Lancashire Birding (1 Viewer)

[derekg]

Took a walk from Brinscall Woods to White Coppice after being told about Cuckoo, Redstart and Green Woodpecker being sighted but didn’t hear or sight any. Nice walk and will definitely go again maybe a little earlier in the day and when the weather is better.

Sightings included 2 Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Curlew (many more calling), Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, Heron and Pied Wagtail.
There were plenty of other birds calling that I could neither see or ID from their call, the joys of summer birding and all those leaves!
Also saw 2 Roe Deer in the long grass.

Derek

 

[Zac Hinchcliffe]

Female (Redhead) Smew on Lower Black Moss Resr near Barley (pendle) found mid morning by John Metcalfe. I saw the bird at c17.30...an unpresidented record for May!

Zac

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

Female (Redhead) Smew on Lower Black Moss Resr near Barley (pendle) found mid morning by John Metcalfe. I saw the bird at c17.30...an unpresidented record for May!

Zac

Unpresidented?!?! The mind boggles.

Stephen.

 

[derekg]

Not a good day for birding with all the rain around but I was being pestered by my son so off to Blackpool we went.

Marton Mere - 14 Swift, 3 Cormorant, 50+ Swallow, Mute Swan, Greater Spotted Woodpecker (female), 3 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Lapwing, Chiffchaff, 5 Goldfinch, 3 Linnet, 50+ House Martin, Tufted Duck, 3 Heron, Song Thrush, Wren, Ruddy Duck, Greylag, Reed Bunting and Sedge Warbler.

There were more warblers around but with the rain they were keeping out of sight. Don't blame them.

Stanley Park - Pink Footed Goose, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Wren, 18 Heron.

This was our first trip to the park and we were a little disappointed with the lack of sightings. I think this was more down to the weather and not knowing the area. We were impressed with the Heronry.

Newton Marsh - Redshank, Bar Tailed Godwit

Derek

Also any ideas on the ID on pic 1 taken at Marton Mere? We're thinking Lesser Redpol which will be a 3rd lifer for me today and a 4th for my son.

 

[gradders52]

wood sanpiper

Not a good day for birding with all the rain around but I was being pestered by my son so off to Blackpool we went.

Marton Mere - 14 Swift, 3 Cormorant, 50+ Swallow, Mute Swan, Greater Spotted Woodpecker (female), 3 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Lapwing, Chiffchaff, 5 Goldfinch, 3 Linnet, 50+ House Martin, Tufted Duck, 3 Heron, Song Thrush, Wren, Ruddy Duck, Greylag, Reed Bunting and Sedge Warbler.

There were more warblers around but with the rain they were keeping out of sight. Don't blame them.

Stanley Park - Pink Footed Goose, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Wren, 18 Heron.

This was our first trip to the park and we were a little disappointed with the lack of sightings. I think this was more down to the weather and not knowing the area. We were impressed with the Heronry.

Newton Marsh - Redshank, Bar Tailed Godwit

Derek

Also any ideas on the ID on pic 1 taken at Marton Mere? We're thinking Lesser Redpol which will be a 3rd lifer for me today and a 4th for my son.

Hi Derek
I think this is what you were looking for... call me 'Maverick', in the words of Kellie McGuiness 'so you're the one'... just in the right place at the right time and lucky, the day before. Congrats on spots, whitethroat on the wire behind you! Linnet at the far end... I must do Marton Mere and Stanley Park sometime... Fairhaven is interesting while the tides are as they are... but yep, weather is awful and not much about.

 

[Zac Hinchcliffe]

Unpresidented?!?! The mind boggles.

Stephen.

I see your point ...when i saw that, i mean of all the birds you'd expect turing up in May...this wouldn't be one of them

Zac

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

I knew what you meant Zac, I was pulling your leg given your 'unusual' spelling |=)|

Went for the Swift myself today, good views.

Good birding,

Stephen.

 

[Zac Hinchcliffe]

yeh, it was a great bird the swift. It was nice to see it amongst other swifts to compare with.
I managed some 'decent' records which i was happy about

Zac

 

[mikfoz]

This was our first trip to the park and we were a little disappointed with the lack of sightings. I think this was more [HIGHLIGHT]down to the weather and not knowing the area. We were impressed with the Heronry.[/HIGHLIGHT]

You're probably right.

You need to roam around a bit and take your time and you'll see much more but that's the same of anywhere. For example, you should have seen: Great tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Robin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Wren, Treecreeper, Wood Pigeon, Sparrowhawk, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Mallard, Greylag Goose, Coot, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Cormorant, Jackdaw and so on at the very least and thinking of things off the top of my head.

 

[derekg]

You're probably right.

I did see some of the mentioned will have to check my sons notes (he logs EVERYTHING!) I just don't post everything, I leave it for my blog.

It won't be my last trip there, from what I read from yours, Cliffs and Neils posts it's a great place to bird and improve my photography.

