Terns return

25^th April

This evening after work I nipped round to Rixton and checked the local pool – both terns were back and present. It’s great to see them back. A flit through the mosses produced 9 Wheatears and a singing male Corn Bunting. Late evening at HGF it was raining heavily so I didn’t bother checking the place. Around 180+ Swallows were feeding over the pool.

Arctic Tern graces HGF

Photos:

Arctic Tern and Wheatear, Houghton Green Flash
Grey Heron, Hornby
Ringed Plovers, Eiders and Whimbrels, Morecambe
Ruff, Farleton

19^th April 

A brief, early morning trip to HGF yielded little other than singing Blackcaps and Willow Warbler with Oystercatcher and 2 Little Ringed Plovers also present. 

20^th April 

A brief look at the feeding station today produced 18 Tree Sparrows and 3 Yellowhammers. I have usually stopped feeding by now but I will probably continue for a little while given the unusual weather. 

This evening a visit to HGF produced a female Wheatear in the south field. Around 40 Swallows were feeding over the pool and a single Little Ringed Plover was wandering around. 

21^st April 

Up at the van and so this morning I went over to Heysham with Bill and did a spot of sea watching over the rising tide. It was predictably disappointing – the good weather for sea watching never seems to coincide with my presence up here. Singles of Sandwich Tern and Red-throated Diver plus 2 Gannets were the only noteworthy birds. 

The groynes at Morecambe were just as bare – 12 Ringed Plovers, the same number of Eiders and my first Whimbrel of the year on Teal Bay groyne being the highlights. The numbers of birds on the groynes have been disappointing all winter. 

Next I headed to Leighton Moss. I had a brief look at the Morecambe complex (800 Black-tailed Godwits and 19 Avocets) and then from Lillian’s (drake Garganey and male Marsh Harrier) though I didn’t stay long in either place due to having to leave Bill in the car. 

This evening on a very nice sunny evening I wandered down the River Wenning from Hornby. There were lots of common species flitting around including some wagtails and a showy Grey Heron. In one of the flooded fields I found some Redshanks and a Ringed Plover. It was very pleasant and the best bit was a Peregrine which flew low down river. It was presumably a female given its size and it bombed off after the waders before disappearing from view. A few Buzzards also circled overhead. On the way over I had stopped briefly to look at Farleton flood where 5 Ruff were in residence. Not much else there though. 

22^nd April 

I woke this morning to the sound of Willow Warblers and Blackcaps singing near our van – nice! 

Ever a glutton for punishment, I headed over to Heysham again and repeated yesterdays disappointment. I did find 2 Red-throated Divers, 3 Sandwich Terns and some Eiders. Oh the heady heights….. 

I checked out the groynes again at high tide and again very little except Teal Bay where 7 Whimbrel were in residence today with 3 Red-breasted Mergansers on the sea. And that was it for North Lancs this weekend – late morning we went home. 

Back at home 24 Tree Sparrows, 8 House Sparrows and a Yellowhammer were stuffing themselves at the feeding station. An early evening visit to HGF brightened up the day with a passage Arctic Tern present for around 20 minutes. Also here was a male Yellow Wagtail, a Common Sandpiper and 2 Little Ringed Plovers. 

23^rd April 

The feeding station today held a singing Corn Bunting in addition to 21 Tree Sparrows and a Yellowhammer. 

At HGF this evening, the Kestrel pair were smooching on a telegraph pole and a White Wagtail was flitting along the shoreline. Also here were 4 Little Ringed Plovers, a Common Sandpiper and 80 Swallows. 2 pairs of Canada Geese were new in. 

24^th April 

I was working away in Sheffield today and received a text from Jonathan telling me that the cranes were back at Risley Moss.  I arrived back home this evening and bumped into David Spencer who told me the cranes now present at Rixton moss. He also told me that one of the local Common Terns was also back. I bombed round to Holly Bush Lane first and watched the cranes again (what a stunning sight) before they headed off into Risley Moss to roost. I can still remember vividly every moment of early morning I spent watching these birds the other week. Marvellous! I nipped over to the local pool and checked the tern before heading home. 

At HGF at dusk were 3 Common Sandpipers, a Redshank and 4 Little Ringed Plovers.

