Immature male or female Marsh Harrier hunting around 1:15pm, also Willow Tit, 3 Stonechat, 80 Redwing and 5 Fieldfare. At Diggle Flash 2 Pochard, 3 Goldeneye and 34 Tufted Ducks.
Bittern sun bathing in the NE reeds of Diggle Flash at 2:55 then moved into cover. Also a drake Pochard, female Goldeneye, 30+Tufted Duck and a Willow Tit.
As aforementioned the White Tailed Lapwing was giving excellent views this morning in the, at times, very heavy showers.
Couldn't hang around as had a meeting in Liverpool, but other birds seen included Reed Warbler, Kestrel, 3 Swift, Common Buzzard, Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler and Blackcap.
Cracking find. Thanks. Couple of pictures attached.
Not that it was ever in doubt I suppose but feather wear and abrasion on the wing coverts (particularly on the right wing) of the recent Rimac, Lincolnshire (and elsewhere on the East coast) White-tailed Lapwing and today's fabulous new county addition are one and the same. Interesting movement!
Just in case it helps for folk not familiar with the site. Parking is usually best on Common Lane, cross back over Plank Lane and enter the site via the black metal horse gate. Follow the stone footpath past Nevison Flash reedbed on your left, then through a wooded section, before the path swings right and uphill to overlook the scrapes. Congratulations to Gordon for an amazing find.
WHITE-TAILED PLOVER (W-t Lapwing if you like) on New Water, easiest access via Plank Lane /Common Lane, walk past Nevison's Flash, through the tree line then view the water slightly to your left below top ruck. Still showing at 14:05.
09.00-12.00 Terrible record shot of Female Marsh Harrier first seen on North side of Park briefly @ 10.35 through gap in trees then seen again on South side over New Water @ 11.40. Marsh Harrier was a surprise but an even bigger surprise was 2 SANDWICH TERN flying over New Water WNW @ 11.45. Garden Warbler by Choke Pond makes all the regular warblers back on site except for Lesser Whitethroat which is not regular.
08.00-10.15 Walk across centre of parkland back 1 Swift N 7 Grasshopper Warbler - 3 on South side 4 on North side 5 Sedge Warbler - 3 on North side 2 on South side Plenty of Whitethroat, Reed Warbler and Blackcap throughout.
Hobby flew East low over Nevison's Flash @18.11 Other sightings today on South side off Park 3 Grasshopper Warbler 5 Cetti's Warbler 1 Sedge Warbler 6 Whitethroat 15+ Reed Warbler
11.47 A Little Egret flew South high over playing field then suddenly circled overhead at which point I then picked up a second bird even higher, I heard them call before I lost sight of them in cloud and didn't see which direction they went.
10.15 - 12.30 From Plank Lane round Fir Tree Flash and back Of note 1 Willow Warbler 18 Chiffchaff 3 Cetti's Warbler Pair of Teal 4 Great spotted Woodpecker drumming 8