Whinchat and Whimbrel
A little bit of light rain from 12am onwards always perks up some interest with the possibility of something being dropped in. As it happens a male Whinchat appeared 1:20pm on the fence line at the back of the Mere. A cracking bird and barely annual on the reserve still present 4:15pm best viewed from the UU Hide.
Two Whimbrel, were also new for the year from the Ron Barker Hide. I say new, I did see a report on the internet of Whimbrel a couple of days ago for here but nobody mentioned it to anybody at the reserve or wrote it on the many observer sheets around the hides so we can't be sure.
Two Yellow Wagtail from the Ron Barker Hide this morning with at least 20 White Wagtail scattered around the reserve. An influx of Meadow Pipit with 20+ feeding on the back of the Mere. Another Yellow Wagtail and at least 4 Wheatear dropped in mid afternoon on Woodend Marsh viewed from the United Utilities Hide.
Other waders seen included 50+ Avocet, 5 Ringed Plover, ~10 Ruff, 30 Black-tailed Godwit, a few Curlew, 3 Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Common Snipe, 10+ Redshank, 6 Oystercatcher and ~ 200 Lapwing.
Med Gull, a moulting first year bird from the Harrier Hide and a possible Glaucous Gull distantly over the Sewage Works with large gulls but headed into the haze.
At least 2 Sedge Warbler from the Reed Bed Walk. Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps present around the reserve.
Raptors included 3+ Common Buzzard, Peregrine, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk
