Ribble patch birding.

Adult and juvenile Arctic Terns on Longton Marsh, 10 July 2011.

Longton Marsh and the River Douglas, Lancashire 10 July 2011.

Common Tern, Longton Marsh 10 July 2011.

Quick walk along the River Douglas near home today. Still 23 Arctic Terns at the edge of Longton Marsh including a pair feeding a well grown juvenile. At least 5 Common Terns joining them mobbing the resident Raven every now and then. The tide had dropped and the muddy banks of the Douglas were full of birds including a nice selection of waders: 30+ Lapwing, 150+ Redshank, 3 Greenshank, a Knot, 35 Curlew, 20 Dunlin, 11 Common Sandpipers and 7 Avocets. Not too many ducks around at the moment but 3 Teal and 15 Mallard were on the river with 50+ Shelducks (including 16 juvs).

Arctic Terns, River Douglas 10 July 2011.

Single Peregrine, Buzzard and at least 5 Kestrels hunting over the saltmarsh and neighbouring fields and as expected it was pretty quiet on the small bird front apart from a few singing Whitethroats. Two Yellow Wagtails were a nice surprise though.

Butterflies were littered on the thistles along the seawall and included plenty of Small Tortoiseshells, Small and Large Whites, Red Admirals, Meadow Browns and a Painted Lady.