Ribble Birding, Lancs. (1 Viewer)

[Colin Bushell]

A "plastic" !?!?. Don't know what to say about that!

Hi Stu,

Yeah, bit disrespectful you're right. I was actually quite pleased to see it at the time.

A Raven? Not a bird I ever saw round that neck of the woods. Nice one.

I saw my first ever local patch Little Egret on Longton Marsh just before I came to Japan in 1999 and am amazed how common they seem to be in the area now. In my very brief career as a twitcher I actually twitched one at Freckleton Pools in 1987.

Yes, the Ribble Estuary seems a strange place for Ravens doesn't it. However the Clifton - Warton stretch is one of the best places to see them on the Fylde. I saw about half-a-dozen together at Warton in the autumn. Rumour has it that they bred on some of the big pylons over at Longton a few years back.

I can remember twitching my first Little Egret at Langstone Harbour, Hants in '76 I think it was. Now, thirty years on my patch has a county record of a gathering of 18 birds. And that's a fraction of south coast flocks!

Cheers,
Colin

 

[Colin Bushell]

Freckleton Naze 23 December 2006

A misty morning at the Naze started with a noticeable influx of Redwings. A group of 10 Whooper Swans on Freckleton Marsh could just about be identified in the poor conditions but little to be seen until I reached the Naze Pool where there were 3 Gadwall and 3 Little Grebes. Things livened up a bit when I spotted a superb Barn Owl perched on the fence post ahead of me on the coastal footpath however. Viewing across the Ribble over to Hesketh was difficult but the sound of Pink-footed Geese in the distance finally turned into a flock landing on the fields. Something like 160 birds, but too distant to check for other species. The Egyptian Goose was still with the Canadas over at Longton but the birds on the river were very "fidgety" thanks to the incoming tide. A Little Egret flying around at the Naze was probably the same as the one over the pool as I watched a Greenshank there on the way back to the car.

Probably my last addition to this thread before festivities begin B so Happy Christmas to everyone!

 

[Colin Bushell]

Xmas Eve on the Ribble.

"Fancy a walk?" Angie asked me and twenty minutes later we were at Fairhaven (I know how to treat a girl!). OK, I lied when I said yesterday's was my last posting before Christmas. In a biting easterly we saw very little but the high tide roost off Fairhaven Dunes was nice with 250+ Oystercatchers, single Bar-tailed Godwit and Grey Plover, and a mix of Sanderlings and Dunlins. Not much change on the lake: Scaup, 7 Goldeneye and a Little Grebe. Very enjoyable anyway.

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

Colin,

Went to the Naze for some fresh air after lunch today and has a real surprise in the form of a Grey Seal on the river. I saw one in Preston in the past but they are surely uncommon so far up the river.

Seven Little Egrets and a Little Grebe on the Naze Pool.

Regards,

Stephen.

 

[Colin Bushell]

Colin,

Went to the Naze for some fresh air after lunch today and has a real surprise in the form of a Grey Seal on the river. I saw one in Preston in the past but they are surely uncommon so far up the river.

Thanks for that Stephen,
Sure you're right about the Seal - never seen one on the river personally. I remember one at Avenham Park on the Ribble a few years ago (probably yours).

Popped out this morning as the sky had cleared after a series of grey days (it's raining as I write!). First stop was Newton Marsh where the Wigeon were nice 'n' close near the road on the entrance pool. Seems to have been a bit of an influx onto the marsh from the Ribble lately as there were about 250 on the pool and another couple of hundred spread over the fields but too distant to check thoroughly. Black-tailed Godwit and 50 Curlew around the pool too. Nice flock of finches in the stubble consisted of mainly Linnets (c. 200) plus a few Greenfinches and Chaffinches. It's been a few years since I last saw Twite on the Ribble so I checked through this lot but no joy. Last winter there were a few Brambling, Corn Bunt's and Yellowhammers here so I'll keep an eye on this flock.
Decided to check Clifton Marsh for Stonechats. No sign today but a Raven on the tip and hunting Barn Owl over the rough ground near the water treatment works made up for that. By now the skies were closing in so I whizzed down to Warton Bank. Nice gathering of birds out on the marsh included 5 Little Egrets, 38 Whoopers, 6 Bewick's and 50 Pink-feet.

 

[Colin Bushell]

Something about white-winged birds.......

