2011 Highlights.
Hen Harriers, up to Short-eared Owls, several Merlins and up to 8000 Pink-footed Geese were seen in the recording area in the first three months of the year.
January
Barnacle Goose - 3 on 26th.
Dark-bellied Brent Goose - 1 on 26th.
European Whitefronted Goose - 2 on 25th.
Green-winged Teal - Drake 6th - 9th.
Red Kite - 1 on 8th (RBA / BirdGuides) subsequently seen at Banbks Marsh by Ron Jackson.
Twite - 1 on 26th.
Lapland Bunting - Singles on 9th and 30th (G. Clarkson, C. Bushell).
Brambling - 8 on 25th.
February
Whooper Swan - Peak winter count 159 on 8th.
Bewick's Swan - Peak winter count 34 on 19th.
Barnacle Goose - 1 on 1st.
Rock Pipit - 1 on 19th during high tides (Colin Bushell).
March
Great White Egret - 1 on 8th (Sandgrounder's Log, Marshside RSPB).
White Wagtail - First recorded on 31st.
Northern Wheatear - First arrival on 31st.
April
Whimbrel - Seen 17th - 30th with 6 on the latter date.
Ruff - A pair on 23rd.
Common Tern - First recorded on 26th.
Common Swift - First recorded on 30th.
White Wagtail - 45 on 22nd was the peak for this year's spring passage.
Yellow Wagtail - 4 on 17th and 3 on 22nd.
Whinchat - One on 19th (Martin McDerby).
Ring Ouzel - A male graced the hedgerows and fields to the east of the RSPB reserve 2 - 3 April (G. Clarkson, C. Winkley, C. Bushell et al).
Whitethroat - First arrivals on 22nd.
Lesser Whitethroat - 2 singing males 23rd - 26th.
May
Hen Harrier - A female on 4th (Tony Baker).
Curlew Sandpiper - 1 on 22nd.
Yellow Wagtail - 3 on 4th.
Whinchat - 1 on 4th.
Northern Wheatear - 8 on 4th was the peak this spring.
June
Quail - Male singing on RSPB reserve 2nd - 3rd (Tony Baker et al).
July
Great Crested Grebe - A juv' on the Ribble on 24th.
Marsh Harrier - 3 on 28th.
Hobby - 1 on 19th.
Little Ringed Plover - A juvenile on 31st.
Whinchat - A male on 31st.
Lesser Whitehthroat - 1 on 20th.
August
Pintail - 2 on 19th.
Gadwall - 7 on 19th.
Shoveler - 1 on 14th.
Osprey - 1 on 28th (Neil Howard).
Merlin - 1 on 1st.
Wood Sandpiper - 1 on 4th.
Greenshank - 22 on 2nd.
Wood Sandpiper - 1 on 4th.
Green Sandpiper - 3 on 11th.
Ruff - 3 on 13th, 4 on 19th.
Little Stint - 1 on 13th.
Sandwich Tern - 2 flying up-river on 2nd and 3rd.
Arctic Tern - 6 on 2nd.
Swift - 8 on 13th and 1 on 14th.
Yellow Wagtail - 3 on 2nd; 6 on 17th.
Whinchat - 1 on 18th.
Lesser Whitethroat - 2 on 1st.
Crossbill - 1 calling and heading SE on 2nd.
London birder lost in Lancashire. I enjoy birding the local patch on the Ribble Estuary and in Scotland, especially the Solway.
