Dennis atherton wrote:

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Great grey shrike still in the area around the sanctuary. Very mobile bird though. It was nice to see the bird hovering.

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Anyone going for the shrike be prepared for a long walk as for no apparent reason it flys and moves in Half Mile flights,so if you can't find it in one area be prepared to cover the lot as we did,probably about 5 miles we walked to see this bird,and no other birders around.

Great grey shrike still in the area around the sanctuary. Very mobile bird though. It was nice to see the bird hovering.

Late morning Lytham Moss.

After a bit of searching I found the Great Grey Shrike behind the Animal Sanctuary and got 5 minutes before it was disturbed by a horse and rider.
Also a couple of Stonechats, a Kestrel and a Meadow Pipit.
Then off to the Beach Cafe for lunch.

Rob Creek wrote:

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A good day in the company of Steve Burke, we had 52 species over 4 locations (here, Lytham Cemetary, Starr Gate, Marton Mere)

Great Grey Shrike showed well but was mobile over the Brambles at the side of Howdens unit opposite Easter Leigh Animal Sanctuary. Both mine and Steve's 2nd ever after both (separately) having a distant brief view of the Watergrove bird earlier this year. This one however was much more obliging and regularly made low swoops out of sight to presumably catch something, then flying to the top of whichever branch or bush it was nearest too.

Plenty of other birds too however...
4 Skylark over (quite low and calling)
4 Kestrel at least
1 Buzzard (sat on telegraph post amidst many LBJ's)
1 Merlin
2 Stonechat (doing a spot of flycatching from overhead wires)
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Pied Wagtail
2 Meadow Pipit
1 Song Thrush
Few Reed Bunting
Few Chaffinch
Few Goldfinch
1 female Pheasant
A group of Partridges came down into the ploughed channels, I didn't get a decent enough view to ID but assume Grey, maybe Steve can expand on this.
Plenty of Blackbirds, Wrens, Robins, and a single Dunnock
Also lots of Black-headed Gulls, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, few Jackdaws and a couple of Rooks.
A few Skeins of Pink-footed Geese over.

A busy old place considering it was mainly to get the Shrike.


-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 16th of November 2014 09:04:16 PM

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only other bird I can add here is a male blackcap moving in the hedges just behind the shrike.
rob I personally think they were grey partridges.

Quick visit round the corner to Lytham Cemetry.
Steve quickly picked up on the calls and before long we had 5 Rose-ringed Parakeets in a tree just off the main driveway. A bit sleepy but every so often they perked up and began calling.

A good day in the company of Steve Burke, we had 52 species over 4 locations (here, Lytham Cemetary, Starr Gate, Marton Mere)

Great Grey Shrike showed well but was mobile over the Brambles at the side of Howdens unit opposite Easter Leigh Animal Sanctuary. Both mine and Steve's 2nd ever after both (separately) having a distant brief view of the Watergrove bird earlier this year. This one however was much more obliging and regularly made low swoops out of sight to presumably catch something, then flying to the top of whichever branch or bush it was nearest too.

Plenty of other birds too however...
4 Skylark over (quite low and calling)
4 Kestrel at least
1 Buzzard (sat on telegraph post amidst many LBJ's)
1 Merlin
2 Stonechat (doing a spot of flycatching from overhead wires)
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Pied Wagtail
2 Meadow Pipit
1 Song Thrush
Few Reed Bunting
Few Chaffinch
Few Goldfinch
1 female Pheasant
A group of Partridges came down into the ploughed channels, I didn't get a decent enough view to ID but assume Grey, maybe Steve can expand on this.
Plenty of Blackbirds, Wrens, Robins, and a single Dunnock
Also lots of Black-headed Gulls, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Magpie, few Jackdaws and a couple of Rooks.
A few Skeins of Pink-footed Geese over.

A busy old place considering it was mainly to get the Shrike.


-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 16th of November 2014 09:04:16 PM

Great Grey Shrike currently sat on top of a small tree amidst brambles behind industrial estate on Lytham Moss

Called in to the Lytham Crematorium & Cemetery after today's visit to Marton Mere. My first visit here.
No services were taking place.
In a group of similar trees near the pool, 6 Ring-necked Parakeets were positioned on one branch. Despite having regular harassment from Jackdaws, three were still around as we left.
A single Herring Gull was in the centre of the pool.

a walk around fairhaven lake...

hundreds of hirundines over mostly swifts plus house martins & swallows
1 common sandpiper
7 tufted ducks
1 sparrowhawk & 1 peregrine falcon over.

a walk along the beach & up towards the windmill...

