Lancashire Birding (1 Viewer)

[WyreWader]

Todays sightings of note were: -

2 x Jay at Out Rawcliffe (the first i've seen for ages)
Probably 50 plus Red Legged Partridge at Pilling, along with numerous Pheasant
Sunderland Point, lots of Lapwing, plus a scatterring of Redshank & Curlew
Back home in Bispham - we've been getting lots (20+) of Goldfinch to our feeders, today a (female) Sparrowhawk came to check them out, on this occasion it left empty handed.

Photos attached.

 

[Colin Bushell]

Some fantastic photos there.

Mini-influx of Barnacles yesterday by the looks of it. I saw 5 with the Pink-feet at high tide from the car park at Pilling Lane Ends and 21 on the mud opposite the caravan park at Cockersands.
Few photos on my blog (nowhere near the high standard on the rest of this thread!).
CIB.

 

[derekg]

HI just joined and thought I'd check out the local forums.

I'm from the Preston are and have just renewed my interest in birding again with my son.

Took a trip up to martin mere today and saw at least 500 hundred pink footed geese arive. Also saw a Kingfisher and Peregrine but the best sighting was of a Hobby as we where leaving. We've also seen a male Marsh Harrier in resent weekend visits.

Can anyone recomend any other areas to visit, just joined RSPB again so hope to head up to Leighton Moss next weekend

 

[WyreWader]

Hi Derek & welcome aboard, this Lancashire thread tends to be fairly quiet so it's good to have someone new join us.:t:

Can anyone recomend any other areas to visit, just joined RSPB again so hope to head up to Leighton Moss next weekend

Where I go birding tends to be dictated by where I can decent photographs, so I can only really comment on such places, so someone else looking in maybe able to better advise.

You mention Leighton Moss, the Bearded tits are just (in the last week or two) starting to show again at the grit trays there, so are well worth checking out, Bittern sightings seem to be on the increase too. Elsewhere but handy for you are Mere Sands Wood, which tends to be good for Kingfishers, Marshside nr Southport seems to be excellent for waders, but I rarely get there so I'm not sure what's being seen there at the moment. On your doorstep you've got Brockholes Quarry & Lightfoot Green, I note a Hobby was photographed at the former about a week ago. You've already mentioned Martin Mere, I'm not sure what Whooper Swan numbers are like there at present, but pretty soon they'll be 1500+ of them, which they feed at 3pm & it's quite a spectacle that's well worth a visit.

If there's anything specific you fancy looking out for shout out & I, & I'm sure others, will do our best to point you in the right direction.

 

[WyreWader]

Sightings whilst out working today, there seemed to be numerous Kestrels about, I spotted 5 or 6 in a journey between Bispham & Pilling. Two large skeins of geese overhead at Pilling, I've no idea what they were though. 2 x Nuthatch at Brock & 1 x Grey Wagtail, 5 x Little Egret (all in flight) at Fluke Hall Lane, Pilling, where there were also 30plus Red Legged Partridge. A few photos attached.

 

[Colin Bushell]

Birding near Preston

HI just joined and thought I'd check out the local forums.

I'm from the Preston are and have just renewed my interest in birding again with my son.

Can anyone recomend any other areas to visit, just joined RSPB again so hope to head up to Leighton Moss next weekend

Derek,

The Fylde has plenty of good places to go birding. Check out the Fylde Bird Club's website and have a look at the "where to watch" page (then join the club!). The sightings page will let you know what's about. When I moved to Preston several years ago the club members were really good giving me info and bird news. There's still a few sites that need better coverage too .....

CIB.

 

[derekg]

Thanks to both of you for your advice on where to go.

There are currently only about a dozen whooper swans up at Martin Mere at the moment was up there a few years ago when there was over a thousand in. Hope to get back up there in a few weeks to se them again. There was a Ross Goose there at the weekend but I didn’t manage to see it though if I’d listened to my son and taken a look at the field opposite the car park I might have.

I travel around the country quite a bit and hope to post here what I see if that’s okay with the members of the forum.
Took a trip up to Hexam today and ignoring the sat nav I took the A686 NW from Penrith. The country side along the drive is gorgeous and there are many stops on the way to watch birds. I saw at 100+ pheasants, the usual Buzzards and Kestrels as well as a Red Kite, not a usual place for them to be seen as far as I know.

I’d read about Marshside on the internet and will probably take a visit next time I’m up at Martin Mere. As for Mere Sands Wood I’d wondered about popping in and now I just might as I’ve read there are a variety of birds seen up there.

Does anyone know where I could take my son to see Owls. I’ve seen Barn and Tawn owls on my travels this year but was wondering if there is anywhere close.

Love the posted photographs. What sort of camera/lenses do you use?


Again many thanks

Derek

 

[Boom]

Derek, place called Burton Marsh by Neston on the Dee Estuary on The Wirral has annual Short Eared Owls over wintering and an evening visit is currently virtually guaranteed Barn Owl, Peregrine, Merlin, Hobby, Marsh and Hen Harrier have also been seen lately. There`s a Tawny Owl winter roost at Moore Nature Reserve by Warrington and a Long Eared Owl winter roost at MartOn Mere which is by Blackpool. Good luck. If you look at the Birds of Prey forums i`m sure you`ll find some further information on other Owls that aren`t too far away. cheers.

 

[Jaff]

I'm not doing my bit, I acknowledge that! I'll try and make the effort.

