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.