Six of us gathered in the car park on a grey morning and immediately had good sightings of the resident kestrel. We set off towards the high ground above the Ribble near the dipping ponds. As we circled round it started to drizzle so we sheltered briefly under trees, before descending towards the guild wheel. We passed the feeding station but all had been dismantled so there was little about. Some of the group saw blackcap though. We were joined by another member who met us on the trail. It started to rain again more heavily so we went to the lookout hide to shelter till it stopped. We then set up on the high ground above no.1 pit and enjoyed good views of common tern, with young occasionally bobbing their heads up on the rafts. Sand martins flew in and out of the artificial banking, and tufted duck, also with young, sailed by. We made our way down to the next hide to get better views of the birds on the island. Lapwing and chicks wandered amongst the vegetation, and we were pleased to see great crested grebe with their lovely “humbug” striped young. We also picked out oystercatcher and ringed plover. As we walked around there was plenty of bird song and we managed to see whitethroat, reed warbler and reed bunting. We sat in the next hide for lunch enjoying the view across the pit. From the western end of the pit mediterranean gulls were seen amongst the black headed gulls. We made our way round into Boildon wood where a buzzard flew overhead, but we saw little else in the woods themselves. From there we circled back towards the car park, walking past the top end of Meadow lake before heading home. An enjoyable morning, especially as the weather improved as the day progressed, with some good birding.
Species: kestrel, lesser black-back gull, greater black-back gull, black-headed gull, little egret, greylag
goose, grey heron, cormorant, blackcap, blackbird, common tern, coot, mute swan, sand martin, dunnock, goldfinch, tufted duck, moorhen, lapwing, oystercatcher, great crested grebe, canada goose, ringed plover, whitethroat, reed warbler, jackdaw, starling, mediterranean gull, buzzard, reed bunting, wren, pheasant, crow, song thrush, robin, woodpigeon, chiffchaff, Canada goose, mallard, pied wagtail, blue tit.
Species: kestrel, lesser black-back gull, greater black-back gull, black-headed gull, little egret, greylag
goose, grey heron, cormorant, blackcap, blackbird, common tern, coot, mute swan, sand martin, dunnock, goldfinch, tufted duck, moorhen, lapwing, oystercatcher, great crested grebe, canada goose, ringed plover, whitethroat, reed warbler, jackdaw, starling, mediterranean gull, buzzard, reed bunting, wren, pheasant, crow, song thrush, robin, woodpigeon, chiffchaff, Canada goose, mallard, pied wagtail, blue tit.