With the continued presence of the two American Golden Plovers at Lunt Water Meadows, Nr Maghull, Lancashire a trip to see them was planned. With Steve & Chris B we set off with a plan to see the plovers, a Red necked Phalarope at Marshside and finally the Pectoral Sandpiper between Mythop & Weeton near Blackpool, but as they say The best laid plans of mice & men. An 8am start from Norden on a rather miserable, drizzly day soon had us heading over the motorway towards Liverpool when, a real downpour slowed our progress (not quite of biblical proportions) but after a ten minute burst of rain the day cleared up. At Lunt we could see the water levels had dropped since last week and the same quantity of birds were not present, after a walk all the way around the area it became apparent that the American Golden Plovers were not there. Lots of Snipe, a few Ruff and lots of Lapwing though.
News of the Red necked Phalarope being present at Marshside filtered through and after a good warning from Dave W about a fun run (didnt see many smiling) taking place in Southport we arrived at Nells Hide. The phalarope was rapidly feeding about 50 yards away by following a dabbling duck that stirred the prey items up for it. A flock of 14 Cattle Egrets, also at Marshside, just showed how well this species have colonised our small island. No sign of the Ruddy Shelduck that had been promised to us by John R but a very nice Marsh Harrier was seen hunting. We headed off to Hesketh Out Marsh and saw: - 2 Curlew Sandpipers, Goosander, Redshanks and a Great White Egret. We had been waiting for news of the American Golden Plovers to return at Lunt but it never came so we decided to head towards Blackpool to see the Pectoral Sandpiper.
More rain welcomed us at Ream Hills/ Blackpool Wake Park between Mythop & Weeton, Steve enquired where the sandpiper was and headed off to look at a flooded muddy field. He called to us both that the Pectoral Sandpiper was present, result we thought, 20 seconds later as we viewed the area the bird had flown. You can imagine how Steve felt at this time and some of the comments that went his way! Through the rain we gave the general area a really good looking at but after about 50 minutes and feeling a bit damp we almost gave up. Just one more look we said and there it was a juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper feeding on the waters edge. We enjoyed a rather smart bird and managed to put other birders onto it as they arrived.
True to form the American Golden Plovers returned to Lunt last evening and are still present today 23/9/2019.
