Magic day!!
The day got off to a cracking start with a fine adult male Montagu's Harrier distantly from the In Focus shop, fortunately it was on and off the reserve until early afternoon enabling many l [...]
The day got off to a cracking start with a fine adult male Montagu's Harrier distantly from the In Focus shop, fortunately it was on and off the reserve until early afternoon enabling many lancashire birders to add this species to thier county lists. It was last seen on the site around 13.30 but was later reported from the railway line area off site around 15.00. While looking for the bird from United Utilities hide an Osprey was seen circling distantly behind Ron Barker hide. Shortly afterwards a Hobby was seen by some of the first birders looking for the Monties!! Other raptors seen included the usual 3 Marsh Harriers, several Common Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk.
Other birds on site today included a breeding plumage Knot along with a Sanderling (Not a Little Stint) from United Utilities hide, also at least 50 Black tailed Godwit, 1 Dunlin, 4 Curlew and Little ringed Plover. A pair of Ringed Plover on the Mere have at least 3 newly hatched chicks. A Spotted Flycatcher was also seen by the Janet Kear hide early morning. Good numbers of Swifts over the reserve with at least 200+ in the area.
By mid afternoon we thought the excitement had died down when all of a sudden a fantastic adult Common Crane flew from over the United Utilities hide right accross the reserve and appeared to come down near Ron barker hide, it later showed brilliantly and for a time settled on the far side of the mere early evening and proceeded to feed among the cow parsley flowers, a fitting end to a great day! From UU hide this evening were 3-4 Yellow Wagtail and a distant colour headed bird which looked like a Channel Wagtail, bring on tomorrow, with more easterly airflow we could be on for more interesting arrivals........ TD
Below Montagu's Harrier with 2 blurred images of the Osprey top right with Common Crane at the bottom of page. Photos: T. Disley
