We headed off to the coast today deciding to steer clear of the Shorelark at Southport
We made our way first to a place called Barton, on the way to Myerscough Quarry, where a Common Scoter had been reported on the canal, we failed to find the Scoter, but instead found a mixed flock of Tree and House Sparrows, with Chaffinches and a single Reed Bunting. We then carried on to Myerscough, where we had a mixture of Coot, Pochard, Canada Geese, Black Headed Gulls and Cormorants, an interesting area which turns the odd goody up from time to time.
We then carried onto Rawcliffe Moss to see if we could find some of the Corn Buntings and even more Tree Sparrows which had been reported, but unfortunately failed to find any suitable looking areas, don't know if we were in the right place, too many private roads there. We did find a stunning female Sparrowhawk, which looked like she had just had a feed, we could even see the blood stains on her talons and five Fieldfare.
Onto Eagland Hill and there were plenty of Pink Feet in the air, which I watched land. There was a good number of them, we estimated 1500+ in the field, with more arriving all the time and also good numbers of Skylark flying over calling. We carried on and two Grey Partridge flew off the road as we approached a blind bend. We then stumbled across the feeding station, and although there were no Corn Buntings there, we found good numbers of Tree Sparrow and Chaffinches again and 25+ Collared Doves.
We started to make our way towards the coast and going through Hambleton crossed Wardley's Creek where there was a flock of 400+ Lapwing, Golden Plover, Dunlin and Redshank and one Curlew, we couldn't find anything different here.
Next stop was Starr Gate, if you're going here be warned, Blackpool is in the process being poshed up and Starr Gate car park is closed permanently. We found a vantage point though and there were over 100 Common Scoter and a group of 5 Eider flew through. Not a lot else out to sea though.
Last stop was Fairhaven Lake where we found the long staying juvenile Shag and the 2 Red Breasted Mergansers which have been there for a few days, the 1st winter male a strange looking beast!
A very pleasant day and at least we didn't get wet!
, don't know if we were in the right place, too many private roads there.
We did find a stunning female Sparrowhawk, which looked like she had just had a feed, we could even see the blood stains on her talons
and five Fieldfare.
and also good numbers of Skylark flying over calling. We carried on and two Grey Partridge flew off the road as we approached a blind bend. We then stumbled across the feeding station, and although there were no Corn Buntings there, we found good numbers of Tree Sparrow and Chaffinches again and 25+ Collared Doves.
and Starr Gate car park is closed permanently. We found a vantage point though and there were over 100 Common Scoter and a group of 5 Eider flew through. Not a lot else out to sea though.