The Fylde Coast - 01/12/18

Twenty-nine members and friends set off from Stockport for the relatively short journey to the Fylde coast. The day was spent visiting three sites adjacent to the course of the River Ribble. After a comfort stop at Charnock Richards Service Station we pulled up at Clifton Marsh.

In the dykes and ditches good numbers of Wigeon were present with plenty of Teal and a handful of Mallard and Shoveler. A Great Black-backed Gull sat surveying the duck from a concrete block. A walk down the lane produced a pair of Goldcrest as well as the commoner tit species. Overhead two Black-tailed Godwit flew towards the estuary. A couple of small flocks of Chaffinch, with the odd Goldfinch, moved through the fields. Most members commented that it was a lot quieter than last year’s visit.

Reed Bunting - Alan & Glo

We retraced our footsteps back to the coach and moved off towards Lytham. Arriving at Fairhaven Lake we found the car parks closed due to coastal restoration works taking place. We were also unable to walk on the path at the rear of the lake. The coach dropped us on the road by the eastern end of the lake and most members headed towards the café as the rain fell. 

A quick look in Granny’s Bay (to the east of the lake) produced a flock of a dozen or so Linnet feeding on the salt marsh. The tide was very far out and only Oystercatcher and Redshank could be clearly made out through the rain. 

Great Tit - Alan & Glo

A walk on the path by the lake produced Mallard, Coot, Moorhen and Tufted Duck on the water. A single Little Grebe was seen. Redshank were plentiful, and a small group of Oystercatcher fed on the opposite grassy bank. A Grey Wagtail enjoyed the company of a Pied Wagtail as they searched through the flotsam at the lake edge. A couple of small flocks of Black-tailed Godwit passed overhead.

Those that chose to birdwatch from the café were rewarded with good views of Kingfisher on the opposite side of the lake whilst they ate their breakfasts.

Walking on to the dunes past the lake we made our way down to the saltmarsh. A couple of Meadow Pipit were disturbed and Reed Bunting passed overhead. Viewing out over the estuary we picked up a small flock of Dunlin, with many Redshank and a single Knot. Cormorant and Grey Heron were also seen.

Grey Heron - Alan & Glo

In the bushes and vegetation around the adjacent United Utilities pumping station we found many feeding Blackbird with a both Song and Mistle Thrush for company. Chaffinches, Goldfinches and a couple of Greenfinch fed on the ground whilst Goldcrest and tit species foraged in the shrubs above. A female Blackcap was a nice find, feeding on berries. A flock of Pink-footed Geese passed over.

Reed Bunting - Alan & Glo

Walking back to the coach Vanessa heroically came to the aid of some small flat fish that had become stranded on the concrete side of Fairhaven Lake. Without a thought for her own safety she leapt down the bank, scooped them up and cast them back into the Lake. The local gulls were suddenly taking an interest!

Moving on to Brockholes, the first visit for many of us to this Wildlife Trust reserve, the party split up to cover this surprisingly large area. A walk around the boundary path produced good views of Redwing and Fieldfare with many of the commoner birds also present. A smart female Bullfinch gave good views and we found Coal Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker in the adjacent oak woodland.

Brockholes - Alan & Glo

On the lakes and pools, we identified many of the commoner duck species along with smart male Goldeneye, Gadwall and a single Pochard. Great Crested Grebe were present as well as a scattering of Mute Swan. Overhead a large flock of Lapwing were unable to settle. Gulls came, bathed and then moved on but we were unable to pick out any of the more unusual species.

The main purpose of today’s visit was the potential Starling murmuration but unfortunately the rain and poor visibility beat us. There were a couple of thousand Starling in the air, but they were distant, and the weather conditions prevented any spectacle.

Birds seen:

Mute Swan	Lapwing	Blackbird
Pink-footed Goose	Knot	Blackcap
Canada Goose	Dunlin	Goldcrest
Shelduck	Redshank	Wren
Mallard	Black-tailed Godwit	Great Tit
Gadwall	Curlew	Coal Tit
Shoveler	Snipe	Blue tit
Wigeon	Black-headed Gull	Long-tailed Tit
Teal	Herring Gull	Nuthatch
Pochard	Great Black-backed Gull	Magpie
Tufted Duck	Lesser Black-backed Gull	Jay
Goldeneye	Stock Dove	Jackdaw
Goosander	Woodpigeon	Rook
Pheasant	Collared Dove	Carrion Crow
Little Grebe	Kingfisher	Starling
Great-crested Grebe	Great Spotted Woodpecker	Hosue Sparrow
Cormorant	Meadow Pipit	Tree Sparrow
Little Egret	Pied Wagtail	Chaffinch
Grey Heron	Grey Wagtail	Linnet
Sparrowhawk	Dunnock	Goldfinch
Buzzard	Robin	Greenfinch
Kestrel	Song Thrush	Bullfinch
Moorhen	Redwing	Reed Bunting
Coot	Mistle Thrush
Oystercatcher	Fieldfare