Bits and bats birding

Merlin, Rixton

Kestrel, Rixton Moss

Second summer gull, Moore Village. Bit of a monster!

Wheatear, Seaforth

Goldfinch having a bath, Seaforth

Yellowhammer and Tree Sparrows in the garden

Skylark, HGF

Common Sandpiper, HGF

Herring Gull, HGF

White Wagtail, HGF

Black-necked Grebes, HGF courtesy of John Tymon

Saturday 2nd April

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HGF early morning and 5 Black-necked Grebes still present. Also had a couple of Sand Martins over and a Chiffchaff singing in the east hedge. The last pair of Wigeon have now departed and that is that until late autumn. Bon voyage!!!! We had my brother-in-law and his Mrs staying with us today so no birding for the rest of the day. That said, I did spot around 1000 large gulls in a ploughed field nr Moore Village (with another similar number just buggering back to the tip) and fortunately had my scope in the car. The flock constituted approx 70% first winter Herring Gulls and 30% adult Lesser Black-backs with the large bugger in the photos standing out like a sore thumb. I wondered if it contained some Glauc genes, smarter birders than me go for a very large and very pale second summer argentatus Herring Gull. Whatever species or hybrid you assign to it, still an impressive bird! In the garden today were 9 Tree Sparrows and a Yellowhammer while 5 Buzzards soared overhead.

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Sunday 3rd April

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HGF early doors and six Black-necked Grebes present, making at least ten through so far. A Common Sandpiper was a welcome migrant too! A couple of Swallows and a Sand Martin were also present plus a single Little Ringed Plover.

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Late afternoon I managed to sneak out to Rixton. A male Blackcap was new and singing in Moat Lane along with 9 Chiffchaffs in the area. The usual 2 Green Sandpipers were on the tip pool and three Little Ringed Plovers were on Moat Lane pools. 28 Linnets and a couple of Stock Doves were observed on the mosses. In the garden today were 7 Tree Sparrows and a Yellowhammer with 11 Goldfinches and 6 Greenfinches on the feeders.

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Also had a mooch over to my dad’s allotment this afternoon (Oswaldtwistle). The local Sparrowhawk is taking next door’s homing pigeon’s at the rate of one each day. Interestingly though two pigeons lost recently in separate races (one starting in Weymouth, the other in Hereford) both ended up in the same Peregrine eerie in Scotland!!! Monday 4th April

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6 BNG’s still present at HGF this morning. The Common Sandpiper was also still present – at dusk yesterday I had spotted it half asleep on the bank. Went back in the evening – 90+ Sand Martins and 2 Swallows were feeding over the water.

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In the evening at Rixton a local mega was to be had – a pair of Shelducks on Moat lane pools! Usual couple of Green Sands on the tip pool, 2 Redshanks on Moat Lane pool and Blackcap singing again in Moat Lane. In the garden this evening were 5 Tree Sparrows and a Yellowhammer.

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Tuesday 5th April

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HGF early morning and still 6 BNG’s. A Nuthatch was calling by Myddleton Hall and singing chiffer still present. Slightly unusual as they don’t breed here and the best we usually get is a day singing before the chiffer moves on. 11 Sand Martins moved through and at dusk 3 Little Ringed Plovers were present. Also found another dead gull – I’m sure this was another Peregrine kill. This evening I had a quick drive through of Rixton mosses and bagged a female Merlin perched up in a fallow field. Nice one! The 2 Shelducks had relocated to the tip pool and a Swallow flew around on Holly Bush Lane. A Willow Warbler was also singing in Moat Lane. 2 Green Sandpipers on the tip pool.

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Wednesday 6th April

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Called in at Seaforth after work. Lots of wagtails on the long bank – I would estimate 40 each of Pied and White. Two Wheatears were also here – a Greenland male and a female. A Chiffchaff was singing in a bush, a Swallow flew over and the usual wader line up. The gulls present were all spooked and left when 2 Canada Geese started the mother of all fights!

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HGF this evening was relatively quiet. Only 2 Black-necked Grebes were present plus a Common Sandpiper, 2 Stock Doves, 21 Linnets, 3 Swallows and 5 Sand Martins. 5 Tree Sparrows in the garden plus a Sparrowhawk which dashed around the conservatory.

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Thursday 7th April

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HGF this morning was miserable – rain! A Sparrowhawk flew low over the pool, 3 Swallows were hanging around and 2 BNG’s. Went back this evening – 100+ Sand Martins plus Common Sandpiper, Redshank and 3 Little Ringed Plovers. Had visited Rixton at tea time and found 3 Wheatears in Holly Bush Lane plus a Corn Bunting. 2 Little Ringed Plovers on the tip pool and a third on Moat Lane pools. No sign of the Green Sands! A Sparrowhawk was in the garden this evening.