Managed to make it to the Fylde Coast and back again with Craggy. Set off about 8am and managed to spot Buzzards and Sparrowhawks displaying over Grane. First stop after nearly running a Redwing over near Freckleton was Fairhaven Lake where a Red-throated Diver in winter plumage s taken up residence for a while. Luckily we managed to see it but as soon as it saw us it flew to the opposite. We worked our way to the opposite side when it drifted to the other side. We felt like giving up as there was only so many times we could walk around Fairhaven Lake without getting tired, once! However, an unlikely saviour came in the appearance of an ignorant dog walker typically with dog off lead and dog going very close to the shore. This spooked the Diver to fly to our side. The often cursed insensitive to wildlife dog walker type proved brought a lot of compliments for the few early but late in the season admirers. We got excellent views of the red eyed, white faced and throated, black cape and backed with white speckles winter visitor as it looked curiously at us within a few metres. Other unusual birds present included Turnstone and a Little Egret in a tree on the island spotted by Craggy.
We then drove onto Lytham Moss where the Great Grey Shrike was reported again this week after a month although it was a no show. Apparently the report may have been false as we learned later. The next stop was Marton Mere, a lake on the Eastern side of Blackpool close to a Caravan Park with lots of dog walkers going around but still a SSSI and one of Lancashire's best wetlands. I had not visited for a couple of years so had to try remember where to park. We did find the parking spot after a bit of help and once out we discovered one of the paths was blocked. WE sat in the first hide and observed Gulls landing to drink water, clean, dive and submerge after a feeding session at the nearby tip. An Iceland Gull has ben reported as most years but we did not spot it. We managed to get a close up of a Buzzard, hear three different Cetti's Warbler explode and observe a mixed flock of tits and finches on the feeders hoping to catch a glimpse of the diminutive but striking Firecrest latching onto the pink and white bundles of joy, the Long Tailed Tits, whose very movements and behaviour reminded me of clock work toys working their way around a patch as they trilled. No such luck although we has been directed to a site of a roosting angel on the night, the Long Eared Owl. It was perfectly camouflaged and in order to see one had to focus and then the lighter shade of the owl came to life. It's cryptic plumage and erect long ears makes it in my humble opinion by far Britain's most beautiful owl but sadly over shaded the white floating ghost of rough grasslands. The Iceland Gull was on the water we were told and we decided to march across to see if we could manage to observe it. Before reaching the point where it was most probably showing best a large flock of Gulls flew off from the water but within the large flock at the tail end was a bird which lacked any black on the wing tips.
It was time to move onto Rossall Point where after much searching of the picnic area and the shingle beach we did not come across it. It was reported at 12.55pm according to birdguides but maybe the throngs of peoples with their four legged inquisitive friends was a bit too much for it!
Next trip it to Swillington Ings/St Aidans and Fairburn Ings hopefully next week if the weather is dry!
