A week is a long time in birding...

Wilson's Phalarope (female), Martin Mere
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Before my meagre bird sightings from Northumberland I need to catch up on some local birding just before I went away.
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Last Friday early morning and my usual quick mooch around HGF. Two Common Sandpipers and a Sparrowhawk hunting along the east hedge were the only additions to the usual line up. In the evening I diverted through Rixton on the way home from work - it was equally quiet with one exception. When I drove along Prospect Lane to the junction with Holly Bush Lane I noticed a large flock of finches at the end of the rough track to the right. I decided I wanted a closer look and drove down until I reached a stubble field. Feeding here and regularly flitting around were over 300 Linnets with just the odd goldie with them. I just sat in the car and watched them flying around - they buzzed the car twice! Awesome.
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Saturday morning found me at Martin Mere - the temptation of the Wilson's Phalarope proved too much. It was nice to bump into John Tymon there - I really do think John should have bought the metallic pink scope from Focal Point! While John was busy reviewing scopes, all the birders including myself headed for the Swan Link Hide where the WP was seen earlier in the morning. Plenty of attempts (by birders unfamiliar with WP) to turn the various Ruffs into something rarer followed - consequently John caught up with me and we headed off to the Ron Barker Hide. Just as we arrived someone present found the WP in the corner of the pool - it showed nicely for the next twenty minutes or so. There were also around twenty or so Ruff from the two hides visited. When news that the WP was at RBH, the hordes started to descend and that was my sign it was time to depart. I left John photographing the WP and headed for Marshside.
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I stopped off briefly at Crossens Out Marsh - nothing much there except for loads of Teal and Sheps though three Wheatears did fly right in front of me. I then went and stood by the sand plant (or remains of to be more accurate) and scanned the marsh. A Little Egret flew over and a large Peregrine was perched on a dead branch. This probable female briefly flew off and did a quick circuit before returning to the branch and remaining there. At least 14 Kestrels were also hunting the marsh.
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In the distance I could see a Marsh Harrier slowly heading this way so I headed off to the Sandgrounders Hide (nothing doing) and then returning when the bird was nearer. I could now see it was a female - she suddenly dropped into some reeds and out came a juvenile! In addition to the golden head this bird had large golden carpal patches. Next was Junction Pool where 264 Black-tailed Godwits all appeared to be asleep. Next stop - Northumberland.