81 eiders, the birds I actually came to see
1 Mediterranean gull
1 common sandpiper
4 redshanks
6 dunlins
3 ringed plovers
120+ black tailed godwits
1 shelduck
several curlews & grey herons
hundreds of oystercatchers
few linnets & meadow pipits
plus usuals around

Female Long-tailed Duck showing very well - found it as soon as got out of car.

On the beach
Turnstone
80 Knot
8 Grey Plover
6 Bar-tailed Godwit
100's Dunlin
60 Curlew
Little Egret flew over

21/07/2012 - Casual sightings from the open golf at Lytham St Anne's:

1 Mediterranean Gull - adult circled over a few times during the day

2 Cormorants - over
1 Sparrowhawk - chased a Collared Dove
1 Oystercatcher - over
5 Swifts
4 Swallows
1 Meadow Pipit - sounded like it had a brood in the rough
2 Coal Tits
9 Long-tailed Tits
4 Linnets

Wednesday, Feb. 8th.

Pochard 5
Shoveler 4
Tufted Duck 6
Goldeneye 2 imm/f
Mallard 40+
Sparrowhawk 1
etc.

On the adjacent shore:

Little Egret 1
Shelducks
Curlews
Knot(s)
Dunlins
Redshanks
Sanderlings
Oystercatchers
Coot 25+
Moorhen 6
Mute Swan 2
etc.

SLAVONIAN GREBE still giving excellent views today,even had one point where i was near the cafe at the waters edge and it happened to pop up about 2ft away from me. lifer for me
also the little grebe turned up close to it,and even had a little go at it
other birds..
1 shoveler
1 sparrowhawk
69 pink footed geese over
+ usual birds around lake.
and just over the wall on the beach spent a couple off hours here..
thousands off oystercatchers
300+ bar tailed godwits (make a nice change from seeing black taileds)
1 peregrine falcon (chasing a bar tailed)
at least 20 turnstones
knots, sanderlings, redshanks, curlews, shellducks
1 golden plover
1 little egret
flock off 50+ linnets
+ all usual gulls

again nice to see alan & beryl turner

6 Brambling in the car park north end of fairhaven lake.

6 Parakeets ln lytham cemetery.

We felt a bit uncomfortable with it Phil. Would have felt better if we'd have been on the golf course and seen them. Actually, that would have been excellent. Combine 2 of my favourite things!

Sid
Thanks, I am a bit uncomfortable going in when people are attending services, maybe an early visit is best I guess.

Phil

Phil - when I was at the crematory yesterday the birds were flying around quite a lot - you can park just inside the entrance and just walk around - up near the pond was quite nice and peaceful. You will definitely hear them calling and they are not too difficult to pick up - had lovely flight views. I would think you wouldn't want to use a scope in the crematory as it seems disrespectful.

Rick
Thanks, would need to time it between services I guess.

Cheers


Phil

when I went on Friday they were in a small copse of (beech?) trees to the right of the main building as approached from the main gate. They did fly off to some tall (Poplars?) down the side of the golf course as we were leaving, so they may be there.

There was also a huge flock of Redwing knocking about in the woods to the left of the main gate as you enter.

Good Luck

Can someone let me know where the parakeets frequent at the crematorium please.

Many thanks

Phil

Late post for Friday.

Had an awesome day around the Fylde area. ent and picked out the Iceland Gull at Preston Dock, then the Red-Necked Grebe, followed by the Parakeets at the Crematorium and then Long eared owls at Marton Mere.

I was blown away by the parakeets, although we almost walked straight passed them. One squawked right next to me and even though I knew what I was looking for, I couldn't believe my eyes! Also at the crematorium was a huge flock of redwings, one of which really got my pulse racing (damn that Dusky Thrush!!!).

I wanted to carry on to Pilling and do some 'proper' birding, but the light was about to die and would have got there with about 5 minutes to spot stuff, so we didn't bother. All in all though, a really great day with 3 lifers for me and 4 for my dad.

