Photo:
Temminck's Stint, Wigan Flashes
Monday 16th May
Lunch time escape today to Wigan Flashes hoping to see the Temminck’s Stint reported early on. It was raining when I arrived and the place was deserted. A large (by the standards of this year) flock of House Martins (90 or so) were feeding along the canal and around 300 Swifts were feeding over Horrock’s Flash.
I scanned the pool numerous times, moving down the canal and viewing from different vantage points. There were several Common Terns in the Black-headed Gull flock with at least three incubating. A pair of Little Ringed Plovers and four Dunlin were also there. Running out of time I headed back up the canal and stopped briefly to look at an Oystercatcher which had just flown in. There in front of it was the Temminck’s Stint. With the scope of high zoom I managed to get very good views of this tiny wader – probably the best I have had of this species. I did then run of time.
Tuesday 17th May
I bagged my third good wader in three days today in the form of the Hoylake Broad-billed Sandpiper. But what a run around.
I arrived at the end of the beach with the weather threatening to rain heavily. A few birders were also present with no sign of the little tinker. Ian Woosey also rolled up. Ian and I began walking along the front, stopping to scan the numerous Dunlins which were spread out over a large area. There was no sign but a couple of Sanderlings gave us a bit of variation. Sid Ashton then appeared and told us that the best place to see it was behind the tennis courts (info gleaned from local expert with bird observatory overlooking the bay) before zooming off. Ian and I headed off in that direction before Ian stopped for a loo break while I continued on.
I arrived at the good viewing point to find lots of Dunlin and Sid already there. However a Peregrine appeared and spooked all the Dunlin. They flew off out and then back down where I had started from, leaving the beach in front of us empty! I decided to walk back to let Ian know and then go and get my car which was by now well over 1 mile away. I left Sid looking after my scope. I found Ian and several other birders by the shelter back past the coast guards watching the Broad-billed Sandpiper! I had some good views through Ian’s scope and then continued on to my car before zooming off to tell Sid.
I got to where Sid was and gave him the news. Loaded my scope into the car and turned round to find us blocked in by a work crew who were tarmaccing the road. We had an impatient wait and then drove back to the shelter. Just as I was parking up the phone went and I thought “that’s Ian ringing to tell me it’s flown”. I was right. Ian left fro Frodsham and Sid and I carried on watching. At one point one guy apparently got the bird in his scope and then let Sid, who was next to him, have a look. In that brief moment it disappeared again and was not relocated until much later that day. Well at least I saw it…..but I felt for Sid. Fortunately he is a persistent bugger and went back and got it later in the week.
Wednesday 18th May
Working away today. Started and finished work early and headed over to Weeting Heath afterwards. I don’t know why I bothered – it was tipping it down. On the plus side, sitting in a hide in the rain is still better than sitting bored in a hotel room.
The target birds didn’t show for a while and then three Stone Curlews appeared with one having a fly around. They briefly met up and then disappeared. Earlier while sitting in the hide I heard a falcon calling and then watched two Hobbies flying around in front of the hide. Later I had a walk through the pine forest opposite, hoping to find some Woodlarks in the clearings. Nothing doing, though I did keep seeing 2 Hobbies (presumably the same birds) and was slightly bemused to find several Yellowhammers and a Red-legged Partridge in the middle of the forest.
Thursday 19th May
Drove back up the M40 today and had a count of 34 Red Kites from the car – one of the better counts.
Went to Rixton on the way home. The two Common Terns are still on Moat Lane pool 2 with one bird (presumably the male) bringing fish to the incubating bird. Three Little Ringed Plovers (one on each pool and one on the tip pool) and a pair of Canada Geese with 4 goslings provided interest. As I drove around the mosses I found 2 late Wheatears in Prospect Lane and a male Yellow Wagtail in Holly Bush Lane. I also drove through Culcheth – 2 Corn Buntings were on the usual wires and a Yellow Wagtail flew over the field here.
At HGF this evening there were 19 Swifts over the water – by far the highest count here this spring and yet not a patch on the usual hundreds I usually see at this time of year. It is note worthy that United Utilities have dropped the water level quite considerably and the usual insect swarms around the banks are almost completely absent. Conservation at its best!
I did see the local pair of Kestrels taking food into the nest box and thought I heard a youngster inside begging for food. A single LRP and a pair of Grey Partridges were also seen. Male Yellowhammer in the garden this evening.
Friday May 20th
HGF quiet this morning. At lunch I visited Rixton. Common Terns still doing their thing while the Lesser Whitethroat rattled away. One of the Shelducks was on pool 1 while three pairs of Lapwings with a crèche of 11 youngsters were on the tip pool. The pool has been largely drained which is probably the only thing keeping these guys alive – the tip gulls are visiting elsewhere for their baths! A pair of Yellow Wagtails were at the bottom of Holly Bush Lane and singles of Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer on Woodend Lane.
Late evening I took Bill to Newton Lake. I was somewhat surprised to find 2 immature Shelducks feeding on the pool and a Cormorant perched on a floating traffic cone while drying its wings. First time I have seen either of these species here. The usual crew were in residence – it’s slightly sad to see the old Pen is still on her own after the death of her mate during the winter. A single drake Teal and 3 Gadwalls were at the back.
