foulshaw Moss in search of Osprey and White-faced Darters. We did have nice views of an Osprey both ferched and in flight, with Kestrel and Ravens present in the same area. White-faced Darters were not amongst the 10 or so Odonata we saw, but the abundance of Black Darters was spectacular, and the Common Lizards on the board-walk made up for that.

A visit to Speel Bank was really my final throw of the dice in attempting to see Golden Ringed Dragonflies, and we didn’t. As with the Wite-faced Darters, it was probably too late in the season. I did see large, darg dragonflies but couldn’t be sure.

At Roudsea Wood I don’t recall seeing anyhing you wouldn’t expect in a woodland nature reserve.

On the third day, we had a bit of a drive around and I am certain I saw a grouse so that’s going on the list.

The aftenoon was spent at Leighton Moss, where we had close views of a Great White Egret and some Water Rail (the latter also heard squealing) but the highlight would be the Green Woodpecker that we heard yaffling and which obligingly flew up to a telegraph pole for us to see nicely.

Last but by no means least, we returned to Glasson to have another look at the Conder estuary for the Spoonbill. There were a good 20 Little Egrets to pick through, some at great distance, but the Spoony was nowhere to be seen. Encouraged by locals who had seen in an hour or so previously, we waited to see if it would emerge from a behind a sand bar, and sure enough, it did! We had distant, but prolonged and clear views and felt well rewarded for out patience.