Long-billed Dowitcher, Old Hollow Farm, Lancs - 17th Oct 2009.

Another enjoyable afternoon on the south Ribble Marshes, this time in the company of Dave Bickerton, Mike Watson and Cllr John F. Wright, saw us spend a few hours firstly at Old Hollow Farm where, after a lengthy search, we located the single juv Long-billed Dowitcher reported earlier in the day, but where is the other bird?

Above & below: Juv LB Dowitcher, Old Hollow Farm, Lancs - 17th Oct 2009.

Other waders seen: 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, c80 Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwits, Golden Plover, Snipe, Curlew, Lapwing & Redshank.

Runner up in the bird-of-the-day stakes went to the 'flava' Wagtail which flew east over the seawall and into distant stubble at 15:17, my first and very likely the last in Lancs this year! Raptors included two sightings of Merlin and a juv Marsh Harrier. Four Raven included two at OHF and 2 at Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB and a flock of c60 Fieldfare flew east at OHF.

Above: Left-right, Myself, Dave Bickerton, Mike Watson and John Wright - on the seawall at Old Hollow Farm, Lancs - 17th Oct 2009.