Last chance this year to get out on the estuary, despite less than ideal conditions. Newton Marsh is the nearest site to home so I called in there where the entrance pool was full - 400+ Wigeon, 50+Teal and 12+ Shoveler. In blustery conditions birding from the car seemed best but the Barn Owl hunting over the rough ground on Clifton Marsh encouraged me to stray out to the Ribble. As I made my way through the grassland a flock of 7 Corn Buntings flew towards the tip but no sign of the Stonechats today. The river was well-stocked with birds this morning: A couple of Oystercatchers in amongst a huge duck flock loafing on the mud consisted of 700+ Wigeon and 150+ Teal. Best of all there were a few hundred BHG's, 50+ GBBG's, a LBBG and 20+ Herring Gulls to go through and it wasn't long before I noticed a cracking adult Med' Gull on the rocks. Hutton Marsh (on the south shore) was packed with 300+ Curlew, 800+ Lapwing and part of the Longton Canada Goose flock. Looking into the strengthening wind birding was becoming more and more difficult, and with the onset of rain I decided to quit while I was just about winning. Driving back across Newton Marsh a Sparrowhawk spooked all the Wigeon and 25 Pink-feet were struggling to make headway towards Longton. A lone Black-tailed Godwit was the last bird I clapped eyes on before heading for Preston.

A nice way to end 2006 - Today's Barn Owl digipic attached.

Happy New Year!

 

[Colin Bushell]

No birding for me so far this year but it's interesting to see that the Fylde Bird Club website reports a couple of Water Pipits from Warton Marsh on the Ribble yesterday. A good time to look for these will be later in the winter during 10 metre tides when the birds are pushed near to Warton Bank from the saltmarsh.

 

[Colin Bushell]

New Year Blues.

Still no time for birding for me yet this year (apart from the usual hordes of Wigeon on lunchtime visits to Newton Marsh). Few bits and pieces reported though: Hen Harrier at Warton Marsh and Lesser Sp Woodpecker near Brockholes over the last few days. Also a Firecrest away from the Ribble, just north west of Preston enticing me away from a busy work-load at the moment.

Have to wait until the weekend ............

 

[Colin Bushell]

A quiet morning on the Ribble.

Been back from Central America a couple of weeks now. Apart from a day out catching up with Lancs birds like Purple Sand', Waxwing and Hawfinch and a quick Snow Goose twitch, I've been too busy to get out on the Ribble. OK, the Waxwing was sort of "on patch" as it's on the way down to the estuary from home and I did manage a few hours at Brockholes one Sunday (good luck Lammy at the weekend with the Lesser Spot' by the way), but that's about it.
So, nice sunny morning with a couple of hours to spare and I'm at Fairhaven today. No ducks. Six Stonechat in the scrub by the water pumping station but no sign of the Black Redstart reported there while I was away. Spring is in the air everywhere at the moment and Newton Marsh was alive with displaying Redshanks and singing Skylarks. Very few Wigeon or Teal on the entrance pool though so I decided to try my luck at Clifton Marsh. With high tide approaching all the gulls were loafing on the banks (this is one of the best loafing spots on the river), but nothing in the G B B Gulls and no Med's in the Black-headeds. Nice roost of 200+ Curlew and 40+ Oystercatcher but only 80 or so Wigeon on the river.
Ten meter tides in the coming week so there'll be a bit of observer coverage on the Ribble. Needs it!

Colin

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

Colin,

There were 8 Little Egrets and a Merlin at Warton Saturday plus wild swans etc.

What dates are the biggest tides?

Regards,

Stephen.

 

[Colin Bushell]

Forecast was showers this afternoon and I know this is pushing it a bit for "Ribble Birding", but here goes .....

Needed to get out, didn't want to get wet so went for an afternoon around the southern shore of Morcambe Bay, from Conder Green round to Pilling. One of my favourite local stretches of coastline with plenty of birds this time of year and handy places to park the car and scan the shore without getting stranded in the rain.

First stop Conder Estuary and Pool: 2 Greenshank, Spot' Red' in the creeks and female Scaup on the Pool. Nice drake Scaup on the Marina. Not much on Glasson marsh so nipped round to Cockersands. I really like this place, particularly since the Broad-billed Sand' last May! Anyway, nowt there at high tide, just loads of windsurfers. Then on to Pilling where 5 Little Egrets were on show from Lane Ends car park. Finished the afternoon listening to Five Live and the footy while I was sifting through Pink-feet. Nothing unusual as far as I could see but a very pleasant afternoon out.

Colin

 

[Gavin Haig]

Nice to see you're back, Colin, and out patching again too. All the best for the spring.....Gav.

 

[Colin Bushell]

Green-winged Teals

Thanks Gav - been following the Backwater Birding thread, it's a great read.

