First trip of the year in dry conditions after all the rain etc. Heading off into the Lancaster/Fylde area with Bob K & Kev C at the pleasant time of 8am. First stop at Darwen services to try to find a Yellow-legged Gull that seems to like the bins adjacent to MacDonalds takeaway, straight away there it was sat on top of its favourite perch, result. We pressed on to Condor Green near the Lune Estuary, but the tide was out, so apart from a few duck species was rather quiet. We searched the fields and wet meadow`s around Jeremy Lane, Moss Lane, Slack Lane for the swans that spend the wintertime in this area. After a good search we saw Mute & Whooper Swans but not the becoming rarer Bewick`s Swan.
Onwards to Cockersands area and a nice walk along the sea wall area to see what we could find, we managed a few Red-legged Partridge a couple of Brown Hare`s but not the Black Redstart reported earlier. Meeting a few birder`s on the way back I asked about the missing Bewick`s Swans and was told exactly where they had been seen minutes before. We then enjoyed great views of around 3 birds happily feeding on the edge of the large herd of swans! We headed off to Eagland Hill to try to find Corn Bunting & Yellowhammer that are normally fed in a couple of places, without any joy. One of the reasons was a male Sparrowhawk sat on the feeding cage, wonder if he was going vegan?
A report of a Black Redstart having taken up residence at Knott End along with 30+ Twite on the slipway, had us heading in that direction. The Black Redstart was eventually seen after a spell of Hide & Seek but the Twite were not seen, maybe lots of people disturbing them on their feed laced slipway did not help? Final call was at Warton Bank overlooking the north shore of the River Ribble, always a special place for our team. A Great & Little Egret were soon added to the day list as two Fylde birders arrived who know the place like the back of their hands They managed to locate a small group of pipits, could they be Water Pipit`s? A species I have not seen for a few years, they were soon confirmed as seven Water Pipit`s and duly showed well on the wet marshy area at about 25 yards then sitting out on a fenced area. Great way to end our first trip out of the year. About 60 species seen today.
