[ivywall]

Originally Posted by Johnny1

Is this the Eccleston near Chorley? which doesn't have a Main St. as far as I know or Eccleston, St Helens? Would love to see a Red Kite on my local patch.

I took it to mean THE main street - as in 'The Green' in Eccy.

Incidentally - OH saw about 4.00pm tonight a very very large bird being mobbed by jackdaws North of Moor Road (Croston/Ulneswalton) and over the fields near Ridley Lane, where the tip was and where the jackdaws roost of an evening. He couldn't confirm it was a kite as it was too far away but it does seem a possibility if the other sightings are confirmed.

Pat

[Johnny1]

Thanks Ivy, I'll be out in the morning looking skyward, I just hope the rain keeps off a bit!

[oncebittern]

Had to be down in Thornton yesterday, so grabbed the opportunity for a quick visit to Marton Mere to check out the LEOs. After a good hour of looking, I found one lurking deep in the undergrowth. As I watched, a second one gave itself away by a small head movement, then a third. Then the first one decided to fly out, and landed in a willow tree next to the path, right out in the open, and in full sunshine - best view I've ever had! We both stood our ground for about 30 seconds before it decided to go back to its original perch...made my day

[Tao Wild]

Blackpool Borough Council Ranger Service are running guided viewings of the wintering Long-eared Owls at Marton Mere LNR.

Guided viewings will take place at 10am on the following dates:-

Saturday 24th October
Sunday 25th October
Wednesday 28th October
Sunday 1st November
Wednesday 4th November
Saturday 7th November
Sunday 8th November
Saturday 14th November
Sunday 15th November
Saturday 21st November
Sunday 22nd November
Sunday 29th November
Saturday 12th December
Sunday 13th December

Meet at Marton Mere LNR Ranger Base at Marton Mere Caravan Park, Mythop Road, Blackpool FY4 4XN

Telephone 01253-478012 or email parks@blackpool.gov.uk for more information.

[AlanCh]

My wife and I spent a wonderful time at Hest Bank at high tide on Wednesday and Thursday this week - thousands of Oystercatchers, many Redshanks and Lapwings, a few Black Tailed Godwits, Heron, a variety of gulls and two Little Egrets. This followed a trip to Martin Mere on Tuesday, and sandwiched our first visit to Leighton Moss on Wednesday, where we saw the 3 Great White Egrets and 4 Snow Geese (maybe even 5 or 6, but the possibles kept their heads down). My wife uses a wheelchair, and I've thanked the RSPB for making Leighton Moss so accessible.

I've put three photos from Hest Bank in the gallery:

http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/sho...p/photo/278205
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/sho...p/photo/278207
and
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/sho...p/photo/278202

I could do with some ID on the last one.

[AlanCh]

I should have added that after the second visit to Hest Bank, we drove the salt marsh road to Sunderland Point on the falling tide. What a great place, and the car makes a useful moveable hide. We got pretty close to a big mixed flock of Lapwings and Golden Plovers, with a small group of clockwork mouse Dunlin in among them. A few Wigeon were roosting on the mud nearer the river bank, Turnstones were doing their stuff in the seaweed, and a few Greenshank were prospecting along the edge of the tide. A lovely end to our four days in Lancashire (and Cumbria), and then we deserted you and drove back to Leeds - in Yorkshire!

[Neil UK]

Quick walk round Fairhaven lake with the missus, took in 1 Little Grebe, 2 x Red Breasted Mergansers (male and female). No pics as Mergansers were snoozing on the lake hahaha.

Called in at Lytham Crematorium and saw 6 Ring necked-parakeets aswell, pretty good day to say the weather was crap!!

[derekg]

Originally Posted by AlanCh

I could do with some ID on the last one.

Not sure what they are from the photo but I did see Redshank down there this afternoon.

Also up at Leighton Moss today with good views of the 4 Snow Geese from the Eric Morcambe Hide as well as 3 Great White Egret.

Pine Lake - finaly managed to see the Slavonian Grebe as well as 4 Goosander.

Conder - Only managed to see 4 of the Little Grebe you saw the other day Cliff but it was raining and getting dark. Also saw a Goldeneye, long time since I've seen one.

The rest of my sightings and a few photos (not a good day for photography) on my blog.

Well done with the RNP Neil, I was told about them by a friend but I see enough of them when I'm working in London where I know some birders are sick of the sight of them.

Hawfinch are showing in small numbers at Sizergh Castle if anyone is going up to the Kendal area, early morning is best for a visit.

Derek

[Jaff]

Look like they're Knot.

[WyreWader]

Originally Posted by AlanCh

I should have added that after the second visit to Hest Bank, we drove the salt marsh road to Sunderland Point on the falling tide. What a great place, and the car makes a useful moveable hide

Glad you enjoyed it Alan, Sunderland Point is one of my favourite venues & I've got many a photo out of the car window there, just keep your eye out for those high tides though, as I nearly found out once to my cost.

Regards

Cliff

[WyreWader]

Originally Posted by Neil UK

Quick walk round Fairhaven lake with the missus, took in 1 Little Grebe, 2 x Red Breasted Mergansers (male and female). No pics as Mergansers were snoozing on the lake

I was there for two hours yesterday too Neil, from around 11am till 1'ish. I got absolutely drenched, when I got home I even had to take the bank notes out of my pocket & dry them out on a radiator. I got a few half decent photos between the downpours though.

Sightings were, as you've mentioned, 2 x RB Mergansers, 2 x Little Grebes, 2 Cormorant (one struggling to swallow a huge flatfish), 1 x juvenile Shag & probably 30 or 40 Jackdaw.

I got loads of pics taken in not the best conditions, I'll narrow them down to five to add here & stick the whole lot on my website later tonight.

