Very nice day at Norton marsh. Parked at Moore nr, quick pop into lapwing lane hide for a common sandpiper + a reed warbler as well as the usual tufteds, gc grebes + little grebes. On to Norton marsh, a nice pair of bullfinches by the little wooden bridge, plenty of common whitethroat in the fields. At the hide the osprey was in its usual tree. I managed to pick it up quickly without asking for assistance! It was there for perhaps 50 mins, distant but good views, before flying off while we were all distracted, none of us saw it fly off. Also present were lapwings, curlew and Canada geese on the mudflats. Reed buntings and chiffchaff in front of the hide.
Following a tipoff from a butterflyer in the hide, I parked in Moore village and walked back to the railway bridge by the lights, scanning the oak trees on the warrington side quickly revealed a beautiful purple hairstreak butterfly, brill, cos of the height of the bridge I was looking down on it as It basked in the sun. So thanks for the tip, butterfly guy!
An excellent day finished off with some backford belles ice cream, yum!
