Anyway back to my birding day. I was accompanied by Howard, a friend who joins us now and again on our trips out, first to Leighton Moss, then onto Conder Lake and a quick stop at Pilling Lane End before heading home.
First stop was the Allen hide with a few warblers sighted amongst the reeds on the walk up but only able to ID a Sedge Warbler and 2 possible juvenile Willow Warblers.
From the Hide I saw Redshank 13, Gadwall 1, Little Egret 2, Lapwing, Black Tailed Godwit 100+, Shellduck, Teal, Oystercatcher and Heron. There was no sign of the reported Wood Sandpiper that was seen yesterday. 
Around to the Eric Morecambe Hide with some similar sightings but with the light not much chance for any photos. Greenshank and Spotted Redshank were the 2 lifers I saw from here, both hard to pick out due to the light. I spotted the Greenshank first at the far side of the pool feeding next to a Dunlin whilst the 2 Spotted Redshank had been no less than 10 meters away from us amongst some Redshank. It had taken a more observant birder than I to spot them, my excuse being they were hard to pick out in the light,as you can see in the photo. 
We got chatting to a fellow birder who told us about a place only ten minutes from us were he’s regularly seen a Short Eared Owl so hope to report from there soon. Further sightings from here included 3 more Little Egret, Redshank, Little Gull 2, Black Tailed Godwit, Black Headed Gull, Gadwall, Teal, Greylag, Cormorant, Pied Wagtail, Shoveler and 2 Greater Black Backed Gull.Last Stop at Leighton was the public hide, I usually get good views of the Marsh Harrier from here but we only get a brief view of one as it landed between some distant trees. We also missed an Osprey that had been fishing successfully 30 minutes before but did manage a Sparrowhawk that was being mobbed by Swallows as it flew over and 4 Buzzard to the left of the hide in the distance. Not much else to report here but I did manage to see my first juvenile Black Headed and Greater Black Backed Gulls.
As we headed back to the car we saw another Marsh Harrier, again only a brief view as it flew over the path and landed nearby but out of view.We had planned to head down to Heysham but with time not being on our side we went straight down to Conder Lake to see what the high tide would bring in on the estuary. Again plenty of Redshank and a large flock of Starling plus a Greenshank and 2 Spotted Redshank but not much else to report. On the lake we faired a little better with again more Redshank, 2 Ringed Plover (1 Juvenile), Tufted Duck, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail and Black Headed Gull.
We did call in briefly at Pilling Lane End on the way back but with the change of weather and with just some distant Shellduck and Gull plus a Curlew overhead we joined the queues of traffic heading home along the M55.
We thought that was it for the Tern but it wasn’t long before Reece spotted another in the air and we watched it as it flew towards the exit of the docks and back around again until it eventually settled at the end of the pontoons on the other side of the docks. After shooting off a few distant photos Reece spotted the female on a nest nearby putting the count to 3 for the evening.
We finally found the 4th Tern on its nest not to far from were we were stood, how we missed it when we arrived I’ll never know but the female was quite clearly sat there and must have been the whole time we were there.
A few more photos and we headed off, we’ll probably call back at the weekend to see if there are any chicks and try and get some better photos. 
Plenty of Lapwing and Coot, still no sign of young though we did spot 2 young Moorhen towards the end of the night, one climbing a shrub! 
Only a single Heron tonight which is unusual along with a Curlew, a little ringed and ringed plover. Only 1 Cormorant on the No. 1 pit along with the usual array of Gulls.
.jpg)
The mist had dispersed by the time we arrived at the visitors centre and we had good views of the nesting Guillimot and Razorbill. 
Plenty of Gull flying around, mainly Herring but also Lesser and Greater Black Backed could be seen on the cliff. It wasn’t long before we saw the first and second Chough of the day flying around the cliff next to the visitors centre with its unmastakable call. What we were really looking for though were Kittiwake and Fulmar, the kittiwake came first having heard there distinctive call we picked one out gliding along the edge of the cliff. The Fulmar came later; we climbed to the top of the cliff to another car park and took the steps (400!) down towards the lighthouse. There are plenty of places to stop on the way down to rest, I mean watch the nesting birds along the cliffs and it was here we found a nesting pair on the lighthouse island. We also saw a few gliding around the cliff edges and it was here where I shot my best photo to date. It might not be perfectly focused but to get the shot I did of the Fulmar on the wing so close was just amazing for me. 
As we descended further we spotted a pair of Puffin, another lifer for both of us and a bird I’ve wanted to see for a very long time. We didn’t cross to the lighthouse itself as we didn’t have to much time though it does look a good spot to watch the cliffs from so maybe next time. Back up the steps more Chough, a few photos and an ice-cream and we were back at the cliff edge watching the nesting birds flying in and out.
It was here we saw the Raven trying its chances with the Guillimot and as you can see it managed an egg after about 10 minutes of trying and another Raven soon took its place soon after the first had flown. 
A quick look around the visitors centre and it was back to the car with a Rock Pipit in-between. The visitors centre is worth a look as they have live feeds of nesting Chough, a ‘today’s sightings’ board and plenty of wardens to chat to.
By the time we had walked down to the Ron Barker hide via the In Focus shop to see what was around we’d clocked up 14 species with Goldfinch, Wood Pigeon, Swallow, Mallard, Pochard, Moorhen, Coot, Shellduck, Blackbird, Robin, Chaffinch, Long-Tailed Tit, Tree Sparrow and Collard Dove. 
We then joined the hardened birders (well most were dressed in full camouflage and had more equipment than most can afford never mind carry), who had no doubt turned up to find the Green Sandpiper and the American Wigeon.
After our lunch we headed down to the Marsh Harrier hide calling in the other hides on the way down. Our sightings increased to 49 with Blue and Great Tit, Greenfinch, House Martin, Little Grebe, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Sedge Warbler, Skylark, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Wren and Jackdaw.
