Sandpiper excitement

Sorry about the rather misleading title to this posting but the appearance of a common sandpiper on Freeman's Pool this evening was (almost) exciting.
The shoveler pair were still present on the top pool.
A couple of LR plover were present as per usual, with a third on the Wildfowlers' Pools.

Best bird of the day, by far, was the wood warbler I came across in Morecambe Dome bushes this morning. Often a good spot for turning up migrants, this spring has so far been rubbish with very few birds of note, so I was well chuffed with this little beauty! For those who don't know - I usually check the Stone Jetty and the bushes on weekday mornings before work and again at lunchtimes. For those sightings check the LDBWS website: www.lancasterbirdwatching.org.uk

Early evening stroll

Good to note at least 3 pairs of linnet in Freeman's Wood this evening plus singing common and lesser whitethroats. A further linnet pair were by Freeman's Pools.
The pools themselves seemed rather quiet, though the fact that it was a nice afternoon combined with half-term may well explain that... the shoveler pair were present as was a lone LR plover.
Nothing of note was on the marsh and there was little on the Wildfowlers' Pools bar the 2 LR plover there. Looks like a garganey-free spring - fingers crossed for a late summer bird!

Mmmmmmm muck

The most notable thing about my brief post-work visit today was the strangely warming and pungent aroma of freshly spread muck in the fields, something that always reminds me of my younger days helping out at our friends' farm in North Yorkshire.
Aside of that olfactory reminiscence, the highlights were the shoveler pair, a couple of LR plover and a kestrel. Good to see a leveret too, as well as three adult hares.
Plenty of house martins and swifts around now.
Dan H had checked the pools thoroughly today and had seen no stints, so it's highly likely that they've moved on despite the continued easterly winds.

Quick blustery visit

No sign of any stints on the Wildfowlers' Pools during a relatively brief visit, though as I know too well and is evident from a number of postings on the LDBWS site birds can often be hidden away for prolonged periods of time at this site. A couple of LR plover were visible but nothing much else.
Mute swans have hatched young on Heron Pool. This was their third and final nest site.

The most exciting thing today though was that my bird table had blown over in the monster gale...

Birding by bike and stints revisited

The Birding by Bike event went well with a good turn out. Thanks to Rachel for organising it and Dan for his expertise and enthusiasm.
Undoubted highlight was the avocet pair which made a timely reappearance and entertained the crowds at Freeman's Pools. Otherwise we saw what you'd expect but it's always great to look at familiar birds through 'new' eyes - added interests included eider (4) and a good selection of waders at Conder including greenshank, both godwits and common sandpiper.
On my return I stopped off at the Wildfowlers' Pools and spotted both Temminck's stints (and adding Tony Riden to my Aldcliffe yearlist).
One of the stints however got me in a bit of a tizz upon close inspection and I started thinking Baird's sandpiper for a while, but after a good deal of scrutiny I gave up on that fanciful idea! Well, it did have dark legs and appeared longish-winged... and what about that 'oval' shaped body? Hmmmm