Ruby Tuesday....

Aldcliffe was all quiet after the mad weekend, well it was 06.30! You know the expression about worms and birds; well it was a great couple of hours birding. Met Dan and his ears were burning straight away while mine were just getting warm! Began in Freeman’s Wood with plenty of Blackcaps, 6/7 in all, along with Chiffchaff, 5/6, Treecreeper, 2 Jays and about 8/9 Willow Warblers.
The pool had LRP 2 and new in Shoveler 2m 1f along with Goldeneye 2. We had gone a few yards down the cycle track and Dan heard Lesser Whitethroat, which flew onto the hedge top giving us a great view, there were another two further along, Dan commented that they were the earliest he has seen them at Aldcliffe. Also, a couple of Reed Bunting. 3 Golden Plover landed on the stubble field, which we assumed were northern species, they had been chased off by the Lapwings when we got there. On Darter Pool the Tufted Duck pair still present. Wildfowlers’ saw Green Sandpiper and pair of Teal. There were good numbers of passerines along the track, with quite a number of thrushes. We started to see Wheatear near Chat Wall, and along with a number opposite on the marsh we counted 14 in total. In the meantime Meadow Pipits, Redpoll, Siskin and Swallow were flying over. Near Snipe Bog was a Dunlin.
On the Marsh we counted 5 Little Egrets and saw a Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.
steve and dan

++ Fact fans might be interested to know that an early 'lesserthroat' turned up at Aldcliffe on the same date in 2007. Not to be outdone Heysham also had one on the same day that year.
JC