Weekend estuary sightings.

Male Wheatear at Hesketh Out Marsh 27 April 2012.

I spent last Friday morning surveying the hedgerows (what's left of them) for the RSPB at their Hesketh Out Marsh reserve on the Ribble. A quick look on the salt marsh revealed one of the Great White Egrets out there, preening in the early morning sun. This Little Ringed Plover was my first of the year, 28 Avocets on the pools, singing Corn Bunting and Willow Warbler and Blackcap singing in the shooting copse with a lone Whitethroat in the hedges.

One of 5 Wheatears at HOM last Friday.

 I had a quick look at Longton Marsh on Friday afternoon where Whimbrels were very vocal with a small group of 3 seen followed by 12 flying up the Douglas. Hope to get a chance to check the roost later this week.
Nice to see Avocet so close to home and the usual Corn Buntings were present with 13 seen (singing male plus a flock of a dozen). Common Sandpiper, Whitethroat and 2 Wheatears completed the list for the site that's becoming a decent local patch.

 Saturday's highlights included a drake Goosander and singing Reed Warbler on the Douglas, but Sunday was a complete wash-out apart from a singing Lesser Whitethroat on the fringes of Longton Brickcroft before the deluge started.
This morning saw promising conditions after the foul weather had abated with the wind continuing from the east. No car this morning though, but a yomp around Longton Marsh was very good with a summer plumaged (mostly black bill, pinkish, fading to yellow tibia and flowing plumes) Great White Egret. So, we still have two on the estuary.
Three singing Lesser Whitehroats, Garden Warbler, Yellow Wagtail, 6 Wheatears, 2 Swifts, several Grey Partridge, 7 Snipe, 2 Avocet and a few House Martins were also seen.