Our annual first trip of the year began, not too early, with 4 members of our group departing Rochdale and heading for coastal Lancashire. Promise of more rain around dinnertime, did not put us off. We called at Preston Docks first, hoping for the Ring Billed Gull with no success.Clifton Marsh area next with lots of Teal & Wigeon. Fairhaven Lake did not reveal the hoped for windblown Shag, but at Lytham Crematorium, just two Ring Necked Parakeet`s were present. We also paid our respects to a great northern comedian buried in this area, Mr Les Dawson. On Lytham Moss very little was seen apart from lots of flood pools. Marton Mere was next and also the rain started to fall. We picked a few species up from the dry, comfort of a hide and enjoyed the general birding. A visit to a very brisk Marshside Marsh, Southport had us dashing for the hide again. Lots of wildfowl and a brief view of a Great White Egret was all we managed on a very damp day. News of the long staying Caspian Gull being present on Ainsdale beach reached us and as one of our team needed it for a new bird we called in. Lots of mini streams, wet sand and driving rain greeted us, but we pressed on and found the Caspian Gull on the beach. It gave great views down to about 10 yards and Bob K got some nice pictures of this often overlooked gull. We then saw another birder running towards us as we headed away from the bird and he asked us had we seen the Caspian Gull. All wanting to go for another look, as we were already soaked, we took him to the bird. It was a new bird for him also! It was certainly the bird of the day. We had a long, fruitless splash around Lunt (water) Meadows near Formby, looking for a Scaup. Nice place though and we will be back again in better conditions I am sure. A few Grey Partridge were the only land birds we saw. We hurried back to the car just as the heavens opened and we departed for home with around 50 species being seen, quite a low amount but, the weather had a bit to do with it, home by 3-30pm.
