Lancashire Birding (1 Viewer)

[derekg]

A quick stop off at Newton Marsh this lunchtime produced sightings of 6 x Black-tailed godwits (only one of which came in range to photograph)

Looks like the one was enough Cliff.

Great shots, shows the summer plumage off superbly. :t:

Forgetting the teleconvertor going to get myself the Sigma 170-500, I'll get better results. I'll just have to wait a little longer.

Derek

 

[Steve Jones]

Great around Lancaster Canal this morning between the Ribble Link Entrance and the Sports Centre, with 3 Whitethroats (including 2 males having a singing match), a Sedge Warbler by the Brickworks and a Wood Warbler opposite the tennis courts.
That plus Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers everywhere, plus a passing Bullfinch, made for a very enjoyable walk in the sunshine.

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

Great around Lancaster Canal this morning between the Ribble Link Entrance and the Sports Centre, with 3 Whitethroats (including 2 males having a singing match), a Sedge Warbler by the Brickworks and a Wood Warbler opposite the tennis courts.
That plus Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers everywhere, plus a passing Bullfinch, made for a very enjoyable walk in the sunshine.

Dangerous though. I did the Waterways BBS there the other week and nearly got hit by a golf ball and I still have no idea where it came from. Saw plenty of birds, good for warblers as you say Steve.

Stephen.

 

[NickPatel92]

Ashton & Lea GC is on the Ribble link.

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

Hi Nick,

FWIW I wasn't on the Ribble Link, I was near Haslam Park. But it was a light remark about one of those inexplicable things that happen now and then.

Stephen.

 

[derekg]

Yesterdays Birding

Spent the afternoon at Pilling Marsh again.

Notable sightings - Redshank 30+, Shellduck 50+, Oyster Catcher 25+, Lapwing 30+, Swallow 10, Cormerant 10, Knot 150+, Pink Footed Geese 150+, Meadow Pipit 3, Wheatear 5.

Lighting wasn't to good and as usual out of reach for my lens so the shot of the Wheatear was taken with my mobile and my scope (sony C905 and a Mighty Midget x25)

Evening spent down at Brockholes Quarry and wasn't disapointed with 2 lifers.

Notable sightings - 2 Avocet, Garganey (male):t:, Lapwing 5, Shoveler, Oystercatcher 6, Whimbrel 143 by the time we left at 9pm, 2 Chiffchaff, House Martin, 2 Little Ringed Plover:t:, 5 Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, Curlew 2, Gadwall 2 (male & female).

For those looking out for Swift, 3 were sighted just before we arrived at 7pm

Derek

 

[gradders52]

Yesterdays Birding

Spent the afternoon at Pilling Marsh again.

Notable sightings - Redshank 30+, Shellduck 50+, Oyster Catcher 25+, Lapwing 30+, Swallow 10, Cormerant 10, Knot 150+, Pink Footed Geese 150+, Meadow Pipit 3, Wheatear 5.

Lighting wasn't to good and as usual out of reach for my lens so the shot of the Wheatear was taken with my mobile and my scope (sony C905 and a Mighty Midget x25)

Evening spent down at Brockholes Quarry and wasn't disapointed with 2 lifers.

Notable sightings - 2 Avocet, Garganey (male):t:, Lapwing 5, Shoveler, Oystercatcher 6, Whimbrel 143 by the time we left at 9pm, 2 Chiffchaff, House Martin, 2 Little Ringed Plover:t:, 5 Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, Curlew 2, Gadwall 2 (male & female).

For those looking out for Swift, 3 were sighted just before we arrived at 7pm

Derek

Where's Brockholes Quarry?
Ta.
Seem to be a lot of Whimbrels about recently (unusual for around here (Ribble/Lancs ???)

 

[ivywall]

Where's Brockholes Quarry?
Ta.
Seem to be a lot of Whimbrels about recently (unusual for around here (Ribble/Lancs ???)

I found this - not sure how old it is though .

http://www.lancswt.org.uk/News & Events/urgent news.htm

What is happening/happened to the site? It's the first I've heard about it - they tend to keep these controversial developments extremely quiet as far as non locals are concerned. The Cantex gas lot on the Wye estuary for example. If you live there you know and so the numbers of objectors are minimised.

Nice godwit images Cliff -as usual ! Well - what do you expect with a Sony.....

Some Bullies I got at Mere Sands - unfortunately not in trees.


Cheers! Pat

 

[derekg]

Where's Brockholes Quarry?
Ta.
Seem to be a lot of Whimbrels about recently (unusual for around here (Ribble/Lancs ???)

Junction 31 M6 and follow the sign for the quarry off the roundabout.

There is a Whimrel roost there for about 3 weeks about this time.
It's the only time the gate is open for public access as far as I know.

For more you can check out the forum for the area - http://www.brockholeswetland.org.uk/forum/index.php

 

[Jaff]

If it's Bullies you're after Pat you and his 'nibs' should mosey on down to the Rufford Hide. :t:

 

[XsCode]

Nice godwit images Cliff -as usual ! Well - what do you expect with a Sony.....

Samsungs arn't all that bad either!

 

[WyreWader]

Evening spent down at Brockholes Quarry and wasn't disapointed with 2 lifers.

Well done with the new sightings Derek, I'm yet to see a Garganey, I note one was also reported on Marton Mere a week or so back.
I got myself a first yesterday too with a Yellow Wagtail (along with first sightings of Adders & Green Tiger Beetles), slightly out of area for this thread though.

