Lancs: 25th-27th April 2010.

27th April: Very disappointing views of the male Dotterel on Abbeystead Lane this afternoon!

This Snipe on roadside fenceposts was much more obliging.

And it was worth the trip just to view some of the stunning northern Golden Plover present.

Below: A couple of selected Moths from 6w actinic Heath Trap left overnight at Brockholes Nature Reserve LWT on 26th April:

Above: Water Carpet - appears to be a first for the Brockholes 10km square according to Mapmate.

Below: Purple Thorn - a beauty!

Above: A fraction of the 265 Whimbrel into roost on 25th April 2010.

Local birding: Brockholes Nature Reserve LWT, Lancs - 25th April 2010.

Above: A 'silent' migrant Tree Pipit on the mound at the east end of the site.
Below: White Wagtail on the gravel bed downstream of Redscar Weir.

Whimbrel numbers are now getting respectable, and it was good to be able to get down tonight and enjoy the 265 that roosted. Sedge Warbler were new in today (none seen y/day?) with 4 singing males.

Local birding: Ashy Headed Wagtail or hybrid, Brockholes LWT, Lancs - 23rd April 2010.

Whilst a hybrid consensus of opinion appears to be more likely at this stage, this stunning colour-headed Wagtail runs pure Ashy Headed pretty damn close. However, the bird shows a vestigial supercillium behind the eye coupled with a faint and narrow supraloral stripe between eye and bill and a single 'weak' flavissima-like call has been heard.

Research I have done on the internet suggests that Ashy Headed can produce a 'flavissima-like' call in between the typical harsher call. Attempts are being made to record the call.

An excellent find by Carl Partington and Zac Hinchcliffe, and another excellent bird for Brockholes whatever the conclusion.

local birding: Brockholes LWT - 5th April 2010.

Above: Cutting a forlorn figure during a 3hr Osprey vigil from the eastern end of the site. A pair of adult Med Gulls dropping into the site from time to time and a nice count of 4 Green Sandpiper on the River Ribble were the highlights of the afternoon. Thanks to Bill 'paparazzi' Gregory for the photo.

Bill Gregory also took this opportunistic photo of a Greylag taking off. Closer inspection on his PC at home revealed the bird was darvic ringed. Alas, twas too much to dream it to be of Icelandic origin. The bird was one 7 Greylags ringed at MMWWT, Lancs, on 19/11/2008. All were given a green 'B' ring.

Additional to the Brockholes sighting, there have been three more reports of these ringed birds: One was seen at Southport Marine Lake, One was found dead at Banks nr Southport, and another was seen in St Helens.