Garden Birds

Some good species being recorded in the garden over the last few days. Lesser Redpoll seen only twice this year. Also an interesting partial leucistic Goldfinch. Daily Goldcrest is a real joy. Nice to see a Robin frequenting a nest box for the first time. I hope she makes it her home this spring

Pomarine Skua and Great Grey Shrike

Yesterday me and Dave went birding in West Lancashire. First off was the juvenile Pomarine Skua at Pilling. Great close views of a great seabird. Also present were a flock of around 100 Twite and an adult Mediterraean Gull. Next up were all 3 species of swans at  near Upper Thurnham. It was really nice to see a small group of Bewick Swans a species that eluded us last year and are only present in small numbers in the North of England. We finished off seeing the long staying Great Grey Shrike at Lytham moss.
At home in the garden I am seeing a Goldcrest daily probably the same bird that came last winter and spotted a single Lesser Redpoll a few days ago. Lets hope he returns with his friends!

Garden Long tailed Tit

Garden Goldcrest

Nice selection of garden birds today in poor light. Great to have a Goldcrest feeding daily. Amazing to think this 6g in weight bird may have come from Scandinavia to spend its winter here.

Garden Highlights

Quiet day today. Nice to see a pair of Bullfinch coming to the feeders regularly as well as a pair of Greater Spotted Woodpeckers. Still geting several Siskin amongst the usuals. Nice to see a Treecreeper moving from tree to tree. Dipper a few metres upstream.

Red Breasted Flycatcher and Yellow Browed Warbler

Quick dash to Flamborough this afternoon proved very fruitful. On the way we saw a slim winged buzzard with bright white rump from the car. Boom!! Rough-Legged Buzzard.
 At Flamborough in the Old Plantation we were quickly onto the Yellow Browed Warbler. Also present were several Redwing and Fieldfare feeding on berries. Several Brambling were also present with flocks of feeding Long tailed Tits and Goldcrest. Best of all though was the sudden appearance of a Red Breasted Flycatcher. Boom!!

Blacktoft Sands