Bowland, Lancs - 13th June 2010.

I have never had the DIY gene, so did the thoroughly dishonorable thing and left my wife, mother-in-law and parents decorating/gardening at my home whilst I spent an afternoon birding in Bowland! Disgraceful I know, but well worth it! To hell with the consequences!

The wingtagged male Hen Harrier above provided me with the most prolonged views of a perched male I have had in years, 30 minutes preening on this fencepost, albeit several hundred metres away. What a bird! Prolonged views of 2 Short-eared Owl and a male Merlin were also had, whilst Tawny Owl, 2 Pied Flycatcher and a pair of Whinchat were the best of the supporting cast. Excellent!

Lancs birding: MMWWT & South Ribble Marshes - 2nd June 2010.

Female Red-necked Phalarope, MMWWT, Lancs, 2nd June 2010. If you want to find one of these in Lancs, work at the Infocus shop! Between the two of them, Andy Bunting and Tony Disley have found 1 & 2 respectively in recent years, whilst the third staff member Bernie Starkey has found a Grey Phal on The Mere!

Above & below: imm Spoonbill, Hesketh Out Marsh RSPB, Lancs, 2nd June 2010.

Following on from twitching the Phalarope, I spent the evening on the South Ribble Marshes starting at Old Hollow Farm. The saltmarsh pool are dried up, the only water being in the right hand channel close to the seawall. A single Dunlin and a handful of Redshank were present and a single Corn Bunting in fields just inland was noted.

At Hesketh Out Marsh, the Spoonbill fed actively, 2 Avocet were present as were small numbers of Dunlin & Ringed Plover flying in and out from time to time, with more present in the channels further out but impossible to go through from the viewing screen. A couple of Tree Sparrows around the car park and great views of a hunting Barn Owl rounded off a lovely evening.