Twite

 Up to 12 Twite today at Green Withens Reservoir several with coloured leg rings. Lovely calls and song too. Singing Skylark as well

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!

Twite

Good views of 50 Twite at Cant Clough Reservoir today

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

Another short video of Twite at Heysham

Twite at Heysham from Anthony Capuano on Vimeo.

Twite Video

Here is the Twite video in Vimeo which appears clearer and larger than Youtube

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

Three new species on a day!

Incredible day on the East coast yesterday. Daurian  (Isabelline) Shrike  Flamborough and a flock of 40-50 Twite. Siberian Stonechat at Scalby Mills. Finally up to Hartlepool for the Western Bonelli's Warbler. Bonus of the day was a Pallid Swift that was spotted by birders viewing the warbler and gave good views as it circled overhead. Or so we thought! Now been identified as a juvenile Common Swift. Aaargh!! Several Blackcap and Goldcrest were also seen feeding with the warbler.

Spring in Scotland

What a fantastic long weekend we had in Scotland. The weather was great and we ticked off all the Scottish species except for crossbill. First full day and we saw Capercaillie at Caperwatch at Loch garten and also another bird lekking in a nearby tree. Also see was a Crested Tit on the feeders. The next day we went up to the coast and had good views of White-billed Diver at Portsoy along with Red throated and Great Northern Diver. On the way back to our base in Nethybridge we bagged the King Eider at Black Dogg near the Ythan estuary. The following day was spent with our guide Dave Slater of Birding Ecosse and he delivered with Black throated Diver at Loch Indorb and Golden Eagle plus Ring Ouzel in the Findhorn Valley. In the afternoon we up Cairngorm and had brief views of Ptarmigan. On Monday we managed to see Black Grouse on Tulloch Moor and we went back to Findhorn valley for crippling views of an adult Golden Eagle and further Golden Eagles one fighting with a White tailed Sea Eagle. Our last day involved a long driver to Iona where we heard and saw Corncrake. Other highlights of the trip included Hooded Crow, Tree Pipit, Redstart, Slavonian Grebe, Cuckoo, Twite, Peregrine, Eider, Long tailed Duck and Artic tern