Dusky Warbler at Ainsdale NNR, Southport, Lancashire. Sunday 18th November 2018
News of a Dusky Warbler in the sand dunes at Ainsdale, Lancashire reached me whilst I was at the Shrewsbury v Rochdale football match on Saturday evening. After the result, there may be a way of rescuing the weekend then? Steve B was still in bed as news that the warbler was still present began to break, without his usual fry up I picked him up at 10-30am and using the trusty Sat Nav headed for Ainsdale. It was a sunny and wind free as we reached Ainsdale, following the directions and parking on Pinfold Lane, just as Paul Brewster arrived. We headed off over the railway bridge and met 2 other birders who told us that they hadnt managed to connect with the warbler after 2 hours searching. We decided to give it a go anyway, the directions that we had could be interpreted in different ways, so we managed to get them wrong way about. Climbing various sand hills and searching for other birders didnt reveal much until we met a man heading with some purpose towards the sea. At this stage we met an oldish birder who had come to see the bird on Saturday afternoon and was still trying to find the birds position!! News that the bird had been refound had us meeting several other birders and quickening the pace to see the Dusky Warbler.
Around 20 birders assembled around some low Willow bush and we all had some good views of this well-known skulking species of warbler that, occasionally, jumped out of the bush to catch prey items. It flew across to another small bush and gave good views in excellent sunlight and everyone had a nice sighting of the bird. Whilst we had been waiting for the bird to show a Long Eared Owl had been flushed, accidently by a birder heading to see the warbler, great flight views of the owl. After about an hour me and Steve headed back, the correct way, back to Pinfold Lane and having managed to add another species to our Lancashire list, there has certainly not been many Dusky Warblers in Lancashire before. Many thanks to the finder of the bird for sharing it with us all.