The RN Grebe was showing well this morning.

Hi Joe, the guy with the camera was me. I have some poor shots because of crap light and rain hammering the water surface, however I had more of a chance than you. If you want me to mail you a couple of the best ones let me know and I'll send them over. Was going to try again tomorrow 23rd Sunday - do you know if it was there today?
Cheers
Dave

In an extremely heavy shower, went down to the lake to see the grebe. It was feeding largely in the middle, but in early morning was on the seaward side of the lake feeding in front of a guy with a camera. When I joined him, it started to rain even harder and my scope's lens filled with rain, so despite being close to the grebe I couldn't see it properly . Also on the lake were a pair of Mergansers and about 4 Pochard. Anyone going on the train might see about 20 Whoopers (probably, bit quick so couldn't pick out any Bewicks) and about 30 Pinkfeet to the left of the track between Moss Side and Lytham. Good birds to see, shame about weather!

-- Edited by Joe Wynn on Saturday 15th of January 2011 06:30:13 PM

Following the recent trend, after Marton Mere we also nipped over to Fairhaven where we bumped into Mr Reid again as well as getting not bad views of the Red-necked Grebe fishing in the fading light. Too late for another look at the Iceland Gull at Preston though.

Saw 7 Ring Necked Parakeets at the Crem about 11.15, they were in the tall trees in fornt of the duck pond.

Then got good views of the Red Neck Grebe and the pair of R.B. Merganser in front of the toilet block at fairhaven. Weather dull with light drizzle. It was low tide so not much to see on the sea front.

Called in this morning as my first stop to see the Grebe and get a few photo's. After a bit of moving around the lake I managed to get in a position where the grebe came fairly close and I managed to get some reasonable shots. Also, as a bonus there were a pair of RB Merganser out in the centre of the lake. All three birds seemed to be very settled and were busily catching fish.

Next stop, I nipped over to the crematorium to try and locate the Ring Necked Parakeets. I didn't have to wait long as I soon located 5 birds (2 and a 3) all calling loudly. Really nice to see such a colourful bird if not a little strange too!!

Grebe still showing this morning 9-30

Showing well in a snow storm Friday morning.

Just realised how the new Out-of -County section works.

I popped by this afternoon on the way home from Heysham to see the Red-necked Grebe that has been there for a few days. If you have never seen one then this is a beauty and was just playfully floating to within 3m of the path, amazing views that I doubt I'll ever beat and no need for the scope . It happily got out of the water right in front of me and sat on the concrete pecking about itself and preening.

Also on the lake were a few Tufties and a Shoveller, with a large flock of Linnet on the salt marsh. Worth the trip if you keep missing the Manchester ones!!!

Red Necked Grebe was diving when we saw it, right in front of some photographers, we went down and it swam to where we had been stood! Showing extremely well

Also saw Red Breasted Goose

-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Thursday 6th of January 2011 05:09:50 PM

6/1/11

Fairhaven Lake:

Red-necked Grebe still present (3rd day), spending most of its time asleep just in front of the Ribble Discovery centre.
1 Pochard, 1 Shoveler, and a handful of Tufted Duck were the only others of note..

Granny`s Bay at high tide:

Amongst the many Curlew, Redshank, and Oystercatchers were two Grey Plovers and a lone Bar-tailed Godwit. Huge numbers of Shelduck, and quite a large raft of Pintail just offshore. Much to-ing and fro-ing of Cormorants but nowt else flying by. Skylark and three Mistle Thrushes over.

Then on to Staynall (about 15mls N of Lytham) to tickle the 1stW Red-breasted Goose. It was in fields with Pinks and a few Greylags.

16/11/2010 - Just north of Lytham on Lytham Moss today Phil Owen and I saw the Grey Phalarope which has been present now for a few days. It showed ridiculously well just west of North Houses Lane and span around a small radius, feeding in classic fashion. At one point it called whilst being chased around the roadside flood by 2 Redshanks but settle back in the middle of the flood. Also present in the area were:

c80 Whooper Swans
4 Red-legged Partridges
2 Kestrels
1 Mistle Thrush
c300 Feral Pigeons
c450 Woodpigeons


-- Edited by Henry Cook on Tuesday 16th of November 2010 10:06:58 PM

Jon Taverner wrote:

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No sign of the bird so far today. A lot of disappointed people according to the lady in the RSPB shop. Just hope my wife is enjoying her shopping in Lytham!

