Bird news Friday 16th
The weather started to look very interesting for bringing in some new birds and straight away had an effect with a flurry of new sightings. The best of which were a Curlew Sandpiper from Ron Barker which joined 2 Ruff and later in the day these were joined by a Wood Sandpiper, 8 Ringed Plover and 4 Dunlin, just showing how birds can arrive during the day, even in fine sunny weather with no rain.
Also in the afternoon a 1st summer Little Gull appeared over Woodend marsh and 2 different 1st summer Mediterranean Gull were seen on the Mere. Other sightings of note included a singing Lesser Whitethroat along the reedbed walk along with lots of song flighting Sedge Warblers and Reed Warblers. A pair of Avocet on the mere have 4 newly hatched chicks. From United Utilities hide a pair of Shoveler have small chicks and Little Grebe have young along the redbed walk.
The usual female Marsh Harrier is still around, also at least 8+ Common Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were seen.