Anyway, been spending some time on the south shore of the Ribble the past few days. Focus has been on Marshside RSPB where a drake Green-winged Teal has been showing well at Sandgrounder's the past few days. Good views today plus the usual Avocets and Blackwits. Scaup down to a single duck today (4 here Monday) and the Little Egrets were still on the saltmarsh. After a quick look around the sandplant I headed for Nel's Hide only to be greeted by "Green-winged Teal's over the back". Has to be a second drake. More distant than the Sandgrounder's bird (see fuzzy pic), but very welcome nevertheless. Couple of thousand-plus Golden Plovers, Pintail, Ruff, Snipe, loads of Wigeon, etc from the hide but no summer migrants (Garganey must get here soon).

Stopped at Crossens on the way back - loads of distant Pink-feet on the saltings. Nice afternoon.

Colin

 

[Colin Bushell]

Quick look at Newton Marsh at lunchtime today: Nice to see 85 Black-tailed Godwits out there but only 100+ Wigeon and 5 Teal in very blustery conditions.

 

[HokkaidoStu]

Great to read your updates Colin. Hopefully I'll be doing a bit of birding on the Ribble later in the year (August perhaps) and I'll be expecting lots and lots of Little Egrets. Any chance of Avocets upstream at Penwortham? Or am I dreaming?

 

[Colin Bushell]

Hi Stu,

Glad you like the thread. Loads of Avocets at Marshside today but that's the only place I've ever seen them on the estuary. They tend to turn up in July / August for a few days in the Warton - Freckleton Naze stretch though. No problem with Little Egrets though Stu; there was another count of 18 at Warton last month on the big tides. See what next week brings.

Had a couple of hours to spare at Marshside this morning. Definitely hide-weather up here today (getting old!). Female Scaup on Junction Pool with Tufties and Pochard but otherwise just the usual hordes of Wigeon, Black-tailed Godwits plus a few Pintail. Green-winged Teal still on view from Sandgrounder's and reports of Wheatear and Spotted Redshank too.

Colin

 

[Colin Bushell]

Went to Crossen's on the south side this morning to watch over the ten metre tide there. The rising water pushed the Pink-footed Geese (c. 400) closer but I couldn't find anything else in them. Nice flocks of Black-tailed Godwits pushed into the air by a Merlin that Angie (my wife) spotted too. Pretty poor on the Ribble for raptors this winter though. A quick dash down to Sandgrounder's at Marshside produced 30 Avocets sheltering from the wind but no sign of the Green-winged Teal.

A few Water Pipits reported from Warton Bank yesterday and still a couple of big tides this week to catch up with them.

Colin

 

[Colin Bushell]

Water Pipits on show at Warton Bank with the tide this morning. I had to leave before the tide came right up having only seen one, but ten reported later. 10 Little Egrets out on the saltmarsh too.

 

[Colin Bushell]

Another 10+ metre tide today found me perched up on the Sandplant Mound at Marshside. Waders were on the move all over the place with large numbers of Grey Plovers, Curlew, Redshank and Black-tailed Godwits flying around and even floating by on rafts of vegetation coming in with the tide. A couple of Merlins seen today, but best of all a Short-eared Owl over the diminishing saltmarsh as the tide came in. Nice to get a "Shortie" as they've been pretty scarce on the estuary this winter, though one was seen today at Warton I believe.
Took a walk up to Crossens which was almost covered, seeing 4 Little Egrets, some Avocets and a Goldcrest in the bushes on Marine Drive. Back at Sandgrounder's I saw the drake Green-winged Teal fly in to the pool so I went into the hide for a look. Great views (see attached)! Quick look at the Junction Pool revealed little (the Scaup were nowhere to be seen this PM), but 500+ Golden Plover, 8+ Ruff, couple of Snipe and 20+ Dunlin on show. On my way back from Nel's I noticed c. 150 Pink-feet heading inland so I drove up to Crossens again where about 500 Pinks could be seen way out on the marsh. Too distant to pick out Beans but pretty sure there were no other geese of interest in them this afternoon. Great view across the Ribble on a clear afternoon with Bowland in the backdrop (see attached).

Good place, Marshside. First visit there about a week after I moved to Lancs produced Hen Harrier over the saltmarsh, Black Redstart on the sandplant and Bonxie on Crossens!

 

[lammy]

lesser spot

Hi Colin
No luck at all with lesser spot in boilton wood. there were six of us on the search but not even a call or drumming heard. Brilliant mornings birding though
full list on brockholes pages posted by Zac. I may have another go on Saturday the 24th.

Regards Roy.