Sightings are pretty much the same as my local patch - Cuerden Valley Park though we don't have a Heronry to enjoy.

Derek

 

[mikfoz]

I did see some of the mentioned will have to check my sons notes (he logs EVERYTHING!) I just don't post everything, I leave it for my blog.

It won't be my last trip there, from what I read from yours, Cliffs and Neils posts it's a great place to bird and improve my photography.

Sightings are pretty much the same as my local patch - Cuerden Valley Park though we don't have a Heronry to enjoy.

Derek

That's the big bonus; you can get really close to the waterfowl if you're lucky and the birds are relatively tame in the woodland. What never ceases to amaze me is how rich all of Lancashire is for birding and how many great patches there are just waiting to be bigged up.

 

[ivywall]

Some great images since I was last here. Cheers! I wish I could go to all the places I hear about hear - this college mullarky of Hubby's takes up loads of time ||

Spent a while watching a little dipper building and collecting twigs/food over the weekend. It was great to see!

Not the best pictures but I enjoyed taking them.


Pat

 

[derekg]

Spent an hour and a half down at Brockholes Quarry again tonight.

Main sightings - 31 Swift, 8 Dunlin, 5 Lapwing, 1 Shoveler, 3 House Martin, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Sanderling (lifer:t, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Great Black Backed Gull, 1 female Teal, 1 Heron, 5 Oystercatcher, Tufted Duck and 108 Whimbrel.

The Whimbrel numbers have been dropping steadily over the last few days I have been told. They were quite vocal tonight and 20 departed north just before we left at 9pm.

With the rain over the last few days the water level has risen and a few Coot have lost their nests.

Derek

 

[derekg]

Super shots of the Dipper Ivywall. :clap:

I haven't been able to get anywhere near the few times I've seen a Dipper, never mind watching it build a nest. :t:

Derek

 

[ivywall]

Super shots of the Dipper Ivywall. :clap:

I haven't been able to get anywhere near the few times I've seen a Dipper, never mind watching it build a nest. :t:

Derek

Cheers Derek! We couldn't get really close but after some lads and dogs came and went they came a bit closer collecting stuff - they can't count, you see!

We've been meaning to look at Brockholes but no doubt we'll be too late by the time it happens... such is life at the moment :-C
Our resident blackbirds are entertaining us - there wasn't much fidelity going on as a female built her nest on the side of of shed - so much for those stories of bonding they used to try and tell you! Now she's settled on eggs/chicks (can't look) and she has one of the males as a constant helper.

Pat

 

[oncebittern]

Managed to get a few hours at Leighton Moss yesterday (Thursday). VERY windy, and a lot of birds were keeping their heads down. Did manage to get a good sighting of a Reed Warbler though, which was pleasing, despite being unable to get a decent photo; have to wait for another day. Flock of around 200 Black Tailed Godwits in front of Grisedale, and at least one (possibly two) Garganey. Marsh Harriers were showing at distance. One chap reported a Hen Harrier, though I didn't see it. Plenty of 'Ahhh' factor with the newborns. BHG are nesting all over the place, especially in front of Lillian's. Bearded Tits seen flitting between the reedbeds near Grisedale/Tim Jackson.

 

[derekg]

Brockholes Quarry last night

Swift were showing well last night with 150+ along with a mix of Swallow, House and Sand Martin over the Ribble.
Sanderling was still showing, though it's moved to the main pit joining the 6 Dunlin and single Ringed Plover.

Whimbrel are on there way with around 8 leaving as I arrived and only a further 20 showing before I left. Going to have to find somewhere else to go in the evenings.

Derek

 

[mikfoz]

Got some great shots this am in Stanley Park - check gallery.

The Coots were showing really well with young. Not much hope now for the GCG nest but they may yet surprise us. GCG adult showing well all round the island. Geese fighting like mad. GS Woodpecker male showing well round the nesting spot bringing food galore but never quite got a shot. Newly hatched Canada Goose goslings showing well and fluffily. Lots of juvenile Herons trying to suss out the area so cropping up in unlikely spots stalking anything that moved.

 

[Neil UK]

Got some great shots this am in Stanley Park - check gallery.

The Coots were showing really well with young. Not much hope now for the GCG nest but they may yet surprise us. GCG adult showing well all round the island. Geese fighting like mad. GS Woodpecker male showing well round the nesting spot bringing food galore but never quite got a shot. Newly hatched Canada Goose goslings showing well and fluffily. Lots of juvenile Herons trying to suss out the area so cropping up in unlikely spots stalking anything that moved.

Nice GCG shot Mik!!! Was on Stanley Park yesterday around 4ish only saw the GCG from the bridge, where abouts she nesting?

 

[Johnny1]

A Trip of 17 Dotterel on Plex Moss this evening, also a Merlin and several wheatear still around.