Just to say on Monday there was a Bittern at Marin Mere (didn't see it as I only dropped in to take care of something). For Derek's benefit here is a sightings list updated regularly for Martin Mere and sometimes the other local reserves (Marshside and Mere Sands). http://www.wwt.org.uk/news/192/sightings.html

 

[WyreWader]

Due to work I've not had too much time to get out & about for the last couple of days. Yesterday I managed a quick pie break at Todderstaffe Hall & snapped a few of the dozen or so Tree Sparrows there, which were accompanied by the usual suspects. Today I had a brisk lunchtime walk around Marton Mere so stopped off to have a look for the LEO's but swiftly gave up on that idea as there's still too much foliage and I struggle seeing them even when all the leaves are gone. The main sightings being - 2 x great crested Grebe (1 adult & 1 juv), plenty of Teal, Tufties, Pochard and Shoveler, 5 Cormorant and 1 Grey Heron. a few photos attached.

 

[WyreWader]

Didn't manage to get out & about today, I hope to put that right tomorrow. I did manage a few shots, taken in poor light, of the numerous goldfinch visiting our garden over recent weeks(up to 30 at times, including today). We're getting a couple Coal tits visiting on a regular basis too, but they were too quick for me today.

Did anyone else see anything more interesting?

 

[derekg]

Managed a couple of hours down at Cuerden Valley Park hoping to see the winter visiting Little Grebe at the stags lodge pond but no luck today.

Managed to see amongst the usual a flock of Long-Tailed tits and Goldfinch as well as a Goldcrest. Long time since I’d seen one and never down at Cuerden.

Hoping to get up to Martin Mere and Mere Sands Wood so will let everyone know if there’s anything interesting to be seen.

 

[derekg]

Visited Mere Sands Wood and Martin Mere today.

Mere Sands Wood brought us Teal, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant and a pair of Jays.
On one of the feeders we saw Nuthatch and Coal Tits amongst the usual feeders.


Over at Martin Mere amongst the several thousand pink footed geese we saw 10 Whooper Swans and a Tufted Duck. As well as a Kestrel and 4 Buzzards a Marsh Harrier made an appearance for about 15 minutes mid afternoon.

Was told there were a variety of raptors up at Marshside but we didn’t have time to explore these.

 

[WyreWader]

Sounds like you had a grand day out Derek. :t:

The early morning fog here in Blackpool didn't clear until 11'ish, by which time I couldn't be bothered driving too far, so nipped to Marton Mere for a couple of hours. The main sightings being: -

1 x Ruddy Duck (male)
3 x Great crested Grebe (2 adult & 1 juvenile)
1 x Jay flew by at the feeding station
plenty of Pochard, Shoveler and Tufties - lots of Teal
1 x Little Grebe
1 x Buzzard

a few photos attached.

Cheers

Cliff

 

[WyreWader]

Having not had much time to get out birding over the last few days I stuck the camera in the boot today knowing I'd be working Over Wyre, and how glad was I that I did!

A fortunate drive by sighting led to twenty very enjoyable minutes photographing this Short-eared Owl near Pilling. It's a first ever SEO sighting for me, I've never previously even seen a captive one and was really thrilled.

A few photos: -

 

[ikw101]

Nice photos especially for a drive by sighting !

I spent many years living in over-Wyre - good to see still some owls about. SEO were relatively common around Pilling and Cockerham Marsh. Not so sure there's many Barn Owls left but Eagland Hill and Nateby used to be good.

 

[Tao Wild]

Having not had much time to get out birding over the last few days I stuck the camera in the boot today knowing I'd be working Over Wyre, and how glad was I that I did!

A fortunate drive by sighting led to twenty very enjoyable minutes photographing this Short-eared Owl near Pilling. It's a first ever SEO sighting for me, I've never previously even seen a captive one and was really thrilled.

A few photos: -

Some great photos Cliff.

 

[bradinho]

I’d read about Marshside on the internet and will probably take a visit next time I’m up at Martin Mere.
Does anyone know where I could take my son to see Owls. I’ve seen Barn and Tawn owls on my travels this year but was wondering if there is anywhere close.


Derek

Hi Derek,
Marshside is a good reserve and is deffo worth a visit.

The guys at RSPB run a Raptor Watch from the Old Baths Car Park every now and again. The next date is Sunday 26th and is due to start at 15.30. Members of staff and volunteers willl be there with telescopes and useful info. Alternative dates are advertised as the last Sunday in Nov and Dec (21st).

There are Barn Owls in the local area and Short Eared Owls use the Saltmarsh to roost and hunt in - a real treat seeing these slow flying agile hunters. And I think that Little Owls still nest locally too!

In addition there may also be views of Merlin, Peregrine, Kestrel, Marsh Harriers and/or Hen Harriers. Plus theres always other attractions and possibilities such as Egrets, Geese, Swans and Waders!
:t:

 

[Boom]

Think you must mean Parkgate/Gayton Sands on the Dee Estuary- thats were the raptor watch is held- Inner Marsh Farm is an RSPB reserve just further along the estuary (past Neston) Burton Marsh is also a great place for Barn and SE Owls. Marshside is just outside Southport- great place for wintering birds which is also good for Peregrine and Merlin.

cheers.

 

[Johnny1]

I suppose I should contribute to this thread seeing as I live in Lancs! Had my first Fieldfares of the year today, 12 & 30-40 Redwings. I'm in the Leyland/Chorley area.