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.

First twitch of the year.

As I near home returning from Marbury, My sat-nav informs me of a Cattle Egret near bye. That will have to wait for tomorrow. I pray hard that night.

Higher Poynton SJ9483 , Near New House Farm, amongst the cattle, One of a small number of migrant Cattle Egrets that have just arrived up and down the country,on a strong South Westerly, is following cattle, would you beleive. This for me, my only second sighting. The weather is absolutley continental, and the Egrete is loooking comfortable with the temperature. A few years ago the Little Egret was a very rare bird now we have farsands, Great White Egrets are staying the year too. Could the Catlle Egret take a liking to these shores. I think so.