Redstart makes up for flat tyre... almost

A few more grounded migrants around during a late afternoon/early evening trawl.
A tit flock at the Wildfowlers' Pools held an astonishing minimum 8 chiffchaff, 2 willow warbler and a pair of goldcrest. The bulk of the flock was made up of long-tailed tits, unsurprisingly.
A green sandpiper was visible here from the gate on the cycle track.

A little grebe was on Freeman's Pools.

A little egret and an adult Med gull were on the river amongst the many BH gulls.

At Stodday ETW the number of alba wagtails had dropped to just over 40 but again there was nothing else associating with them. Very surprised that no grey wags were present (again) given that normally this species is virtually guaranteed here. Disappointed there were no yellows...
Oh, and this is where I got a puncture and had to wheel my bike home, though at least the journey was brightened up somewhat by a redstart and lesser whitethroat, plus a number of robins, which were around the sheep pen at the Walled Meadow.

A few migrants moving through

The most notable thing yesterday (Friday) was the number of hirundines around. I was aware of large numbers feeding from the moment I left home in the morning and all the way to Morecambe - there were feeding groups of mainly swallow with lesser numbers of house martin, all over the place. At Aldcliffe in the evening this was yet again evident with literally hundreds of birds, including a few sand martins, feeding over the fields and pools - doubtless fuelling up before taking advantage of the change in weather.
This morning, there were very few hirundines feeding in the Aldcliffe area but there was a definite thinly scattered but persistent movement south.

4 wheatear were on the tideline.
Going through a few tit flocks I came across just one chiffchaff and a single lesser whitethroat (yesterday evening one tit flock contained 6 willow warbler and a chiff). Another notable feature in the past couple of days is the 'return' of singing robins all along the cycle track - presumably establishing their winter territories.

2 green sandpiper were over the marsh and landed on the river off Heaton, I imagine these were the same 2 seen 20 minutes later at the regular haunt of the Wildfowlers' Pools.
A single common buzzard drifted over the marsh while both a peregrine and a female merlin also put in appearances. The resident raven pair were kicking about.
2 common sandpiper were on the Lune as was a shoveler in amongst a group of mallard.
Went through the gulls but despite the many BH's there were no Meds present.

Lots of dragonflies & damselflies around with dozens of common darter throughout the area and a single ruddy darter at Frog Pond. Brown hawkers were also much in evidence.

Leucistic lapwing reappears

The leucistic lapwing seen on the marsh back in July was feeding in the fields this afternoon.
Also present amongst the many nearby starlings was one with a whole white tail (a completely white bird was near here a few years ago).
Otherwise, a little egret flying through and good numbers of hirundines were the only birds of note at Aldcliffe.
At Stodday ETW around 200 swallows/house martins were feeding over the beds with at least 80 alba wagtails at the site, though I couldn't find anything else amongst them despite a pretty thorough grilling. Probably worth checking here in the next few days if these numbers remain...

Sunshine Sunday

A late afternoon prowl around the parish revealed little new.
A very large juv peregrine was doing the rounds and a female sparrowhawk was over Freeman's Wood.
A pair each of little grebe and green sandpiper were at the Wildfowlers' Pools.
A noisy raven duo were honking over the marsh.
Some jet-skiers kindly flushed a group of 11 snipe.
2 chiffchaff were the only notable 'migrants'.

SEO performs again

Quick post-work visit revealed little at Freeman's Pools bar an adult little grebe and the usual coot, mallard etc.
3 little egret flew over Frog Pond heading north, gaining height - could they have been heading for the Leighton Moss roost? 8 teal were new in on the pond.
2 ravens were dossing about over the marsh again.
Returning to Freeman's Pools, homeward bound, I noticed the short-eared owl was engaged in something of a fracas with one of the local kestrels. The falcon retreated to a hawthorn while the owl did a few turns over the rough grass area before landing on the fence and allowing superb views in the intense evening sunlight. All this, just 20 minutes walk from the city centre...