Eurasian Teal
A view of the reserve.
Just 3 of us started out on a walk anti clockwise around the perimeter of the reserve. One of the first birds we saw were stonechat flitting about on the tall plants in the fields to the right of the path. Initially there was a little weak sunshine, which cast nicely on the many teal in the first pool we came to. We made our way up onto the raised path along the river Alt, where we were exposed to quite a cold wind and the sun soon disappeared. We enjoyed good views over the fields on the opposite side of the river and picked up flocks of lapwing, fieldfare and redwing and a solitary buzzard on the ground . As we made our way round we also saw more wildfowl on the pools inland and had a decent sighting of 2 reed bunting in a bush. Once we’d got to the far end of the reserve we then followed the track along Hunts Brook and back to wards the centre of the reserve. Here we had a great view of both a barn owl and a kestrel in a tree and at one point as they flew off had them both and a heron all in the same view, one above the other. Shortly after we met another of our members, who had texted ahead to say they would join us later. We made our way to the hide near the kingfisher pool and ate a late lunch there in the relative warmth. After we had eaten we carried on up the path through the centre of the reserve out up onto the river again. At this point a marsh harrier flew over. We also had a very brief shower and it threatened more rain ,and as the light was going we decided to work our way back to the car. We had another good view of 2 marsh harrier over one of the reed beds and enjoyed sightings of male goosander amongst the greylag geese, - the rain held off too!
We went home via Southport and stopped briefly to try and see the snow bunting near the pier. One of the group had seen it before and knew whereabouts to look. We had a quick scan along the beach and noticed another birdwatcher further down, so we walked over and asked if he’d seen a snow bunting to which he replied “yes its right in front of you!” Even when he pointed it out we struggled to get on to it at first, but we all soon had it in our sights and it was literally only a few feet away. A great bird to end an enjoyable day.
Lunt Meadows Sightings: Stonechat, Teal, Mallard, Goosander, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Robin, Pheasant, Kestrel, Cormorant, Crow, Lapwing, Fieldfare, Redwing, Buzzard, Black-headed Gull, Pink-footed Goose, Reed Bunting, Grey Heron, Barn Owl, Gadwall, Coot, Moorhen, Magpie, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Marsh Harrier
Southport Sightings: Pied Wagtail, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Snow Bunting, Little Egret