On arrival at Abbeystead Lane I quickly found a couple of Golden Plover but they disappeared into a dip in the field and it was a full 40 mins before a flock of at least 30 Golden Plover took to the air and conveniently landed in the field directly in front of the car. I quickly found the Dotterel, its creamy supercilium, breast band and smaller size being evident. Other birds of interest included Lapwing, Curlew and drumming Snipe. Red Grouse could be heard from the nearby hillsides.
After an unnecessary detour through Lancaster I was at Leighton Moss by just after 9am. The weather was just glorious, warm with light winds the only downside was significant haze. The haze improved as the afternoon wore on.
I spent some time at the feeding station close to the car park in the hope of connecting with both Nuthatch and Marsh Tit. The former showed well straight away on one of the feeders but attempts at photography were thwarted by the birds tendancy to spend its time on the wrong side of the feeder. A Goldfinch was a bit more obliging:
I collected my reserve pass and wandered slowly in the direction of the Grizedale hide, looking specifically for Marsh Tit but drawing a blank (see later however). Willow Warblers and Blackcaps were in full song along the path and a Sedge Warbler was seen well in the reedbed. Bearded Tits could be heard "Pinging" from the same area and later one was seen briefly in flight. The slow churr of a single Reed Warbler could also be heard. In a couple of weeks time the reed bed will be full of them ! A Green Woodpecker was heard several times "Yaffling" from the woodland adjacient to the reserve.
On reaching the Grizedale Hide it afforded good views of Lapwing :
Both male and female Marsh Harrier were regularly seen quartering the reed bed. Other birds of note from Grizedale included Gadwall, Teal and Pochard.
Next stop was Lilian's hide and the usual throng of Black Headed Gulls. There was also 2 Little Gulls with them and they regularly took flight showing off their black underwings and swooping to 'flycatch' insects from the surface of the water. Some shots of the birds on the water with Black Headed Gulls:
Also of particular note was a Greenland White Fronted Goose present amongst the feral Greylag and Canada Geese:
2 Marsh Tits showed really well in the woodland on the way back to the centre. It is some years since I saw this species and it is good to see them come through the awful winter we've had.
I then headed round to the Allen Pools on Morecambe Bay. This site can be a hit or a miss, often dependent on the state of the tide. Today the tide was high and it was definitely a hit ! Avocets have been present at this site for a number of years, how long before they colonise South West Scotland ? A symbol of bird conservation in the UK:
Wildfowl included Shelduck, Wigeon and Shoveler and the always attractive Pintail. There were at least 4 Pintails present, this being one of the males:
A roosting flock of Redshank had gathered to the left of the Eric Morecambe Hide and the flock included a splendid Spring plumaged Spotted Redshank. Here are several images of the bird in between preening in the Spring sunshine :
Other waders of interest included c5 Black Tailed Godwits and 4 Summer plumaged Dunlin. There was also a single Winter plumaged Dunlin present.
2 Ravens disturbed a Peregrine on the saltmarsh and the latter sat up for some time on a dead tree far out on the saltmarsh. A Kestrel completed the list of raptors.
Other birds of interest included 2 Little Egrets and my 1st Whitethroat of the summer was singing from the railway embankment.
I finished the day off by spending some time just West of the reserve at the Little Owl site of a few years ago. Scanning for this species proved unsuccessful, but both singing Blackcap and Garden Warbler were nice with both male and female of the former showing well. A Wheatear was also present.
Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker were also heard and a Sparrowhawk was seen over the woodland. It really was a most enjoyable days birding. Roll on the next one !
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