Lancashire Birding (1 Viewer)

[gradders52]

My only sighting of note today was a Little Owl near Treales/Salwick which flew across a farm track right in front of me as I was driving along.

Yonks ago, there used to be one (Little Owl) 'lived' (perch) on the telegraph pole outside the Plough at Eves, if you're ever passing and having a pint, worth keeping an eye out.

 

[Tao Wild]

I maybe wrong Cliff but looks like a Nightingale

I thought the same.

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

I don't think it is a Nightingale.

Stephen.

 

[derekg]

Record number of Whimbrel for the year counted in last night with 230 :t: by the time we left at 21:10.

Other notable sightings - 4 Herron, 1 Snipe (lifer):t:, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 female Teal, Reed Bunting, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Tufted Duck, Shellduck and my first Swift of the year.

Anyone wanting to head down to Brockholes Quarry the gates will be open at 18:30. I'll be down there with my son if anyone is interested.

Derek

 

[derekg]

can anyone confirm the id of the first one?

Cheers

Cliff

With no wing markings it's hard to say, don't think its a Nightingale though.
The markings on the head point to Chiffchaff or Willow Warbler to me but not 100% I'm only just learning to ID them myself.

Derek

 

[Neil UK]

Record number of Whimbrel for the year counted in last night with 230 :t: by the time we left at 21:10.

Other notable sightings - 4 Herron, 1 Snipe (lifer):t:, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 female Teal, Reed Bunting, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Tufted Duck, Shellduck and my first Swift of the year.

Anyone wanting to head down to Brockholes Quarry the gates will be open at 18:30. I'll be down there with my son if anyone is interested.

Derek

Derek, are they ok with people getting in there now? If so i'll try and meet by the gates (if I can find them). Ill be in a Silver BMW.

Neil

 

[derekg]

Derek, are they ok with people getting in there now? If so i'll try and meet by the gates (if I can find them). Ill be in a Silver BMW.

Neil

The gate is only open while the wimbrel are in.
If your coming from Blackpool on the motorway turn off at M6 J31. You will see the entrance to the Quarry to the right as you drive down the slip road (yellow road on the map). Go round the roundabout and enter the quarry, turn left and go through the open gate. You can park in a layby on the left. I'll be there in a blue suzuki no doubt munching on fish and chips:eat:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=53.765456,-2.636375&spn=0.014282,0.038452&z=15


The wimbrel will be in later but hoping to have a wander around and see what else is about.

Derek

 

[mikfoz]

Thanks, will keep away from this.

I've had a MF mirror lens for years. It's a great walkabout lens out in bright sunshine due to being very light and it's also unobtrusive so you don't get stared at. I used it more often than not to get pics of my kids from a distance so they don't get self-conscious. What it's not so good for is low light photography or fast moving subjects. However, they're easy to use hand-held and give a light, cheap extreme tele solution. I really struggled to use it for birding, though.

I wasn't previously aware of AF versions, and it'd be interesting to see how it's received.

 

[WyreWader]

Sightings of note today included

Stanley Park

3 x Great Crested Grebes, 2 x Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 x Chiffchaff (with lots more calling), 2 x Long-tailed Tits, 1 x Mistle Thrush

Marton Mere

2 x Whitethroat, 2 x Reed Buntings, numerous Sedge Warblers calling (I probably saw about half a dozen but there are obviously many more) & 4 x Long-tailed tits, finally another one for id & again I've attached a photo - it looks like a Seldom Spotted Lesser Tailed Warbler, I'm guessing it's a Sedge Warbler missing some of it's tail feathers, can anyone confirm? A few other shots attached including a blackbird from the garden.

Regards

Cliff

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

Yes Cliff, a Sedge Warbler minus tail feathers.

Stephen.

 

[WyreWader]

Yes Cliff, a Sedge Warbler minus tail feathers.

Stephen.

Thank you Stephen :t:.

Cliff

 

[derekg]

Brockholes Quarry again last night.

Sightings included the usual Tufted Duck, Shellduck, Lapwing, 4 Oyster catcher, 3 Heron, 2 Great Crested Grebe plus 4 Curlew, 1 Gadwall, 181 Whimbrel (either late coming in or heading north as numbers down on last night), 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ringed Plover and 1 Dunlin.

Over head - 3 Swallow, 14 Swift, 3 House Martin and 18 Sand Martin.

Don't think I'll be down there tonight but the gates will be open at 6.30 again.

Derek

 

[Neil UK]

Brockholes Quarry again last night.

Sightings included the usual Tufted Duck, Shellduck, Lapwing, 4 Oyster catcher, 3 Heron, 2 Great Crested Grebe plus 4 Curlew, 1 Gadwall, 181 Whimbrel (either late coming in or heading north as numbers down on last night), 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Ringed Plover and 1 Dunlin.

Over head - 3 Swallow, 14 Swift, 3 House Martin and 18 Sand Martin.

Don't think I'll be down there tonight but the gates will be open at 6.30 again.

Derek

Apologies I didnt make it Derek, had a family shindig to go to. Hopefully be down there this week sometime.

 

[Zac Hinchcliffe]

Hi Dereck
Yeh, there few a few flocks that flew in after you had left. as I left the site at 21.18 the count was 248.
Sorry, I didnt introduce myself.

Zac

 

[Neil UK]

Braved the wind at around 8am this morning and spent about 40 minutes at Woodland Gardens (opposite Stanley Park) and am amazed to say I saw, Robin, Blackbird and Goldfinch... THAT WAS ALL!!!! hence the one shot below.

 

[derekg]

Apologies I didnt make it Derek, had a family shindig to go to. Hopefully be down there this week sometime.

Not a problem Neil, was a little quiet last night to be honest. If you let me know when you're going down this week I'll try and be there if not busy with work :C.

Derek

 

[derekg]

Hi Dereck
Yeh, there few a few flocks that flew in after you had left. as I left the site at 21.18 the count was 248.
Sorry, I didnt introduce myself.

Zac

Thanks Zac, will let Bill know as he seems to be keeping track of them down there.

Not a problem with the intro I know what it's like when you meet new birders sometimes as discused on other threads. I was the one with the soon to be 12 year old in tow.

Derek

 

[Zac Hinchcliffe]

yeh, i already know Robin, Bill B, Bill G so i thought as much
I am usually more chatty but i was nursing a dislocated elbow so wasnt in a chatty mood as would be expected. haha

see you around

Zac

 

[mikfoz]

I'm guessing it's a Sedge Warbler missing some of it's tail feathers, can anyone confirm? A few other shots attached including a blackbird from the garden.

Regards

Cliff

Hahaha! I photographed the same bird today.



Plenty of other stuff knocking about and I finally got a decent Long-tailed Tit pic that wasn't on a feeder.

 

[Geoff Pain]

Had a trip out to Marshside today to try for the Garganey which I managed to see.Also added Whitethroat,House Martin and Sedge Warbler to the year list.