A few hours birding between Martin Mere and Southport so far this year
produced quite a few year ticks, with 60 species at Martin Mere and another 11
at Southport. Highlights included the usual snow bunting near Southport pier
along with 20 twite and four spoonbills which are currently wintering on the Ribble.
While I was watching the twite this spoonbill dropped in below the pier. I
assume that it's one of the four that I had just seen from the sand plant at
Marshside, but why it would have left the other three I can't say.
