LANCS: OK, got the egret now where's the Curlew?

One of the Daggers (I think?) on the house in Fulwood, Preston.

Time for a bit of Ribblesiding at last as I spent the last two mornings surveying the saltmarsh, grazing and tidal creek systems of the proposed Ribble Estuary Regional Park. Helping out with WeBS counts on the Banks Marsh (part of the National Nature Reserve) yesterday I was reminded just what a rarity magnet the whole area used to be. The famous Freckleton Sewage Farm (sadly no longer with us) boasted records of Broad-billed Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope and many others, whilst the south shore hosted Lesser Yellowlegs and Stilt Sandpiper. Of course good birds such as these must still occur. Finding them on the Ribble is another story though, with restricted access and distant viewing. Not too many notable sightings on the WeBS apart from female Eider with 3 chicks, 800+ Shelduck, 20+ Common Terns and a Peregrine. A Corn Bunting at the car park was probably bird of the day.
Is this all about to change though with the development of the RSPB's Hesketh Out Marsh Reserve and opening scheduled for September? Surely all this area needs is a 'focal point' where birders can concentrate their efforts and former glories will be resotored?
This morning's birds on the south shore opposite Warton during a breeding bird survey included 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Little Egrets, Arctic Tern, 3 Avocets, a Common Sandpiper (autumn's here!) and best of all a pair of Yellow Wagtails.
Oh how things have changed. Struggling for Yellow Wags and Little Egrets little more than a "padder". Seeing these graceful birds this morning reminded me of a situation in the hide at Leighton Moss at the weekend when one birder located some Curlew for some newcomers.
"They're next to the Little Egret, at the edge of the marsh": I never thought I'd see the day when Little Egret was used as a reference point to day-tick Curlews .......

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