Whoopers and Redwings
Redwings were evident this morning with small flocks flying north over the mere, at least 50 along with 15 Fieldfare and flocks of Goldfinch and Chaffinch, a watch from dawn would have revealed a much higher count, the last 24 hours has seen a large arrival into the country of these winter thrushes, with upto 5,000 over a site in Greater Manchester and 31,000 counted counted passing over a site in Bedfordshire in just 4 hours!
A count of Whooper Swans this afternoon produced 224 birds, while c7,000 Pink-footed Geese dropped in this afternoon to bathe and preen around the mere affording some excellent views, a single leucistic (paler sandy coloured) bird was among them.
Upto 2 Peregrines were seen including a juvenile male, several Common Buzzard and Kestrel. Good numbers of Teal but no reports of the Green winged Teal or the Pectoral Sandpiper from recent days.
The Lancashire Bird Report is now out and available from the In Focus shop
