Things have been a little quiet over the last few weeks so apologies to all who check on the blog to see what has been seen around the area.

A morning walk around Stags Lodge on the 6th had good views of two calling male Bullfinches and a single female, the first time in a long while I seen them locally.
Also plenty of Great and Blue Tits calling and a single Robin around the pond. The afternoon I spent up at Cuerden Valley Park and though there was nothing new to report there were a vast number of calling Tits and Finches around the cinder path wooded area of the park. 3 Greater Spotted Woodpecker were in different parts of the park, one seen two heard. On the lake the lone Canada Goose has been joined by several others and I managed to see one of the 2 reported Great Crested Grebes in full summer plumage, the first time I’d seen them in a month or so.


On the 7th I managed a few hours up at Hesketh Out Marsh hoping to see the Grey Plover that have been reported seen on the reserves facebook page, I haven’t seen them before so would be a nice tick. The only raptors on show were 2 Buzzard over the old wall. Waders included 3 Curlew 20+ Redshank and 2 Black-Tailed Godwit amongst a flock of Shellduck which were in good numbers across the reserve. Other wildfowl included Mallard, Wigeon and Teal, no sign of any Swans or Geese though with the mist you couldn’t see to far.


Today I drove my favourite stretch of motorway (M40) as I headed back from the south counting 28 Red Kite, 2 Buzzard and 1 Kestrel. I’m working up at Seahouses over the next 2 days so hope to report back something if I get chance to look around.

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Hesketh Out Marsh - 17th January 2010

Reece wanted to head up to Marton Mere to see if the reported American Bittern was around but as we had little time I thought and hours visit to HOM would be better. I pulled in to a very full car park to see an almost full viewing point and BBC Radio Lancashire interviewing Graham the RSPB warden we'd met on last weeks walk.
Raptors were present in small numbers including 2 Merlin, 3 Buzzard and a Marsh Harrier (seen before I arrived). Teal, Wigeon and good numbers Shellduck as well as Pinkfooted by the Ribble and over head. A few Redshank showed close and Curlew, Snipe and Lapwing showed in the distance, the latter also in the nearby fields. 2 Bewick's were a good sighting on the Warton side, 11 Whooper flew over and 4 Mute in a nearby stretch of water. As well as the odd Skylark fly by c20 Fieldfare fed in the field by the carpark.

RSPB Marshside guided walk - 10th January 2010

Thanks go out to Graham the warden for the reserve who showed a goup of us around on what was a very cold morning. Although we visit Marshside quite a lot on our trips out we took our first trip around the back of the sand plant and learnt the best places to look for certain species. Sightings on the 2 hour walk included 6 Merlin, 2 Peregrine, 2 Kestrel, 50+ Skylark (+ many smaller flocks across the marsh), Meadow Pipit, 20+ Linnet, Dunock, Reed Bunting, Stonechat, Song Thrush, Fieldfare, Redshank, Curlew, Wigeon, Pinkfooted Geese, barnacle Geese and a Blue Snow Goose (not sure if we can tick that).

ABOVE SONG THRUSH FEEDING VERY CLOSE AND BELOW MALE STONECHAT BOTH TAKEN NEAR THE SANDGROUNDERS HIDE BY REECE WITH THE LUMIX

Life tick for Reece when we sat in McDonalds drive through car park eating some 'lunch'. We searched through the Gulls and spotted a Yellow-legged amongst the Black-headed, Common and Herring Gull.

At Cuerden Valley Park yesterday we saw 3 Common Buzzard (2 of them at Stags Lodge), something we haven't seen in the area for at least 18 months. Back this afternoon at Stags Lodge a Common Buzzard was being mobbed by 2 Carrion Crow.