Hesketh Out Marsh 1 June 2012.

 Out surveying early again this morning, this time at RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh. Covered the hedgerows where this male Yellowhammer was the best bird by a country mile. Calling at first, it gave a few phrases of song later on. A rare bird on the estuary nowadays but my second HOM sighting of the spring (I recorded a pair earlier in the spring) and I presume it was the same bird I saw later near the reserve car park.

I started with a fine Barn Owl quartering the rough ground near the car park and many Tree Sparrows flying around. A male Yellow Wagtail calling and returning to the same field later bringing hope that these may be breeding here too. Three Sedge Warblers, a Reed Warbler and several Whitehthroats on territory, plus the usual Corn Buntings, Grey Partridges and at least 34 Avocets on the salt marsh. A female Wheatear was the only migrant I could find this morning.
A stroll out to the Ribble produced a croaking Raven heading down river, a few Arctic Terns, more Common Terns, a flock of 25 Bar-tailed Godwits and 3 Barnacle Geese with Canadas.