A swift visit to Anglesey

Photos:

Stonechats, Wheatear, Redstart, Ravens, Chough, Fulmars and Herring Gull all at Southstack
Merlin at Rixton

17^th April 

Arrived home late from working away. A quick visit to the feeding station produced 24 Tree Sparrows, 7 Grey Partridges and 8 Yellowhammers. At HGF in the gloom of dusk, 7 Little Ringed Plovers were present. 

18^th April 

This morning I drove over to Anglesey for a meeting and took advantage while I was there to have a look at a few things. On my way there I noticed it was somewhere nears high tide and decided to stop for the briefest of sea watches at Llanfairfechan. The bush shelter is currently out of bounds due to a construction project so I scanned the sea from the car park. The following birds were seen: 

Arctic Tern                              2

Eider                                        2
Gannet                                     At least 20
Razorbill                                  2
Red-breasted Merganser         6
Red-throated Diver                 4
Sandwich Tern                        1 

After the meeting I decided to have my lunch “round the corner” at Southstack. I had around 45 minutes to spare there and rushed around trying to make the most of it. First stop was Ellins Tower where I found that all the auks had buggered off out to sea as a result of the bad weather. A single Puffin was floating on the water. 14 Fulmars were huddled up on the cliffs and a few Kittiwakes were hanging around but it was meagre fare. I spent some time watching a pair of Stonechats flitting around the seaward side of the tower. I could have watched these birds for hours – two Rock Pipits also went past. 

Back at the car park I spotted a few Choughs which all seemed to disappear when I scoped them and a pair of Ravens. The latter were trying to get at something in the heather and eventually I sussed it was an egg. Looking back at the photos, it appears to be a Guillemot’s or something similar. An early laying bird or something they stashed over the winter from last summer? 

Next I spotted another Chough in the horse paddocks across from the cafe and while watching it I suddenly realised there were quite a few Wheatears around. In fact I counted at least 37 and I suspect there were many more if I had the time to look. I also found a nice male Redstart with them and 3 more Stonechats. The Redstart still has buffish primaries and tertials and doesn’t look as smart as an adul male should – perhaps one of last years youngsters still moulting into adult plumage? 

I arrived back in the office mid afternoon and after work popped around to Rixton Moss. It was very quiet and the only bird of note was a soggy female Merlin perched in a field off Prospect Lane. She sat there in the rain without moving for half an hour. At HGF later there was an influx of hirundines with 80+ Swallows and 20+ Sand Martins plus 2 Little Ringed Plovers while at the feeding station there were 28 Tree Sparrows and 3 Yellowhammers.

And a Nightingale sang....well almost!

Photos:

Nightingale at Paxton Pits

16^th April 

This evening I was driving for work away again tomorrow so I headed over to Paxton Pits for a couple of hours late evening. Although sunny, the weather was bitterlky cold and windy and consequently the place seemed subdued compared to previous visits at this time of year. I started wandering up the Heron Trail where loads of Blackcaps and Willow Warblers were singing but most either softly or sub-songs. I noticed a small bird grubbing around nr the base of a bramble patch next to a couple of bushes and realised it was a Nightingale! I watched this bird for around 20 minutes – it would grub around in the open for literally seconds before flying back into cover and then repeat the process a minute or so later. 

There were lots of Grey Herons and Cormorants on nests – all of the herons seemed to have young. Wandering further along the path there was no sound at all from any Nightingales and, despite several peripheral glimpses of my quarry, I only saw one further bird briefly dash across a clearing. I did hear some Common Terns calling but couldn’t figure out where they were flying round. A couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers played kiss chase with a Treecreeper near by and 3 yaffling Green Woodpeckers. 

Walking back to the car I finally heard a Nightingale burst into song – in the place I least expected it, the mound next to the car park. I then twigged (dozy me) that the terns were probably on the sailing lake so I walked around there. There is a Black-headed Gulls colony on the islands here and around 400 birds were in residence – I trawled through them looking for a Med without success but did find 4 Common Terns. 

Next I headed over to Diddington again. By now the weather was threatening rain, it was much colder and very gloomy. There were few large gulls around though 14 more Common Terns were flying around Diddington Pit and I also heard another 3 yaffling Green Woodies. In a field by the car park were a pair of Red-legged Partridges and a couple of Brown Hares. I had thought about staying for owls but the weather got the better of me and I retreated back to my hotel.

