Gorgeous Dotterels

The highlight of the day, undoubtedly, was a brief trip to see the Greater Manchester Dotterels, with 2 males and a female exhibiting the unconcern towards humans traditionally exhibited by this species. As the weather forecast was for torrential rain all over the NW all day and I didn't expect the birds to linger, no trip was planned and I didn't have my EOS450D. Bugger! The poor digiscoped efforts above don't do the birds justice. I had been looking forward recently to my annual trek up Pendle and todays birds have just whetted my appetite for more.

xxx

The birds scuttled around between the clumps of moorland grass and rushes, stopping frequently to stare around and occasionally showing well in the open. When I left I started looping well away from the gathered birders and was surprised when all three birds headed straight for me. I stood still and viewed through the scope - they kept on coming. Eventually I was looking at a female Dotterel stood 10 feet away from me through an 88mm Kowa scope - mind blowing! They really are fabulous and it was just a pity my time was very limited.

xxx

At HGF the eight BNG's were all still present with the male Yellow Wag showing briefly this evening. The usual pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls were also hanging around, however this evening belonged to hirundines. Approx 60 Swallows, 35 Sand Martins, 4 House Martins and a Swift were feeding over the water.

xxx

On the way to work this morning I called in at Rindle Road but failed on my target bird of Cuckoo. I did see 3 Whimbrels, a pair of Red-legged Partridges and an amazing flock of 55 finches, most of which (if not all) appeared to be Lesser Redpolls! 2 pairs of Grey Partridges and a Brown Hare were present off Waterworks Lane this evening.