Wet day on the Ribble but ...

Common Crane near Martin Mere WWT today. Off?

 Fairly good day's birding on the Ribble and nearby today. I started reasonably early at Marshside with a stroll around the sandplant peninsula producing 6 Wheatears, a Tree Pipit and a steady flow of Swallows to the north.

 My first Whitethroat of the year appeared near Sandgrounders before flying into the sandplant and singing, closely followed by Swift and Common Sandpiper from Nel's Hide where a Mole was the big surprise of the day by the entrance. A small flock of 12 Dunlin and a single Ringed Plover dropped onto Rimmer's Marsh during one of the morning's frequent downpours.

Common Crane near Martin Mere WWT, Lancs 26 April 2012.

 I was on my way for another look at the Common Crane at lunchtime when Graham Clarkson texted me to say it was in the fields outside the WWT's grounds at Martin Mere. 

 We enjoyed great views of the crane with the jangling Corn Buntings, calling Yellow Wagtails and a few Wheatears and a female Merlin for good measure. After a bout of calling the crane took to the air, climbing to find a thermal with a flock of gulls.

 After circling for about quarter of an hour it headed steadily north and having lost sight of it, I opted for a look at Hesketh Out Marsh.

Three Wheatears and a calling Whitethroat greeted me at the car park, a walk out to the Ribble produced Corn Bunting but very little sign of movement in an hour and a half's "river-watch" apart from two parties of Arctic Terns (3+8) and a few Swallows heading upriver. Common Terns (15+) and a single Sandwich Tern feeding mid-river with 3 Gadwall, 14 Eider, a pair of Avocets and the Great White Egret over on the north side of the estuary at Warton Marsh.
Apparently the crane returned and was seen at Martin Mere this afternoon.