Spring Southport

Downholland Moss 25th April
I couldn't wait for the weekend, The news of loads of good stuff in the Southport area amde my week really drag.
Whimbrel, a bird I haven't seen for a few years now, here in numbers 18. Tons of Wheatears.
I missed a cracking picture of a very close Corn Bunting by milli seconds, the tease. Whitethroats here and there. short drive over to..

Plex Moss.
20 odd Whimbrel here, but the star bird is the Cattle Egret. Upto this morning there was 2. A small flock of yellowhammers also.

Marshide Southport.
Wader city, Avocets aplenty, Black Tailed Godwit plenty. All the usual too included, Redshank, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Ring Plover, but news comes to us while in the hide, that a Little Stint, and 3 Curlew Sandpipers are showing down the road. A long walk, and I have found the birds in seconds - Sorted. While everyone is looking at the peeps, A little Grebe is feeding it's young a few feet away, camera out snap, snap, well about 30 snaps, stunning..
Also my first House Martin, Singing Sedge Warblers all over the reserve too.

A couple of days latter, I write my car off in an accident. Wife breaks her collar bone and we are both are bruised. So I don't know when I will be out next.

I have recharged myself for what is usually my favorite weekend of the year.
Leighton Moss - 3 Spoonbills, 33 Avocets (2 new chicks), 100+ Black Tailed Godwits.
The wind is blowing a real 'hooli'. No sign of the Pectoral sandpiper today, or sightings of the male Ortolan Bunting at Drigg. So I call in to Sizergh Castle for a picnic, and spot some of those Hawfinches. None to be heard or seen with the crowds out in force. still, I enjoyed the picnic though. Back to Leighton Moss for an hour. From Lilian's Hide ( the carpeted, central heated one nearest the visitors centre). The Black Head gulls are putting on a nice display..For the keen eyed birder, look out for the Med Gull!. Marsh Harrier over the reedbeds. Otherwise a quiet day for birds, must be the gales?
Year total 130.

Cumbrian spring

After what seems like a second winter, with the past two weekends seeing snow. I get a chance too do some birding.
Sizergh Castle, Cumbria, SD498878
I believe this is a beautiful place to visit. From the outside it looks good. It closes Fridays and Saturdays. My reason for a trip, is to see Our largest Finch, the Hawfinch. Reports say that from the car park (open everyday), you will see 5. This I immediately did, but my ears detected many more. I estimated double that, easily. It has been many a year now since I last appreciated this bird. They appeared to be skittish at times, but never went out of view for long. This has got to be the best Hawfinch site in the North west. 30 minutes down the road.
Leighton Moss, Cumbria, SD4775
My first visit this year. Summer birds have arrived, plenty of Swallows mixed with Sand Martins from Lillian hide, also a female Marsh Harrier is building a nest, Bitterns Booming. Chiffchaff, and Willlow Warblers in the woods, Avocets, Litlle Egret, from Eric Morcembe hide. This years list got a boosting. Even an Egyptian Goose tuned up.
Close-bye.
Warton Crag LWT, SD4972
A huge quarry cliff face. A haven for Corvids. For the first time, a single Chough has decided stay here. A rare bird for the north west. Also Peregrine, Little Owl, Buzzards are good birds to see.
Report - This year I have seen 5 species I didn't see last year, current total 86.
I manage to break my Bins again! - Dropped again! all that armour didn't save it.
Great to be out and about again. Get out yourself.

“It may be winter outside…but in my heart it’s spring”

To beat this weekends foul weather coming from the North. I headed East, too mop up on some long staying birds.
First stop. Pule Hill, Halifax. This hill, overlooking Halifax town itself, was favoured by a single Shorelark. A bird that is more typically found on the shores of the East coast, seems to have overshot it’s landing grounds by 70 miles. I struggled to stand upright, in a real “hooli” of a gale. After about an hour, I was fortunate to find the bird. But the wind did not allow for any photos.
Second stop: Fairburn Ings RSPB Castleford. For a few weeks now, a pair of Long Eared Owls, had taken up residency in evergreens. Once pointed out, a single bird was easy to spot. Other birds of note where good numbers of Tree Sparrows at the feeding station. With the Owl found quickly, it’s of to the next stop.
Budwith, Nr Selby. Part of the extensive Lower Derwent Valley floodplain. Two male American Wigeon, had made friends among a few hundred European Wigeon. Their notable size and plumage differences made this another spot in no time, but too distant for photies. So with the “Yanks” in the book, A short trip to:
Blacktoft sands RSPB, Ousefleet. Part of the exciting complex of habitats around the Humber estuary. The tidal reedbed is the largest in England and is important for its breeding Bearded Tits, Marsh Harriers and Bittern. It was here that I once choose to volunteer to spend a ‘Birthday week’, pulling up weeds, digging dirt, and guiding visitors around the reserve for NO PAY, just feeding my soul, with the knowledge that I have contributed to the future of both existing and visiting birds. The reserve is waiting for the start of the ‘wader season’ to begin. Single, Avocet (RSPB logo), and Spotted Redshank, where the only specialists on show. Above the extensive reed beds, 3 ‘lezzer’ female Marsh Harriers, practiced ariel maneuvers! with each other, in readiness, should, a male show up. An excellent day, in atrocious wind.
Additions to the list included: Avocet, Snipe, Spotted Redshank, Shorelark, Long-Eared Owl, Linnet.
Year Total: 92