Lunt Meadows.

While I was home and had the chance I headed to Lunt for look to see what was around.

Plenty around on the reserve yesterday,
Lapwing are around in good numbers along with Canadian geese, a dozen Pink footed geese made a brief appearance before taking flight again heading towards Southport.

Quite a few Teal around on the different ponds, along with Little grebe, Little egret, and all the usual.

A Peregrine made a pass over putting up a good flock of lapwings and gulls into the air.

The Marsh harrier had been showing just before I arrived but flew out over towards the far side of the reserve.

The biggest surprise of the night was a Short eared owl showing up, while watching the water and talking to David Humphreys I turned around and seen something pop up out of the long grass, at first I thought it was a buzzard the realised what it was. Fantastic to see as it was showing really well at times, before a few crows mobbed it away. I have never seen an owl fly so high to escape the mobbing, at one point it was no more than spec in the sky.

While talking to Dave we think that 2 are present as one flew over and behind the pump house yet within a few mins one turned up behind us again at the back of the field. Can not see how it got past us to were it showed as we were scanning the area trying to relocate it.

Really looking forward to winter at Lunt this year.

Out and About.

Rutland is starting to pick up with the return of the first Tufted duck, Wigeon and Teal. Canadian geese numbers are also on the up along with Greylag.

Quite a few Snipe showing around the reserve, although quite distant at times.

A lone Greenshank has been present over the past couple of days moving between lagoon 2 and 3.

Plenty of Little egrets around along with a Great white egret from the wet meadow hide.

One thing that shocked me this week was stumbling into not 1 but 3 Hornets nests. One at Paxton pits the other two at Rutland, I have never seen hornets back in the north west.

Back at Rutland.

After a few weeks away I returned to Rutland this week and headed out for a walk around.

Got a welcome surprise back from a Great white egret who was feeding near to a hide.

Plenty of Little egrets around must have counted over 20 around the reserve on Monday.

Over on lagoon 3 Green sandpipers can be seen quite  regular and they even come quite close to the hides.

As I was heading back today a bird caught my eye, unfortunately the sun was directly behind it turning it into a silhouette. I had a feeling it was a Spotted redshank before it flew around the corner. So a quick run to the next hide and sure enough he landed on the waters edge near the next hide.

Out and About.

Not had chance to get out much the last few weeks, with the kids being off school I have been running about here there and everywhere.

I managed to grab a few photos while having a quick look round a few local patches.

Barn Owl in Sefton.

Ruff in Sefton.

Kingfisher at Pennington Flash.

Swallow at Windermere.

Nuthatch at Burton Mere.

I am heading back to Rutland this week and looking forward to getting back to the reserves.

Pennington Flash and Lunt Meadows.

Called in again to Pennington and the Sabine gull is still hanging around, surely it must be off soon.
It is still drawing a fair crowd with people travelling hours to see it.

I believe a Juvenile Med gull was present on and off during the day, I'm not that clued up on gulls.

I headed to Lunt at around 18:30 and as we arrived a Barn owl was quartering in front of the car park.

He showed quite well before heading out over the fields and not returning.

The surprise was a flock of 9-10 Snipe flying over a few times, while we were watching the Barn owl.

Sabine Gull, Day 2

I headed to Pennington this morning around 07:00 just to see if the Sabine gull from yesterday was still about.

Upon arrival 6 birders were watching it in the same place as yesterday,  and it was still feeding on insects from the top of the water.

He did make a few small flights today allowing me to get a flight shot that I missed yesterday afternoon.