MickT

Hi. I was there on Saturday, took these photos which, with some editing, are OK. Feel free to keep a copy for your records.

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Another test message. Can’t upload photos again. No reason. Time to sack it off ?

Below photo is the Marsh Side Montagu’s Harrier. Photo just wouldn’t upload earlier.

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Been really struggling to upload images the last few weeks. No pattern to it. Complete PITA.

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Greece, black winged stilt the other week.

This avocet, which is raising two chicks at Martin Mere, was ringed as a chick in Spain (near Seville ) in 2017 ! Black necked green at Marsh Side, with wood and green sandpiper at Martin Mere, last Sunday.

Saw these two a back in May, a few hours after they’d been born. Amazing.

Brilliant! And well done to everyone who put in the effort to create this habitat. I see quite a few down here in Lancashire, great birds.

Spoonbills at Hesketh Out Marsh on Sunday. When they actually wake up, they are really interesting to watch: feeding, food begging, flying about. Great stuff.

Marsh harriers at Martin Mere last Sunday, doing some acrobatics. The smaller one looks like this years male. The bigger one? Evidence of moulting on its tail, so its mum ? Not sure. Ace though !

This mornings dog walk. Never seen as many common blues, 15+ in a couple of patches. Small skipper and speckled wood (photos) plus loads of gatekeepers. A far cry from last year. Butterflies always make me feel happier, (and I’m usually happy).

Hummingbird hawk-moth, Martin Mere on Sunday. They have a kinda cool vibe about them.

Below was Martin Mere, not Merton Mere, which probably doesn’t exist.

Reed warbler about to feed its chicks

Cetti’s warbler.

Chiffchaff

Sedge warbler.

Recent warblers at Merton Mere, seen whilst helping monitor bitterns. Which I also managed to photograph. And then also managed to accidentally delete said photographs. They were award winning as well. Not.

Male marsh harrier approaches with prey item (coot or moorhen chick ?)

Female responds and approaches the male, calling.

Male drops prey item, female talons ready to catch it

Prey item caught, male and female go their separate ways.

WWT Martin Mere yesterday. A marsh harrier food pass which I luckily managed to photograph. Wow!

Curlew Sandpiper at Burton Mere last Saturday, quite a character sticking up for itself amongst a flock of knot, many showing stunning summer plumage. At distance, the curlew sand and summer plumage knot had very similar plumage, and at rest it blended in magnificently. #burtonmere

I have to say that when we chatted at Ruddons, you didn’t look a day older than xx - x/2. Happy Birthday !

Nice, and pretty good photos of a hard to photo bird (or so I’ve heard, never seen one myself).

A few recents, yellow wagtail near Rufford (2 quail heard), cattle egret at Martin Mere, spotted orchid in Standish, Southport Spoonbills. #lancsbirding

Nice one, especially for Ken.

From last Saturday: 28 bar tailed godwits at Hesketh Out Marsh. At least one was on ‘the turn’, showing stunning plumage #lancsbirding

Stonker !

Arctic terms at Hesketh 0ut Marsh last Saturday. Strong winds making them jink around even more than normal. One caught a crab and a friend has a photo where it looks like it was being eaten on the wing, swallowing it whole. Or possibly just trapping it in its throat? No idea. #lancsbirding

Few hours at the Wigan Flashes yesterday. Teeming with life: fledgeling willow, great, blue, coal and long tailed tits, great views of this willow warbler, hunting marsh harrier (think it’s the third year they’ve breed here, bitterns next ??), common terns.

Bees and poppies

Barn owl showing how white they can appear, probably why people inform me we have a few pairs of snowy owl breeding in Wigan. This one was at Hesketh Out Marsh

Male garganey at Marshside

Willow tit, Standish in Wigan. Four chicks fledged last year at this site. Hoping for similar this year.

Eider at Hesketh Out Marsh.

This weekend. Don’t normally do close ups, but this owl is right on the right hand side of the actual photo so cropped it to compose the photo. Temmincks stint, lesser whitethroat and hobby also. Saw a kestrel swoop down and grab an avocet chick, which then fell 15 ft to freedom #lancsbirding