Richard's Pipit and Greater Manchester Glossy Ibis

Up to County Durham for Richard's Pipit, two in a field at Whitburn coastal park with good scope views. On the way home popped into Fairburn Ings, pretty quiet with a couple of Ruff feeding close to Lin Dike hide. Best was left to last with 4 Glossy Ibis near Horwich

Leach's Petrel

Fantastic views of several Leach's Petrel today at Leasowe on the Wirral. Always a joy to see these sea birds from land.

Pectoral Sandpiper

Good scope views of Pectoral Sandpiper at Rumworth Lodge near Bolton today. Appalling pictures phonescoped.

Here are much better pictures of the same species photographed in 2010 at Pugneys Country Park, West Yorkshire

Glossy Ibis

Yesterday we headed south west in search of petrels battling against the weather. Sadly the weather wasn't bad enough so no petrels at Severn Beach. We did see two Manx Shearwaters though. One out at sea and another being rescued by a local who found it exhausted on the rocks. Apparently after a 4 hour rest it was successfully released. The day wasn't a complete failure as we went down to Meare and had good scope views of a Glossy Ibis

Curlew Sandpiper

Curlew Sandpipers showing nicely at Hoylake on the Wirral amongst the thousands of Dunlin and Oystercatcher. Also of note was an adult Yellow legged Gull, several Bar tailed Godwit and some stunning summer plumage Grey Plover that were too distant to get a shot

Common Rosefinch

Back to Spurn today. Straight onto juvenile Red backed Shrike and managed some reasonable phonescope pics. Then got good views of a new species, Common Rosefinch. Nothing else interesting at Spurn so stopped off at Blacktoft Sands RSPB on way back and saw Little Stint female Garganey, Curlew Sandpiper, Greenshank, Ruff, Water rail and Spotted Redshank

Spotted Crake, Stilt Sandpiper, Wryneck and Red Backed Shrike!!

Classic birding day yesterday with all targets successfully seen. First stop Spurn where  I had crippling views of the juvenile Red Backed Shrike. We also saw the Wryneck that had hung around since last weekends fall but the views were fleeting as it darted from a bush. It was seen again in flight but no more after this. Also seen were several Whinchat, Redstart, Sparrowhawk and a female Crossbill. As the tide came in there were good numbers of waders including several very smart looking juvenile Curlew Sandpipers.
On the way back we stopped off at Neumann's Flash in Cheshire and had scope views of an adult Stilt Sandpiper. We then were undecided to either head home or go for the Spotted Crake at Belper Derbyshire. We decided on the latter and incredibly within five minutes of arriving with reducing light the Crake appeared and we watched it walk along the edge of reeds for several minutes. Sadly too dim for any photos.