Stuart's birding

Lancashire birding; Gulls, waders and wildfowl; Finding my own; Hesketh Out Marsh #HOM, Banks Marsh & #Marshside #gulling #goosing - a magnet for AGPs

[Stuart's birding @DarbyBug]

And another breeding plumage bird - now 5 here which is a decent spring count

[Stuart's birding @DarbyBug]

One of 3 Curlew Sand (2 breeding, 1 non-breeding plumage) in c100 mixed Ringed Plover and Dunlin at Banks Marsh. Earlier at Marshside - ad Spoonbill and a few spikes of Bee Orchid

[Stuart's birding @DarbyBug]

Now 4 Curlew Sand - another breeding plumage bird just dropped in

[Stuart's birding @DarbyBug]

And this one at HOM

[Stuart's birding @DarbyBug]

Some lovely waders in front of Nels #Marshside this morning. The local Lapwings don’t think so though!

[Stuart's birding @DarbyBug]

@nathanshark2003 Across several David, no recognised reserves, just some small woodlands etc in the Rusland Valley

[Stuart's birding @DarbyBug]

2 singing Wood Warbler, 2 Crossbill flyover, Pied Flycatchers, Redstarts, Woodcock, Ospreys, Cuckoo, Garden Warbler, Tree Pipits, Marsh Tits, Redpolls, Siskins etc in a lovely trip to the South Lakes. Nice bit of Solomon’s-seal by the roadside. Nice change from the usual

[Stuart's birding @DarbyBug]

AGP still at Banks over tide plus Curlew Sand, Sanderling, 3 Whimbrel, 6 Turnstone, Greenshank, 12 Wheatear, 400 Dunlin, 300 Ringo, 10 Grey Plover - nice selection of waders

[Stuart's birding @DarbyBug]

@JohnSNadin54 Thanks John - yes, absolute stunners

[Stuart's birding @DarbyBug]

This Garganey is showing very nicely at #Marshside this morning - shame I had to take the pic through a bramble bush!

[Stuart's birding @DarbyBug]

AGP still at Banks Marsh this morning in awful weather. A lot more waders today inc Curlew Sand and at least 40 Grey Plover so some nice comparisons despite the horizontal rain

[Stuart's birding @DarbyBug]

2nd coordinated Whimbrel Count - Longton Marsh - 175, largest flock s 54 and 31 plus Common Sands, Barn Owl, Yellow Wags, Grey Partridge, 2 Ringo, 15 Dunlin

[Stuart's birding @DarbyBug]

Here’s the Whinchat - such great birds

[Stuart's birding @DarbyBug]

Just found this cracking adult American Golden Plover at Banks Marsh. Hardly any other waders here, just a Greenshank, a Grey Plover and some Avocet. Also a Cuckoo singing. Earlier at HOM a female Whinchat

[Stuart's birding @DarbyBug]

Nice Curlew Sand from Nels #Marshside

[Stuart's birding @DarbyBug]

Currently not in view - Lapwing was chasing it before I started looking at some pics and now I can’t see it so maybe flushed off?

[Stuart's birding @DarbyBug]

3 drake Garganey (1 Rimmers, 2 Sutton’s), Greenshank, White Wagtail the highlights of a quick go at #Marshside

[Stuart's birding @DarbyBug]

@MickTay87229687 Thanks Mick - in the semi dark so the camera had to work hard

[Stuart's birding @DarbyBug]

Smashing evening for first combined Whimbrel count - Longton Marsh - 152. Also male Whinchat, lateish flock of stunning Golden Plover, Lesser Whitethroat, Yellow Wags, Common Sand, Grey Partridge singing

[Stuart's birding @DarbyBug]

A rather smart male Channel Wagtail in the fields at #HOM

[Stuart's birding @DarbyBug]

Day keeps getting better - skulkymale Redstart (2nd one this year I haven’t managed to photo!)l in the Sandplant, male Yellow Wagtail over, Spoonbill on Polly’s Pool, at least 2 Little Gull still, Swift, LRPs, Ruffs lekking etc - feels more spring like! #Marshside