Rixton comes up trumps

Photos:

Little Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper at Houghton Green Flash
Grey Partridge, Yellow Wagtail and Wheatear at Rixton

13^th April 

After work today I nipped round to the feeding station and watched the hedge for a while. There was nothing present initially and then a few birds appeared from further down and slowly worked their way up, to be joined by others when it was clear the area was safe. Typical behaviour; that said only 11 Tree Sparrows were present though 10 Yellowhammers did eventually appear. I have also discovered they are currently flying into the depths of the rape field for cover when they feel threatened e.g. when dog walkers go past. David Bowman went past and said hello. 

I then popped round to HGF and bumped into Chris so we walked down to the pool. A pair of Jays were messing around in the south hedge – first I have seen for a while and a few Mistle Thrushes were feeding on the lawn. It was pleasing to see loads of hirundines over the water, buzzing back and forth with most being Swallows and Sand Martins. Yesterdays five Canada Geese turned up while we were there and at least 15 Great Crested Grebes were on the pool. At one point a pair of adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls popped in for a quick bath before leaving – the third successive night they have done this. 3 pairs of Little Ringed Plovers patrolling the muddy fringe capped off the evening nicely. 

Pete Hilton texted me about 2 cranes today at Risley Moss – I assumed they were flyover birds and didn’t question this – just congratulated Pete. 

14^th April 

A Common Sandpiper was present at HGF this morning and a drake Pochard was a welcome visitor – infrequent at this time of year. Two pairs of Oystercatchers were present but no fisticuffs – I guess the resident pair and the pair from just to the south. At the feeding station were 24 Tree Sparrows and 8 Yellowhammers. Four Wheatears were present on Rixton Moss. 

Late afternoon I took Bill for a walk down Barrow Lane. Not much around – this is the list of birds seen while I was there: 

Buzzard                       5

Grey Partridge             2
Lapwing                      12
Mallard                        3
Meadow Pipit              2
Oystercatcher              2
Skylark                        8
Stock Dove                 2 

I was driving away from Barrow lane and back towards Winwick when Jonathan rang. He was at Leighton Moss and a friend of his had just phoned him about 2 cranes which had just flown from Risley Moss heading towards Rixton. I immediately took off over to Rixton to see if they had put down there. Going down Holly Bush Lane, as soon as I cleared the first farm where the Vista opens up I could see the cranes even without bins, walking around in a field around 100m west of the junction with Woodend Lane. Unfortunately two people with a dog were heading in that general direction and within seconds of spotting them, the cranes spooked and flew back into Risley Moss. 

I then piled back into the car and did a good Sweeney impression heading round to Risley Moss – I arrived at 6pm just as the Ranger was closing the gates. Fortunately he was helpful and understanding and allowed me a quick 20 minute spell at the viewing point. Nothing doing though the Ranger told me that the cranes had spent their time today in an area of restored mossland at the back of the reserve and which is completely surrounded by trees. I thanked him for the info and went home. 

15^th April 

Up early this sunny Sunday morning and gambolled that the cranes might have left Risley Moss and be feeding around Rixton Moss if it was quiet. I found them at 06:55 in the same place I saw them yesterday – they were slowly wandering up and down a line towards the ploughed patch which borders the railway line separating Risley and Rixton Mosses. Put the word out and expected someone to come for a look – no one did. I watched these superb birds for nearly two hours (during which time a female Sparrowhawk flew over them) before they suddenly took off and flew back into Risley Moss. 

As luck would have it, Brian Burnett and his wife Helen arrived. We stood chatting for a while when suddenly the out-of-sight cranes started calling before lifting out of Risley Moss and they began spiralling up on some thermals with a couple of hundred large gulls. Eventually they headed off high to the SE. 

After the cranes had gone I wandered over to the ploughed field previously mentioned and found a couple of Wheatears, two White Wagtails and a superb male Yellow Wagtail. This area, as on previous visits, is alive with Skylarks too. Six Corn Buntings were seen around Prospect and Holly Bush Lanes. 

Back home at the feeding station were 34 Tree Sparrows and 4 Yellowhammers. While I was busy watching the cranes, Karen was watching a Grey Heron which had flown into the garden and had perched on top of the Magpies nest in the smaller Ash tree, much to the anger of the occupants! 

Late morning I walked round HGF. A female Sparrowhawk (my second today) came barrelling over the south field and headed into the trees around the kennels before emerging with nothing to show for her efforts. The drake Pochard was still around and the wader line up included a Common Sandpiper, 4 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Redshanks and an Oystercatcher. Willow Warbler and Blackcap were both singing away.