there were at least 8 common terns there at around 6 om

3 sat on the spit with another 5 out flying over by the boat club,

highlights 3.30-6.30pm

2 black-necked grebes - close to Horrocks hide
5 black terns - first seen approx 4.15pm but not after 5.30pm
6 common terns
50+ swift - 6.15pm onwards
1 common sandpiper
2 dunlin - in summer plumage
3 black tailed godwit
2 ringed plover
4 LRP
2 white wagtail
1 lesser redpoll (with yellow forehead)

11.30-3pm
no black terns
6 common tern
2 black necked grebe
the redpoll with a yellow poll still present
wheatear-1 on rucks
12 bt godwit
2 common sandpiper
plenty of all the common warblers
plus all the usual stuff

10 Black-tailed Godwit
4 LRP
2 Black Tern over the lake - 11am
4 Common Tern on spit

10+ Common Whitethroat
Reed Warbler

7 black terns on and off the spit. Sat on the ruck watching them feed over the flash between 6.30-7.45pm also 2 common tern. Sand martin around 200+ at least 5 swallow turned up about 7pm also 2 black necked grebes in the middle off the flash at 7.30-7.45 as the dark clouds and rain appeared ( time to go home). Other birds off note... 12 black tailed godwits
1 dunlin
4 lrp
1 redshank
1 common sandpiper
Plus all usual suspects inc whitethroat,blackcaps,willow warbler & chiffchaff all over. Great day

The bird in question is undoubtably a Lesser Redpoll though but where the red 'poll' on the forehead has been replaced completely by yellow. Such individuals do appear to be quite rare in general and this one certainly looked quite bizarre because of it .

Cheers Ian,

Although my initial thoughts on the bird were indeed a Lesser Redpoll, it did have us thinking nonetheless!!

Further to Ian's post lots of pitures of the abarrent Lesser Redpoll in various poses on my Blog.

cheers
jason

7 Black Tern still present at 7pm.

Also Common Sandpiper, Dunlin and 2 Black-necked Grebes still at the western end.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

Black Terns 7. they flew back onto spit around 6pm, staying 20 minutes.
Common Tern 1
Dunlin1 and Ringed Plover 1
Little Gulls had not been seen for some time

-- Edited by keith mills on Friday 22nd of April 2011 07:03:47 PM

Thanks to several birders who got in touch with me today regarding an odd finch in Bunting Hide which seemed to defy identification from even some experienced birders. Although I wasn't available to see this interesting individual myself received some good verbal descriptions and excellent photos.

The bird in question is undoubtably a Lesser Redpoll though but where the red 'poll' on the forehead has been replaced completely by yellow. Such individuals do appear to be quite rare in general and this one certainly looked quite bizarre because of it .

Photos on the website galleries soon.

Particular thanks to Dave Burt and Jason Atkinson for info and photos received.

Ian McKerchar wrote:

---

3 Little Gulls present mid-morning today.

Info thanks to Jimmy Meadows and Karen Foulkes

---

Stolen from right under the noses of the county's premier pie-eaters!

Never seen a posse of pie-eaters move so fast

7 Black Terns still present mid afternoon during a visit with Jason Atkinson.

Also:

1 Common Sandpiper
12 Black-tailed Godwits
5 Common Terns
amongst others

3 Little Gulls present mid-morning today.

Info thanks to Jimmy Meadows and Karen Foulkes

7 Black Terns on at 09:40 this morning, plus 2 Black-necked Grebes still and a further Grasshopper Warbler by the horse fields at the western end.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Yes near the Lapwing hide in the dry grass. Sorry for the delayed reply but I have not checked this thread since I posted.

Patience is needed. i was not expecting to see one so quickly.

Pair of Mediterranean Gulls on the spit and a male Wheatear on the rucks currently.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Adult Little Gull present (on the spit) this morning and the two Black-necked Grebes still present too.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Both Barry and I spent some time this morning trying to locate the Grasshopper Warbler around Lapwing and the adjacent field, which it has favoured, with no luck. Could still be there though.

Thanks Tony

Mike

Black-tailed Godwits built up to 30 today.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Over there - no over there

Once 4 of us were stood in a field trying to pin one down and we all thought it was reeling from a different location.

You just need to be patient and scan round. Between the Lapwing Hide and the brook/golf course is a good an area as any.

Hi Safraz
Was your Grasshopper Warbler by the Lapwing Hide too?
Would appreciate a precise location.

Thanks Mike

Now 28 Black-tailed Godwits this morning.

Info thank to Barry Hulme

This morning:

26 Black-tailed Godwits
Dunlin
2 Common Sandpipers

Info thanks to Ian Woosey

Grasshopper Warbler still realing and it showed itself today a few times. Other observers had seen it too. It was present un til 2.45 at which time I left. That was a FIRST for me! Thankfully ddi not have to stand for too long too. I was prepared to stand for 3 hours.