Cheers

Cliff

[derekg]

Originally Posted by WyreWader

Sightings were, as you've mentioned, 2 x RB Mergansers, 2 x Little Grebes, 2 Cormorant (one struggling to swallow a huge flatfish), 1 x juvenile Shag & probably 30 or 40 Jackdaw.

Cheers

Cliff

Great shots of the Shag and love the Cormorant and fish photo.
Thanks for the comments on my blog, was very lucky with the Little Grebe it was right in front of the screens as I arrived, just a shame the light was poor due to the wonderful British weather.

Derek

[XsCode]

Don't know if it's a correct identification, but pretty sure i saw a merlin near Ansdell and Fairhaven railway station while driving my train on saturday. Came from the trees near the council type houses and did it's periodic flapping of wings while trying to outrun me until it flew over the bridge where the station is.

Sometimes i love my job, i've seen allsorts of wildlife i wouldn't usually have seen.

[Neil UK]

Nice pics Cliff, we must of just missed you mate as think it was around2pm when we were there and the weather wasnt to bad. Gutted I couldnt find the Shag, probably did and probably thought it was a bloody Cormorant.

[Jaff]

Just to remind everyone it's the NW Birdfair at Martin Mere on the 21st/22nd November. I'll be there on Sat 21st with my new and very expensive toy in tow.

[WyreWader]

I managed an hour or so as dusk approached at Marton Mere this afternoon. I was hoping to photo the starling roost, which I got some shots of, but per the other photographers/birders present it wasn't as spectacular as previous nights & my photos are garbage compared to others I've seen on the 'net.

Other than the starlings the best sighting was of 20+ Snipe repeatedly circling the mere before dropping down into the reed bed.

I've attached a few photos.

Regards

Cliff

[AlanCh]

Originally Posted by Jaff

Look like they're Knot.

Thanks - Knot they are, unless anyone disagrees.

[AlanCh]

Originally Posted by WyreWader

Glad you enjoyed it Alan, Sunderland Point is one of my favourite venues & I've got many a photo out of the car window there, just keep your eye out for those high tides though, as I nearly found out once to my cost.

Regards

Cliff

Thanks for the warning Cliff - I kept a good eye on the water levels, even though I knew the tide was falling. Next time I'll try to get there in better light, and get my camera working.

[Neil UK]

Cliff love the first Snipe shot!! Why do I always seem to miss these hahahahaa.

What time were you there? As getting slightly disheartened now due to darkness falling by 4:30 and I finish work at 4pm!!!!

[Gronk08]

Hi All

Does any one have any info on the Purple Heron at Leighton Moss?
Was just wondering where abouts on the reserve it was sighted and if it would be worth a trip north?

Cheers

Tim.

[IanF]

We've just returned from spending a couple of days at RSPB Leighton Moss whilst staying at Levens.

Excellent views of the Bearded Tits along the causeway with about a dozen in the area by the grit trays and even more in the reeds past the Public Hide.

One Bittern briefly seen in flight and Cetti's Warbler calling by the Public Hide.

On the feeders GSW, Marsh Tit, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Nuthatch etc.

Apparently a Slavonian Grebe on Pine Lake though we didn't go to see it.

Sizergh Castle yielded Hawfinch x2 early afternoon though around 17 reported in the mornings.

[Gronk08]

Hi All

Paid a visit to Leighton Moss today, had a great day as always seeing some great birds.

Public Hide produced the following
Cormorant
Gadwall
Coot
Mute Swan
Tufted Duck
Common Gull

Back at the Grit trays had a pair of Bearded Tits come in and put on a show for Lesley and me. Allwed me to get a few scope cam shots.
A Cettis Warbler was heard but we couldn't find it.

Walking to the lwer hide we had a number of bearded Tits in the reeds just past the Public hide just the other side of the stream. And Curlew near the Lower hide.

Lower Hide produced
Bittern flying past
Water Rail calling but could not be located
Gadwall
Teal

Main Reserve
On the feeders we had the usual tits and finches but also picked up Willow Tit and Bulfinch in the shrubs near by and a Tree Creeper
Heading down to the hides we had a very tame robin that you could almost hand feed.
The hides here produced
Teal
Shoveler
Wigeon
Snipe

Salt Marsh produced
Kingfisher
Snow Geese
Single Great Egret
Little Egret
Golden Plover
Lapwing
Red Shank
Black Tailed Godwit
Curlew

Decided not to pop in and try for the Slavonian Grebe as we wanted to beat the traffic on the M6 but still a very good day and a lifer to boot.

Tim.

[Johnny1]

We went to try and see the Shorelark at Southport on Monday unfortunately the car we had a lift in sprung a leak in the radiator so we had to continue by taxi, by the time we arrived the shorelark had been flushed by a dogwalker, despite searching till dusk it didn't show again. It had been reported in the same area for the last two days so we decided to try again today this time arriving earlier, no sign at the pools by the car park so we walked North along the beach we could see some birders ahead waving to us - they had located the Shorelark ( Thanks Guys!), Good views of it on the beach then it flew only to land 10 yards in front of us...no need for a scope. After a few minutes it flew again this time it flew over the coast road and out of sight. It had cost us more than £60 in Taxi fares alone but what price do you put on a Lifer?

[derekg]

Originally Posted by Johnny1

It had cost us more than £60 in Taxi fares alone but what price do you put on a Lifer?

Bet it wasn't you putting your hand in your pocket

Well done with the Shorelark, not sure if it's still around but if it is might head up this afternoon to take a look.

Derek

[derekg]

Shorelark showing well this afternoon.
Best views - park in the park and ride car park and walk to the beach.
Over the sea wall and you should be able to pick it up from there.
Plenty of birders around today if you need any help finding it.

Derek