Tuesday 15 March 2011

Local birding, Lancs: LRP, Sand Martins, Iceland & Med Gulls - 15th March 2011.

Above: LRP.
Below: Pair of Med Gull
Brockholes NR LWT - 15th March 2011.

The day started as in recent weeks, Pleasington Playing Fields and Pleasington Old Hall Wood, with no sign of the Med Gull for the second successive visit and another blank for Hawfinch. Up to four Bullfinch, 2 pair, are regular in the walled garden at POHW, but how i yearn for the days in the 1980's and early 1990's when there was a reasonble chance of connecting with the 'big woodland duo' of Hawfinch and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker here. Yellowhammer, another sadly lost local species, also used to breed immediately to the south of the wood in the 80's as well.

Following this, Brockholes NR LWT yielded two year ticks in the form of 12 Sand Martin & a Little Ringed Plover on No1 Pit. This flock of Sand Martin seemingly moved on after an hour or so. A pair of adult summer Med Gull dropped in onto No1 Pit from 11:30-11:54.

As an aside, Given the number of pairs of Med Gull breeding in the county nowadays, I was astonished to learn recently that Lincolnshire still awaits its first confirmed breeding record!

Visibility at the Fishmoor Res Gull roost was very poor this evening and was a case of 'white-winger or bust'. Fortunately, the 2cy Iceland Gull was present upon my arrival at 17:45 and one adult summer Med Gull was located.