Finally found time for some local birding on the Ribble Estuary this afternoon. Newton Marsh was quite "birdy" with plenty of Teal and Wigeon on the pool plus a few Shoveler. Some of the drakes are now starting to look pretty smart too. A Little Egret flew in and put 20+ Snipe up and a single Blackwit was feeding in the shallows. Nice to see 5 Corn Buntings up on the cables with the Starlings as well.Drove round to Freckleton for a walk out to Naze Point next. I could see that Longton had no geese as soon as I started to walk on the footpath so it looks as though last winter's early gathering of Pink-feet here was a one-off. Still time yet but I guess they were displaced from more traditional grounds. Nice to see 50+ Whoopers in the fields between Naze Pool and the Clifton Marsh though. Otherwsie the pool was as expected - loads of Teal, Black-tailed Godwits plus 3 Little Egrets in the trees. Wandered down to the river to go through the gulls gathering at the Douglas as the tide dropped but couldn't find anything interesting. Single Greenshank, Barwit and Oystercatcher with the Redshanks and Dunlins and 4 Gadwall of note. Bird numbers are building up though with 300+ Wigeon on the marsh and 350+ Golden Plovers roosting on the mud. A Brambling calling in the small wood at Naze Point was a "patch tick" for me, otherwise just the usual 3 or 4 Jays, Great Spotted Woodpecker and 50+ Redwings and Fieldfares. Little Egrets were up to 13 as I strolled back past Naze Pool. Nice afternoon, now back to work!
