Long Nab, Burniston, North Yorkshire

Yellow Wagtail 1 male
Swallow 5

No sign of Short-toed Lark.

Blacktoft Sands, Humber Estuary

I called in at RSPB Blacktoft Sands on the Humber Estuary today. I didn't see all that much, the highlights being about 10 Avocets and a couple of Marsh Harriers, but it was nice to renew my acquaintance with the place. In years gone by I've seen two firsts for Britain at Blacktoft, Hudsonian Godwit (1983) and Red-necked Stint (1986). I'm not sure that there has been another Hudsonian Godwit since the first, and Red-necked Stint is certainly still in single figures and has not occurred for years. Both are high up on my "blockers" list!

Avocets mating. The female adopted this position and held it for a minute or two while the male played it cool and preened and fed. Eventually though he got the message.......

Fairfield Horseshoe

Taking advantage of the beautiful weather, we headed up to the Lake District today and walked the spectacular Fairfield Horseshoe, a round walk from Ambleside of just over 11 miles and taking us to a height of 2864ft.

The views were spectacular, to the east High Street, to the north Helvelyn, and to the west Conniston Old Man and Scafell Pikes. It was a bit early for most of the migrants to be back, but Tree Pipit was new for the year, and there were a few Wheatears and Swallows.

Year: 207 (Tree Pipit)

Looking towards High Street.

Fairfield.

Dollywagon Pike and Helvelyn.

Tree Pipit.

Eccleston Mere

Just a quick walk around the Mere this morning. The only new arrival was a singing Whitethroat in the hedge just after the yacht club. Otherwise plenty of Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs.

Hoopoe part 2

We headed back to Kirkham this evening for a second look at the Hoopoe. For a long time it looked like the difficulties associated with viewing the bird in the garden in Cross Lane would prove too much, and we couldn't relocate the bird. However, eventually we found it in a horse field 100m west of the garden, and here it showed much better than it had done this morning, and probably better than it could ever do in the garden.

Rainford Mosslands

Merlin 1 female Dairy Farm Road
Whitethroat 1 singing Dairy Farm Road
Yellow Wagtail 2 males Dairy Farm Road
Wheatear 2 Dairy Farm Road, 2 Old Coach Road, 2 Rainford bypass
Corn Bunting 1 Dairy Farm Road

Merlin.

Hoopoe, a new "birds seen from the roof of the car" tick

Hoopoe 1
Tree Sparrow 10
Swallow 2

Year: 206 (Hoopoe); Birds Seen From the Roof of the Car: 1 (Hoopoe)

The Hoopoe has been on the lawn at Cross Lane House, Treales near Kirkham for four days now. As you would expect it's a great bird, but very difficult to see let alone photograph. I was on site for about 90 minutes, and all of that time it was on the lawn, but only occasionally showing itself. In order to get the photos below, I had to stand on the roof of my car!

Eccleston Mere

Willow Warbler 5 singing
Blackcap 4 singing
Mute Swan 2 adults

I found this huge swan mussel at Eccleston Mere this morning. In all my years of visiting the mere, I've never seen one this big before. My binoculars are 18cm (7") long!

Houghton Green Flash, Winwick

Common Sandpiper 2
Little Ringed Plover 10
Yellow Wagtail 2
White Wagtail 15
Wigeon 1 male
Sand Martin 50
Swallow 20

Year 205: (Common Sandpiper)

Eccleston Mere

Grasshopper Warbler 1 reeling in second hedge on the right from the yacht club
House Martin 1
Sand Martin 20
Swallow 15
Blackcap 5 singing
Willow Warbler 5 singing
Chiffchaff 4 singing
Gadwall 4 (2 males, 3 females)
Mandarin 2 (male & female)

Year 204: (Grasshopper Warbler, House Martin)

Appleton Reservoir

Whitethroat 1 singing
Sand Martin 2
Willow Warbler 5 singing
Mute Swan 4 adults

Year 202: (Whitethroat)