Purple Sands headline at Heysham

Photos:

Rabbit, Linnet, Knot, Oystercatcher and Purple Sandpiper at Heysham, Dipper at Halton

2^nd March

A slightly interesting sighting at HGF this morning was of an Oystercatcher patrolling the water’s edge and looking mean (it did, really) while two others flew off to the south calling agitatedly. The reason this is slightly interesting is that there are two pairs in the vicinity of HGF – the resident pair which tend to nest either around Highfield Lane in Winwick or in the fields opposite the kennels and a pair which nest somewhere to the south. The latter are not tolerated early on in the breeding season but are largely ignored late summer and it is not unusual to see both pairs together. So I wonder if the two birds that have been present for the last few days were the southern pair and one of the local birds has just arrived and turfed them off. It’s a theory….

25 Tree Sparrows and 9 Yellowhammers were at the feeding station this morning – plenty of singing from the cock Yellowhammers adding to the spring-like feel. This afternoon we were up at the van (for the first time in a few months) and generally just driving around in Karen’s new cabaret – open top driving in freezing conditions – not for the faint hearted. A few raptors were seen by me in the passenger seat (great for birding while driving) including a large Sparrowhawk floating over at Arkholme, 4 Buzzards spiralling together over Leighton Moss and a Peregrine somewhere nr Warton.

3^rd March

I started this morning at Heysham. The feeding station was entertaining – a rabbit seemed intent on eating the niger seed, much to the chagrin of the 23 Twite, 4 Linnets, 2 Dunnocks, Goldfinch and Meadow Pipit all hanging around. I suspect the latter was just there for moral support.

Walking down to the end of the north harbour wall I spied 2 Purple Sandpipers clambering around on the rocks at the foot of the wall. I watched them for a few minutes, briefly looked away at something else and they had vanished. Some Turnstones though and some Eiders off shore, a Shag in the harbour and 83 Knot on nearby rocks.

Later I headed over to Melling and counted 21 distant Whooper Swans (there were in reality 24 when someone else got closer and counted them). Late afternoon a quick trip to Halton and disgust that the top footpath has been destroyed – my favourite walk is gone. I walked up the other side and did see 2 Dippers, a Grey Wagtail and a Goosander. Back at the van late afternoon I visited the Greenfinch roost which I haven’t checked for a while. There were birds already flying in when I got there, as usual at least an hour before dark, and I suspect I may have missed some. I did see 21 fly in and they have moved from their traditional spot but not by much.