Was not really that focused on anything else but a Whitethroat singing at Ramsdales, Gadwall there too.

About 4 Common Terns, 9 Black-tailed Godwits, plenty of Willow Warbler and Blackcap singing, 2 Chiff Chaff heard, 1 Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Cormorant, at least 1 Stock Dove, Buzzard called but not seen

At Bunting hide - Reed Bunting, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting.

Also BH Gull, LBBG, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Mallard, Tufted Duck, GC Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Blackbird, Robin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon,

And a Buzzard on the A580 Manchester bound!

2 Black-necked Grebes still at the western end of the flash this morning.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

17 Black-tailed Godwits flew through at 4:40 this afternoon. Also present were 4 Common Tern and Grasshopper Warbler.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

Single Fieldfare in the horse fields at the western end this morning.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

nice wheatear on the rucks this aft dodging the dogs ,bikes etc

So far this morning:

2 Whimbrel NW at 6:45am, calling. They probably came off spit but conditions were misty
2 Black-necked Grebes
5 Black-tailed Godwits
Grasshopper Warbler still reeling by Lapwing Hide

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

2 Black-necked Grebes still present this morning.

Also 5 Black-tailed Godwits, Green Sandpiper, Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Ringed Plover, 4 Little Ringed Plover, Sedge Warbler and 5 Common Tern.

Info thanks to Ian Woosey

Grasshopper warbler in rank vegetation between Lapwing and Teal hides this afternoon. Reeling often and even showing itself occasionally.

Also of note, Charlie Owen saw an osprey fly over the flash at 2.10pm.

6 Fieldfare in the horse field at the western end this morning.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

2 Black-necked Grebes still present this morning and Grasshopper Warbler still reeling from by Lapwing Hide. Also single Green Sandpiper on the spit.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

This evening, 1 Common Tern from Horrocks hide and Grasshopper Warbler reeling from bramble near Lapwing hide.

1 Reed Warbler seen singing and 1 Whitethroat singing between Ramsdale's Hide and canal.

Black-Tailed Godwit 4
Redshank 4
Ringed Plover 2
Little Ringed Plover 3
Common Sandpiper 2
Grey Wagtail 1

etc.etc.etc.

2 Black-necked Grebes at the western end this morning plus Grasshopper Warbler reeling by Lapwing Hide.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Horrocks Hide today
2 Ring Plover
1 Common Sandpiper
5 Black T Godwit
2 Shelduck
3 Redshank

Cheers Jimmy

No sign of the Ring-necked Duck again this morning.

Singing Sedge Warbler in Rammies.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Still no sign of the Ring-necked Duck by early evening (info thanks to lots of birders).

5 Black-tailed Godwits present plus 5 female Goosanders and 2 Whitethroat (info thanks to Barry Hulme).

06:45 to 13:00

Ring-necked Duck seen very briefly in East Bay approx 07:30 from car park, thanks to signal from Barry Hulme from Horrocks Hide, just before it took flight towards trees near Sailing Club - then lost out of sight in tree line as it appeared to drop down.

Also seen:-
Common Scoter
3 Little Ringed Plover (1 Teal Hide, 2 from Horrocks)
4 Black-tailed Godwit
2 Oystercatcher
4 Redshank

Ramsdales Ruck
4 Skylark - displaying
3 Meadow Pipits
Couple of Reed Warblers heard.
Met up with Mike Passant by Ramsdale Flash reedbed - hope you catch up with with the RND before returning home, Mike.

Still no sign of RND when I left at 13:00

Rick.

RND not seen since around 7.30 this morning when it was observed flying from the East Bay towards the Yacht Club. It is unknown where, or indeed if, it landed.

Nice find by Seaforth birder Chris Gregson, especially after he`d missed what was presumably the same bird at Seaforth a couple of weeks ago.

Thanks to Chris from Liverpool who found the ring-necked duck yesterday morning and showed us his excellent photo taken from the path near east bay. I just happened to be in horrocks hide at the right time. Thanks again to Chris.

Drake Common Scoter also present this morning.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Julie Hardy wrote:

---

Thanks to Tim Wilcox for the use of your scope on a quick visit to pennington tonight. Great views of the Ringed-neck duck.
Thanks Tim much appreciated.
Julie And Steven

---

Nice to meet you both

What stars you guys are! - Thanks for the early update on the RND;
I'll be on my way asap.

cheers,
and thanks again.

Mike P.

Drake Ring-necked Duck still present in East Bay this morning.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Thanks to Tim Wilcox for the use of your scope on a quick visit to pennington tonight. Great views of the Ringed-neck duck.
Thanks Tim much appreciated.
Julie And Steven

Thankfully managed to catch up with this after work and just wanted to say thankyou to the gent who let me look through his scope (on the shore near the car park) if he happens to be reading this. Really do need to remember to keep my scope in the car at this time of year!