[mikfoz]

I've been told by many a Lancashire birder to get myself over to Mere Sands Wood. So I finally did...

Apart from the minor hiccup of my Sat Nav having never heard of it and the road it's on being very long and the signposts to it being non-existent we eventually found it. Thus, encumbered with two overwintering boys on half-term hols I ventured forth.

I was pleasantly surprised at how well set out the place is. The visitor centre was good, with knoweledgeable staff. There's a nice little picnic area next to a wealth of feeders and a hide overlooking a small lake. I'd already got into double figures on species by the time I'd had a sandwich and disposed of my waste in the recycling bins.

There are several walks set out with colour-coded paths marked on the map. It was pretty impossible to get lost as every path junction was well signposted and hides were clearly labelled and well appointed.

I know this is sounding like some sort of Opus review and it may well migrate into there later...

So, what did we see?

Blackbird, Dunnock, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Starling, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Bluetit, Great tit, Coal Tit, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Coot, Moorhen, Magpie, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chaffinch, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveller, Jay, Mallard, Mandarin Duck, Shelduck, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Grey Heron, Little Ringed Plover*, Snipe, Oystercatcher, Robin, Goldeneye.

(* Bit of doubt on this ID - may be Ringed Plover)

There were probably a few more I can't remember now, but you get the idea. The only disappointment was the law that prevents me from lightly strangling my noisy children due to their total inability to shut up and be patient and let me see if the Crossbills would come out. But all in all, a good spot to visit for a pleasant walk in the woods.

Nipped in to Martin Mere on the way back to round up the species tally. Nothing unusual but picked up Whooper Swans, Lapwings, Buzzards, Pintails etc... Sadly there were no Barn Owls flying, but you can't have it all.

So, it certainly killed an afternoon and got me the best view of a Jay I've had in a long time and some nice, clear views of a Little Grebe at relatively close range for a change.

I'd definitely recommend a visit to anyone in the area.

[Jaff]

Nice one Mike.

Glad you enjoyed your first visit but no Kingfisher!?
Be a real shame if you missed one, then again it's a good reason to go back!!! As for the Crossbills it comes down to luck, patience and careful scanning. With kids in tow you'd have been very lucky to find them I think. There you go, another reason to return!

Regards.

[DaveN]

Nice one, Mike. A good selection of birds there. I see you had an early Little Ringed Plover

[mikfoz]

Originally Posted by DaveN

Nice one, Mike. A good selection of birds there. I see you had an early Little Ringed Plover

I'm pretty certain it was a Plover and the bill looked dark.

Any possible confusion species?

Perhaps I was mistook. Curse my lack of wading bird savviness.

[Jaff]

We'll start with size. LRP's are really very small birds. Only slightly bigger than Sparrows.

Only plover I can think of present there at the moment are Lapwings. I'll be going again tomoz so I'll have a look on the board and ask what's been around.

[mikfoz]

Cheers.
It was really small. I thought Lapwing at first but I kept checking it out and it was simply too small. Also the plumage wasn't right. Maybe not quite Sparrow-size but not the size of a Lapwing. Perhaps an ordinary Ringed Plover then and I couldn't make out the orange in the bill at that distance. It was also deceptive because at first glance it looked like it had a crest like a Lapwing but then it became obvious it was an illusion caused by the white patch at the nape and the dark line running up from the eye area.

Actually, I hadn't realised just how much of a black tip the Ringed Plover has to its bill until I looked into diagnostics more and it makes more sense to go for that ID, especially in winter plumage.

[DaveN]

I tried replying last night but the computer was being an arse. If it were to be a LRP then it would be very early, although with the reports of a Swallow and Sand Martin already then who knows.

Ringed Plover I would say is the more likely and are obviously similar but I'm not sure if they're moving about yet from their wintering grounds.

[SiG]

Originally Posted by DaveN

I tried replying last night but the computer was being an arse. If it were to be a LRP then it would be very early, although with the reports of a Swallow and Sand Martin already then who knows.

Ringed Plover I would say is the more likely and are obviously similar but I'm not sure if they're moving about yet from their wintering grounds.

Plenty of RP just down the road from Mere Sands @ Martin Mere zoo last weekend ...

[mikfoz]

Originally Posted by SiG

Plenty of RP just down the road from Mere Sands @ Martin Mere zoo last weekend ...

You broke my cynicism detector!