Saturday.
Chanced an afternoon visit after work on the hope it was still there, and it was!

- Wilson's Phalarope 1 (Lifer)
Well worth the journey over for a smart looking bird despite the fact it wasn't an adult. Very active in and out amongst the Ducks and Geese, then stayed put for a preening session, distant and partially out of sight.
At one point the heavens opened and I was partially sheltered so I touched it out and I was rewarded with better views as it flew over a lot closer.

Other birds of note...
- 1 Ruff that the rain must've put down
- 8 Dunlin
- 1 Kingfisher

I managed to get up to Alston Wetlands yesterday afternoon. The Wilson's Phalarope was bit distant for decent photographs but here are a couple of record shots. Unfortunately no sign so far today.

Cheers John

Wilson's Phalarope juv reported on RBA, Alston Wetland, park on Preston Road only

Had forty minutes here up until 8.25am prior to our jaunt up Pendle Hill. A Wood Sandpiper was on site yesterday late afternoon and also a Greenshank prior to my visit this morning. Sadly, both had moved on. Still around, however, were two Ringed Plover, two Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Lapwing, Curlew, Sand Martin, Tufted Duck and Gadwall. A very nice site with three viewing screens, there are also two reservoirs adjacent to the wetlands.

Tanmay Dixit wrote:

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I hope this is the right area to post for alston reservoirs, but there's a UK mega in a Killdeer reported on birdguides 9confirmed with pictures on the site!)

If only i could get there, easter hols now over...

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Tanmay no need to worry as Ian said on the National Mega thread :-

I should have added that the Killdeer was last seen at 11:50am flying off NE as I understand.

No reported sightings since

I hope this is the right area to post for alston reservoirs, but there's a UK mega in a Killdeer reported on birdguides 9confirmed with pictures on the site!)

If only i could get there, easter hols now over...

Cheers Rick
The Alston arms is a bit further on towards Chipping. I know the pub your talking about and have a good idea of the location of the site, i'll pay it a visit over the bank holiday weekend.
Cheers Jay

hi jason, is the alston arms the one on the mini roundabout? If so, then go down the road away from longridge for about 4-500 yards, pinfold lane is on your left, there is currently a blue and yellow for sale sign there. About 200 yards down pinfold lane the first of 3 hides overlooking the wetlands is on the left hand side of the road. Parking is restricted on the lane, so if you have long enough, perhaps the pub would be a good base!

Rick, where is the site. I know the Alston arms pub area pretty well.
Cheers Jason Dulhanty.

20 mins this lunch time produced:
1 lesser whitethroat, 1 ringed plover, 1 dunlin, 5 redshank, and 1 OSPREY circled for about 5 minutes. cracking birds and great scran from buttylicious around the corner. sausage, egg and black pudding barm. great lunch break!

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 9th of May 2012 08:15:38 PM

been back today, the dark looking redshank is still there. The white bits are just the tips of the flight feathers, all of them have them i think. Also present, 3 dunlin.

one thing of not about the redshank/spotted redshank was that where it's wing tips met on it's back were white feathers (yes, they were definitely white!!!). Couldn't tell if they were wing feathers, but probably were as they looked as if they were crossed at one point. This may be a common feature of redshank, but it's not something i've noted down before so thought it may be of some interest.

yesterday 1 possible spotted redshank (darker than usual, but could have been the light) 1 dunlin 1 dead goose, possibly greylag.

i'm going to say it must have been the light then ian, as this bird did not have any white or light areas on either side of the wing. The rump did appear white, but could have been grey. Looking in collins throws up doubts, but looking at images online i'm in little doubt that it was in fact just a black tern. I only got about 30 seconds view and probably didn't pick out the best identifying features. It was definitrly a tern and the overriding colour of it was black at the front, white/lighter at the back. If only that woman could have got just got past!!!!!!!!!

Maybe it was just the light Rick but breeding plumaged Black Terns don't have a white rump or black underwing I'm afraid. White-winged Black Tern does however, of course it's inconclusive and pure speculation on my part but the plumage facts remain true

Erm... Yes. Black head, black under wing, dark grey on top, black underneath and a white rump, from just behind it's wings to it's tail feathers. Have I missed something or misidentified yet again?

Full black plumage with a WHITE rump?

couldn't find a thread for this place s i've started one. single black tern here today at approximately 13.45. Lifer for me. Inmistakeable in full black plumage with white rump. Lost sight of it after about 30 seconds as a girl was trying to her mini passed my van through a space you could have flown a 747 through!