Another decent day on the Ribble marshes. 10am - 3pm.
Marshside - Plenty of the usual species, Pink feet, Wigeon, Teal, Larks and Pipits..etc .Lots of Waders/ Ducks on the shore at high tide.
Highlights -
Ad male Hen Harrier hunting the saltmarsh most of the morning with excellent close views at the sand quarry.
2 Great White Egret on Crossens outer marsh. 20+ L Egret on outer marsh.
4 Merlin (1 male 3 female), 2 Peregrine ( 1 juv male, 1 ad fem), fem Sparrowhawk, 1 S E Owl sand quarry, 6+ Rock Pipit, 500+ Blk Tailed Godwit (saltmarsh and inner marsh), R T Diver on the sea.
Hesketh Out Marsh - Lots of Pinkfeet, Wigeon, Lapwings etc again.
Highlights -
Ad fem Marsh Harrier hunting reserve and outer saltmarsh. 1 Fem Merlin, 1 Peregrine causing mayhem..
2 G W Egret again visible on outer marsh. 10+ L Egrets, 54 Whooper Swans on reserve pools and another 30+ on fylde side of River Ribble. 20+ Tree Sparrows in hedgerow on path to hide.
We saw that male Hen Harrier too, what a stunning bird. I was wondering if anyone had seen a S E Owl as so far there appears to have been no mentions of them. Would love to go Hesketh Out Marsh again and walk to is it Banks Marsh along the sea wall?
The Great White Egrets - were they just the same birds seen at different points? It would be nice if there were4 - a North West record then possibly.