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its probably on penny while everyones in Lytham

I saw my first ever Red Necked Phal there about 30 years ago,I remember hiring a rowing boat,rowing out to it and watching the bird as it fed round the boat,hah memories

No sign of the bird so far today. A lot of disappointed people according to the lady in the RSPB shop. Just hope my wife is enjoying her shopping in Lytham!

Went to take a look at this lovely little bird on my way to Heysham harbour yesterday (taking in the id delights at Houghton Green on the way!). Was surprised to find the place is like a large Platt Fields boating lake surrounded by well-kept lawns. It kept moving from one side of the western island to the other so the best bet was to pitch up on a comfortable bench on the seaward side and wait for it to come round feeding busily. Every now and then it would receive a lunge from a Moorhen and fly off.

The bird was on the north side of the western island at midday, frequently sheltering amongst the moored boats. It flew off north at 1225 but returned 5 minutes later. What a stunning bird - well worth getting soaked for.

Having run out of time on Friday to get over to Lytham decided to pick the wettest day of the month to go over for the Red necked Phalarope. So after a bit of a lie-in arrived at Fairhaven Lake at 07.30 and immediately found the bird close to the far island from the car park - watched from the car for a while but then walked down for close up views - nice bird A good number of Golden and Grey Plover on the beach braving the gale.

Good 'scope views of the Red necked Phalarope this afternoon. On arrival the bird had not been seen for 15 minutes and had flown off from view due to the driving wind and rain.

I decided to have a walk round the other side of the lake as this seemed more sheltered and the bird was quickly located feeding in "typical Phalarope fashion" against the island. The bird then flew towards me and landed on the water closer in for even better views through the bins.

A cracking bird and not too far from home!!!

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 18th of September 2010 05:34:45 PM

A cracking Red Necked Phalarope on Fairhaven lake this morning. Very obliging to all who were there to see it. Just bobbing around on the water about 20 yards out. A lovely little bird.

thats sad news about a great bird, which was very obliging. Well worth the wet sunday morning trip a few weeks back.

Spoke to an old birding friend over from the states today who had been to see it earlier in the week and he said it was so close at one point he could have easily grabbed it and has an image of the bird next to his foot! It also may have had what looked like a tick on it's breast (so may have many more) and the fact that it was lingering around the dirtiest, most litter infested part of the lake was never looking good

Rest in peace that fabulous bird...

The Ross's Gull was found dead today

Also had Ross's Gull today with accompanying cast inc 2 Whimbrels which were a bit tame and a Sandwich Tern.

On way there had Osprey lifting out of Brockholes quarry as I drove past on M6 and also had the Black-winged Stilts at Neumann's early morning (plus 17 Whimbrel flying over car).

Not a bad day really.



-- Edited by Mike Baron at 21:26, 2008-04-26

26/4/08 late afternoon

Ross's Gull again showing well in Grannys Bay, loads of summer plumaged waders about
including 20 Blackwit, 100+ Dunlin, Knot, Redhank, Whimbrel flew over as did an Ad Med Gull and 20 Eider were off shore.

Stopped of at Warton Bank and got the Glossy Ibis flying west and a further 14 summer plumaged Blackwit.

That with the Dotterel this morning not a bad days birding

Ross's Gull still showing in Granny's Bay today, on the incoming tide. Great views down to about 5m.
Also, Eider pair, Grey Plovers, Sanderlings, Dunlins, Oystercatchers, 2 Curlews, 1 Whimbrel, Shelducks, Ringed Plovers, 2 Sand Martins, 1 Swallow, etc.

After checking my notes and field guides i'm pretty sure the female Goosander was in fact a Red Breasted Merganser. I was convinced it didn't look right for a Goosander.

A VERY WINDY! visit this afternoon. Tide was out so not much about. Shelduck Curlew Redshank Dunlin Knot Oystercatcher Goosander GT Bl Backed Gull Ls Bl Backed Gull Herring Gull Common Gull Meadow Pipit