Good to read the Swifts are starting to return - I can't wait to hear them again, it's one of my favourite sounds.

Pat - I'm loving the Bullfinch photos :t::t:, I must get me to MSW's very soon. Congrats on the new macro lens too, great time of year to get one, with Butterflies & Dragons all now appearing.

Nice Godwit photo Xs :t: Where was that taken?

Regards

Cliff

 

[NickPatel92]

Cliff, there's 56 Whimbrel down at Newton today, hangin about with the blackwits. Great views but i wouldn't get out ya car, i didn't try but they were very flighty even when just edgin forward in the car.

Also lots of great warblers this evenin at Marton mere. got 2 groppers, but only singing. great experience being less than 10 ft away, but still not seeing them. lots a nice sedgies though.

cheers.

 

[Jaff]

Nice Godwit photo Xs :t: Where was that taken?

Regards

Cliff

Same place as this Cliff. You know where
You wouldn't be dissapointed I'm sure. Might have trouble finding a seat though! Open windows are a luxury for the lucky ones too.

I too will say nice one Pat! I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun in the meadow this summer. Might even see me there!

Going to be offline for a good while now so Auf wiedersehen all! :t:

 

[Neil UK]

hello and welcome to LIVE report from a very wet Marton Mere. Currently taking shelter in the feeding station hide and its throwing it down.

Sightings currently are, masses of great tits, blue tits, dunnock, robin, magpie to to feed from the feeders (very funny sight). Also a stoat/weasel just ran into the wooded area.

And help is needed, grey capped head, whitethroat, brown body. Was this a qhitethroat or a warbler....?

More to come..

Great spotted woodpecker - having his fill of nuts
Reed bunting
Greenfinch

On far side hide now back to de vere; shoveler, great crested grebe (alot), ruddy duck, tufted duck, long tailed tits, canada goose, coots, moorhens, swallows, solirary bewick, cormorant, grey heron, shelducks, lapwings, blackbirds.

Rain eased iff and very cold hands


Dd

 

[Neil UK]

Home thawing out, Blackcap to be added to the list. And it was a whitethroat as saw 4 more skitting around on the way back towards lawsons road.

Also thanks to Cliff who I just this moment met up with to purchase the lens. Wonderful and hope to see you over the mere or Stanley Park sometime. Time to get some practice in now I think.

 

[peter hill]

Great day out at leighton moss yesterday with raven buzzard ,peregrine,kestral and osprey also spotted redshank and my first swifts of the year lots of red deer and warblers sedge and reed the reed were not seen by me just heard back to derbyshire and the rain today B

 

[gradders52]

Junction 31 M6 and follow the sign for the quarry off the roundabout.

There is a Whimrel roost there for about 3 weeks about this time.
It's the only time the gate is open for public access as far as I know.

For more you can check out the forum for the area - http://www.brockholeswetland.org.uk/forum/index.php

Thanks to all for replies. I spent about 10 visits at 2 hours a visit before I clocked a BT Godwit! Number of lifers down there for me... but as I said, I'm new at all this, appreciate everyone's help. I've probably clocked some of you guys out and about... we must wear a badge Or at least a sticker for the car! Worth looking outside the obvious, merlin, tree sparrow, reed bunting, mistle thrush, corn bunting, wheatear, linnet etc...

Whimbrel too at Lancaster Lane over Skronkey yesterday...back of Bradshaws
Thanks again

 

[WyreWader]

Home thawing out, Blackcap to be added to the list. And it was a whitethroat as saw 4 more skitting around on the way back towards lawsons road.

Also thanks to Cliff who I just this moment met up with to purchase the lens. Wonderful and hope to see you over the mere or Stanley Park sometime. Time to get some practice in now I think.

'twas a pleasure to meet you today Neil, albeit briefly. Fingers crossed you get good use out of the lens. Fingers even more firmly crossed you found that small gold circular item that you've only had a couple of days & thought you may have lost????

I had a potter around Marton Mere this pm hoping to hook up with the Whitethroats you mentioned but didn't see any - however - I did see several Sedge Warblers, 1 x Reed Warbler, 1 x Ruddy duck, 4 x Reed Buntings, 3 x Great Crested Grebes, 1 x Grey Heron, 2 x Gadwall, 1 x Oystercatcher, 5 x Swift, 6 x Swallows & I could hear numerous Chiffchaffs but didn't see any.

I've attached a few photos.

Regards

Cliff

 

[Neil UK]

'twas a pleasure to meet you today Neil, albeit briefly. Fingers crossed you get good use out of the lens. Fingers even more firmly crossed you found that small gold circular item that you've only had a couple of days & thought you may have lost????

I had a potter around Marton Mere this pm hoping to hook up with the Whitethroats you mentioned but didn't see any - however - I did see several Sedge Warblers, 1 x Reed Warbler, 1 x Ruddy duck, 4 x Reed Buntings, 3 x Great Crested Grebes, 1 x Grey Heron, 2 x Gadwall, 1 x Oystercatcher, 5 x Swift, 6 x Swallows & I could hear numerous Chiffchaffs but didn't see any.

I've attached a few photos.

Regards

Cliff

Hahahaha I found it mate so not to worry. Also my first 2 pics taken at my mother in laws below.