Leighton Moss

Lovely spring day at Leighton Moss over weekend. Highlights were roosting Tawny Owl Marsh Tit Bearded Tit Wood Sandpiper Grasshopper Warbler and long staying rarity Cattle Egret

Black-winged Pratincole and Crippling Turtle Dove!

Good days birding. Osprey at Wykeham, the mega Black winged Pratincole in Northumbria but best of all was the increasingly hard to see Turtle Dove at Sutton Bank. Also a Marsh tit at the feeders

Local Marsh Tit

Nice to watch a local Marsh Tit at Watergrove Reservoir near Rochdale yesterday. Also seen were about 80 Pink footed geese earlier flying over Dovestone going North

Cumbria

Excellent day out yesterday in Cumbira. First off was Sizergh castle with good views of a couple of Hawfinch. Then onto Leighton Moss where we had the best views ever of a Great White Egret. Also seen were Marsh Tit, Greenshank, 5 Red breasted Mergansers Spotted Redshank Marsh Harrier and Tree Sparrow

Suffolk, Norfolk and Lincolnshire

Summer birding weekend went well in great weather. Plenty of Cuckoo at Lakenheath plus Cetti's Warbler, hunting Barn Owl and a lone Hobby sat in a tree.Sadly no Golden Oriole have arrived this year.  In the evening went to Thetford Forest for my best ever view of a Nightjar.
The following morning it was an early start at Weeting Heath for superb views of at least 6 Stone Curlew one showing in flight and giving its distinctive call. From there we went to Norfolk where we saw Marsh Harrier but no Montagu's Harrier at a favoured spot. On to Cley where there were Red Crested Pochard, Spoonbill and Avocet. We finished up at Frampton where we were rewarded with 3 Turtle Dove. Other highlights of the weekend were Marsh Tit, Red Kite, Lesser Whitethroat, Grey Partridge and Red Legged Partridge

Hawfinch and more

Great day out in Cumbria and Lancashire. First stop Sizergh castle for Hawfinch

Next it was Leighton Moss where we had brief views of Bearded Tit on the path to the grit trays and excellent views of Marsh Tit on the feeders.

We then went onto Heysham where we had the best views of Twite I've had in 30 years mixed in with other finches

We also had nice views of a Mediterranean Gull

We finished off at Marshside Marsh RSPB and saw a Great White Egret and the Ross's Goose that's been around for over a week

Lesser Yellowlegs

Myself and Dave went birding today and for a change stayed fairly local. went for the long staying Lesser Yellowlegs at Aldcliffe. We were straight onto it and had good views of it alongside a Wood Sandpiper. We then went to Sizergh Castle in hope of Hawfinch but no luck, it must still be too early. We then went to Leighton Moss where it was pretty quiet. Best birds were a Marsh Tit on the feeders, a few close Snipe, a Raven , a very tame Robin and a Spotted Redshank. We finished off this short day at Woodwell again hoping for a Hawfinch but again they proved to be elusive. We did see another Marsh Tit and I heard its distinctive call.

Marsh Tit

Me and Dave went to Leighton Moss today hoping to see the Glossy Ibis. No such look but we were kept entertained by great views of the Marsh Tits around the feeders. Other highlights were  Red-breasted Mergansers , Black-tailed Godwits and a Peregrine which got all the lapwings up. We also saw a party of 4 otters.
We also saw a bizarre looking pheasant( Reeve's) in Heysham on our way up and also failing to see the Glaucous gull present in the harbour yesterday.