Rainford mosslands

Golden Plover at least 15 still in fields alongside Green Lane, Catchdale moss.
Oystercatcher 2 Catchdale Moss, 2 Old Coach Road
Curlew 1 flew over Inglenook Farm, Rainford by-pass
Lesser Redpoll 1 displaying Berrington's Lane
Grey Partridge 2 Berrington's Lane
Chiffchaffs. Willow Warblers, Blackcaps numerous throughout the area. Also a few Swallows.

Several Brown Hares across the region.

Old Coach Road - skies clear of any sign of aircraft!

Is this late snow in Dairy Farm Road?


No. it's Blackthorn!


Coltsfoot

Rainford Mosslands

Golden Plover 20 stunning summer plumage birds Catchdale Moss, Green Lane
Oystercatcher 5 Catchdale Moss, Green Lane, 4 Old Coach Road
Wheatear 1 male Catchdale Moss, Green Lane, 1 female Old Coach Road
Shelduck 2 Old Coach Road
Curlew 9 Old Coach Road

Rainford Mosslands

Curlew 17 in field near Old Hall Farm
Fieldfare 30 in trees near Brown Birch Farm
Shelduck 2 Green Lane, Catchdale Moss

Rainford Mosslands

Shelduck 2 Old Coach Road
Blackcaps 2 singing Old Coach Road
Chiffchaff several singing throughout the area
Willow Warbler 1 Old Coach Road
Tree Sparrow 3 Berrington's Lane, 4 Old Coach Road
Yellowhammer several singing throughout
Corn Bunting 1 singing Inglenook Farm

Leighton Moss

Cetti's Warbler 2 singing from the Public Causeway
Bearded Tit 1 m from the causeway
Marsh Harrier 5+
Buzzard 7+
Green Woodpecker 1 calling
Sand Martin 3
Swallow 3
Willow Warbler 3 singing
Blackcap 1 singing
Chiffchaff 5 singing

Chester Zoo

Grevy's Zebra


Spectacled Bear


Jaguar

Black Rhino

Poison Arrow Frog sp.

(Chilean?) Flamingos

Leighton Moss

Cetti's Warbler 1 seen and heard well from the causeway
Great White Egret 1 from Grisdale and Tim Jackson hides
Spotted Redshank 1 from Eric Morecombe hide
Greenshank 1 from Eric Morecombe hide
Lesser Snow Goose 4 in fields just before car park for saltmarsh hides
Peregrine 1

Linkway Pool, St Helens

Manadarin 2 (m&f)

Great Grey Shrike - Grindleton Fell

Travelled up to Grindleton Fell, north of Clitheroe, today for a Great Grey Shrike. The bird performed pretty well, and was on view for at least 45 minutes, sometimes at long range, other times quiet close. Too far away for a photo, unfortunately. Also seen (briefly) a ring tail Hen Harrier.

Eccleston Mere

Water Rail 3 (all in SW corner).
Siskin 30
Lesser Redpoll 2
Bullfinch 2 (m&f)
Teal 2 (m&f)
Kingfisher 1

A glorious sunny day until the fog rolled in, then it went freezing cold. The mere was 50% iced over. Great views of two of the Water Rails in the SW corner. The third was calling from the "new" ditch which runs across the fields to the west of the mere. I've only ever seen singles at the mere before.

Eccleston Mere Mangrove Swamp.. sorry Alder Swamp

Pink-foot ICS

Back in October last year, when the big flocks of Pink-feet were by the Coach Road, I saw one individual with a white neck collar ICS. I emailed the details to the Wildfowl Trust, and today I received some information back. The bird is a female, and was initially ringed as an adult at Maanabeinafla, A-Huna, Iceland on 25th July 2000.

It has since been seen on about 70 occasions in the UK, but interestingly, before my sighting, all bar one had been in Norfolk. The exception was a sighting at Elvingston, Longriddy, East Lotian, Scotland in 2006. Interesting that it has never been observed at Martin Mere, where they are obviously constantly checking collars, or at Marshside.