White Tailed Lapwing

 I visited Blacktoft Sands for the Mega wader from India White Tailed Lapwing. There was a nice selection of birds including Greenshank Green Sandpiper Spotted Redshank Spoonbill Water Rail and Bearded Tit. I went onto Spurn and saw a typical elusive Wryneck and lots of Mediterranean Gull

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!

Baikal Teal

Good scope views in windy conditions of the Baikal Teal at Marshside Marsh Southport. Other sightings included  Willow Tit at Pennington Flash and Mediterranean Gull, Twite and Bar tailed Godwit at Heysham

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

Bonaparte's Gull

A successful short twitch to Heysham as we were straight onto the adult Bonaparte's Gull. Also seen were a splendid summer plumage Mediterranean Gull plus the usual common gulls

Mediterranean Gull

Lunchtime visit to Pennington Flash produced 2 stunning summer plumage Mediterranean Gulls and the first spring migrant for me in the form of several Sand Martins. I really enjoyed some close scope views of the Med gulls as I've never seen them in their summer splendour before.