Two Dowitchers...
Top day for visitors with a great deal of goose action coming and going throughout the day and very mild too. Good numbers of Pink-footed Geese with around 10,000 in the vicinity and a couple of Barnacle Geese with them.
Up until ~12.15 there had been no sign of the Long-billed Dowitcher but it reappeared in it's favoured spot on Woodend Marsh from the United Utilities Hide. At the same time new came from twitter that a Long-billed Dowitcher was still being seen in Banks on the Ribble. So it looks like there are two birds involved in the recent sightings.
Further waders included Little Stint, Dunlin, 70+ Ruff, 30+ Snipe, 800+ Lapwing.
Raptors included Peregrine, 4 Marsh Harrier, 5+ Buzzard, 4 Kestrel and Sparrowhawk.
A Swallow was seen early on, getting late for this species at inland sites although the barmy weather was in it's favour.
The 'usual' Tree Sparrow (60+) on site, a good count of 70 Shoveler on the Mere alone, Coal Tits and Goldcrests along the Nature Trail, at least 2 Cetti's Warbler calling on the Reed Bed Walk.
It's possible to see 60-70+ species of wild bird on the reserve.
If you want to know what is about and were to see it, or to report any sightings, please call in at the in focus shop next to the Discovery Hide.