Lunch time escape today to Wigan Flashes hoping to see the Temminck’s Stint reported early on. It was raining when I arrived and the place was deserted. A large (by the standards of this year) flock of House Martins (90 or so) were feeding along the canal and around 300 Swifts were feeding over Horrock’s Flash.
I scanned the pool numerous times, moving down the canal and viewing from different vantage points. There were several Common Terns in the Black-headed Gull flock with at least three incubating. A pair of Little Ringed Plovers and four Dunlin were also there. Running out of time I headed back up the canal and stopped briefly to look at an Oystercatcher which had just flown in. There in front of it was the Temminck’s Stint. With the scope of high zoom I managed to get very good views of this tiny wader – probably the best I have had of this species. I did then run of time.
Tuesday 17th May
I bagged my third good wader in three days today in the form of the Hoylake Broad-billed Sandpiper. But what a run around.
I arrived at the end of the beach with the weather threatening to rain heavily. A few birders were also present with no sign of the little tinker. Ian Woosey also rolled up. Ian and I began walking along the front, stopping to scan the numerous Dunlins which were spread out over a large area. There was no sign but a couple of Sanderlings gave us a bit of variation. Sid Ashton then appeared and told us that the best place to see it was behind the tennis courts (info gleaned from local expert with bird observatory overlooking the bay) before zooming off. Ian and I headed off in that direction before Ian stopped for a loo break while I continued on.
I arrived at the good viewing point to find lots of Dunlin and Sid already there. However a Peregrine appeared and spooked all the Dunlin. They flew off out and then back down where I had started from, leaving the beach in front of us empty! I decided to walk back to let Ian know and then go and get my car which was by now well over 1 mile away. I left Sid looking after my scope. I found Ian and several other birders by the shelter back past the coast guards watching the Broad-billed Sandpiper! I had some good views through Ian’s scope and then continued on to my car before zooming off to tell Sid.
I got to where Sid was and gave him the news. Loaded my scope into the car and turned round to find us blocked in by a work crew who were tarmaccing the road. We had an impatient wait and then drove back to the shelter. Just as I was parking up the phone went and I thought “that’s Ian ringing to tell me it’s flown”. I was right. Ian left fro Frodsham and Sid and I carried on watching. At one point one guy apparently got the bird in his scope and then let Sid, who was next to him, have a look. In that brief moment it disappeared again and was not relocated until much later that day. Well at least I saw it…..but I felt for Sid. Fortunately he is a persistent bugger and went back and got it later in the week.
Wednesday 18th May
Working away today. Started and finished work early and headed over to Weeting Heath afterwards. I don’t know why I bothered – it was tipping it down. On the plus side, sitting in a hide in the rain is still better than sitting bored in a hotel room.
The target birds didn’t show for a while and then three Stone Curlews appeared with one having a fly around. They briefly met up and then disappeared. Earlier while sitting in the hide I heard a falcon calling and then watched two Hobbies flying around in front of the hide. Later I had a walk through the pine forest opposite, hoping to find some Woodlarks in the clearings. Nothing doing, though I did keep seeing 2 Hobbies (presumably the same birds) and was slightly bemused to find several Yellowhammers and a Red-legged Partridge in the middle of the forest.
Thursday 19th May
Drove back up the M40 today and had a count of 34 Red Kites from the car – one of the better counts.
Went to Rixton on the way home. The two Common Terns are still on Moat Lane pool 2 with one bird (presumably the male) bringing fish to the incubating bird. Three Little Ringed Plovers (one on each pool and one on the tip pool) and a pair of Canada Geese with 4 goslings provided interest. As I drove around the mosses I found 2 late Wheatears in Prospect Lane and a male Yellow Wagtail in Holly Bush Lane. I also drove through Culcheth – 2 Corn Buntings were on the usual wires and a Yellow Wagtail flew over the field here.
At HGF this evening there were 19 Swifts over the water – by far the highest count here this spring and yet not a patch on the usual hundreds I usually see at this time of year. It is note worthy that United Utilities have dropped the water level quite considerably and the usual insect swarms around the banks are almost completely absent. Conservation at its best!
I did see the local pair of Kestrels taking food into the nest box and thought I heard a youngster inside begging for food. A single LRP and a pair of Grey Partridges were also seen. Male Yellowhammer in the garden this evening.
Friday May 20th
HGF quiet this morning. At lunch I visited Rixton. Common Terns still doing their thing while the Lesser Whitethroat rattled away. One of the Shelducks was on pool 1 while three pairs of Lapwings with a crèche of 11 youngsters were on the tip pool. The pool has been largely drained which is probably the only thing keeping these guys alive – the tip gulls are visiting elsewhere for their baths! A pair of Yellow Wagtails were at the bottom of Holly Bush Lane and singles of Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer on Woodend Lane.
Late evening I took Bill to Newton Lake. I was somewhat surprised to find 2 immature Shelducks feeding on the pool and a Cormorant perched on a floating traffic cone while drying its wings. First time I have seen either of these species here. The usual crew were in residence – it’s slightly sad to see the old Pen is still on her own after the death of her mate during the winter. A single drake Teal and 3 Gadwalls were at the back.
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