It's a bit wet!

Rape field, Rixton Moss

Woodpigeon, Glazebrook

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A day of torrential rain interrupted by brief lulls - not exactly the weather anyone wanted. The rain did stop on two occasions and I managed a quick lunch-time trip around Rixton and a late evening visit to HGF.

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The higlight at Rixton was a male Yellow Wagtail in the fields between Woodend and Prospect Lanes. I have long thought this was a superb spot for Yellow Wags and have been slightly puzzled at the lack of any sightings. Also here were 6 Wheatears, 3 Corn Buntings and 3 Yellowhammers. Two pairs of Grey Partridges were also mooching around, one of the birds being very blackish in colour. In the small pool at the base of the tip at least 120 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were bathing - a Redshank was also calling from here though I couldn't see it. 3 Herring Gulls completed the gull line-up. In a field off Woodend Lane were 52 Carrion Crows!

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By Moat Lane lots of warblers were singing with 6 Willow Warblers, 5 Whitethroats, 3 Blackcaps and 3 Chiffchaffs all trying out for this weekends Eurovision song contest. I know which I prefer! A male Great Spotted Woodpecker posed for photos while I was on the phone and the camera was in the car. A male Bullfinch was also showing nicely and 2 Grey Wagtails flew off the fishing pools. A Little Grebe and a Great Crested Grebe were on the large pool and a Buzzard was perched in the bushes nearby. On the way home eight Corn Buntings were on the wires in Culcheth, four outside Holcroft Hall farm and four outside Hanging Birch farm.

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At HGF this evening over 90 Swallows were perched on the wires opposite the kennels - around 30 Swifts were in the air but few of the other hirundines! The male Corn Bunting was singing on the wires above the west hedge and single Oystercatcher and Redshank were present - the former in the field west of Midhops farm. 4 Yellow Wagtails were on the west bank, 2 females and a male with the fourth bird having its back to me before all were flushed by dog walkers - they didn't return. The drake Wigeon is still around and a single Black-necked Grebe was also in the middle of the pool. Yesterday a drake Pochard was around for the morning.