LANCASHIRE AND NORTH MERSEYSIDE

HIGHLIGHTS: The American Golden Plover remained on Glasson Marsh (to 2nd). Cattle Egrets at Marshside reached four (30th-31st). A Ring-billed Gull was at Sands Lake, Ainsdale (25th). A county record nine Great White Egrets passed Ainsdale and Fairhaven (5th); singles were at Martin Mere, Lunt, Cockersands and Pilling, and three on the Ribble. DARWEN: Vis mig maxima were 13,700 Redwings; 11,870 Fieldfares; 3,100 Pink-footed Geese; 2,740 Starlings; c.600 Greenfinches, Chaffinches; c.550 Goldfinches, Pied Wagtails; c.370 Blackbirds, Siskins; 280 Linnets, Lapwings; c.200 Crossbills; 140 Mistle Thrushes; c.100 Swallows, Song Thrushes, Long-tailed Tits; c.70 Sky Larks, House Martins; c.45 Bramblings, Bullfinches; c.30 Whooper Swans, Jays, Goosanders, Goldcrests, Reed Buntings, 24 Ring Ouzels; and less than 10 Curlew, Snipe, Shelduck, Grey Wagtail, Raven, Buzzard and Twite. EAST LANCS: A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Lea Green Reservoir (2nd) and two at Brockholes. A Rock Pipit was at Parsonage Reservoir (16th). An Osprey was at Brockholes (18th). Two Great White Egrets were at Ogden Reservoir (27th), and one at Stocks Reservoir (28th-29th). FYLDE: Ten thousand Pink-footed Geese were at Lytham Moss (8th), with two Barnacle Geese, and one of each race of White-fronted Goose. A Brent Goose was at Peel (27th), with one off Blackpool. Three White-fronted Geese were at Cockers Dyke (31st). Fifty-four Little Egrets and a Great White Egret were on Pilling Marsh (13th). Eleven Greenshanks were at Freckleton Naze (3rd), with 27 Avocets still there (8th). One or two Scaup and Long-tailed Ducks were off Fleetwood and Blackpool, with several hundred Common Scoters and 37 Red-throated Divers. About 25 Yellow-browed Warblers were seen. Thirty Twite were at Cockers Dyke (23rd). Five Bearded Tits were at Fleetwood Marsh. A Lapland Bunting was at Cockersands (30th). MARTON MERE: There were five Bearded Tits (21st-22nd), with four more (from 24th). Three Bitterns were seen. There was a Ring Ouzel (20th), Goosander (24th), five Swallows (30th), a Short-eared Owl (25th), two Ravens (22nd), two Stonechats, a few Whooper Swans, 60 Tufted Ducks, 20 Gadwall, 30 Shovelers, three Pochards, Water Rails and Cetti’s Warblers. SW LANCS-N MERSEYSIDE: At least 20 Yellow-browed Warblers were seen. Twite returned to Southport with 90 (27th). A Ring Ouzel was at Marshside (7th), when two Redstarts were at Seaforth. A Snow Bunting was at Southport (24th-27th). Short-eared Owls were at Hesketh Marsh, and two at Garston CP. A Ruddy Shelduck was at Longton Marsh (16th). American Wigeon were at Hesketh and Crossens Marshes. Nine Curlew Sandpipers were at Hesketh Outmarsh (7th). A Hen Harrier and three Marsh Harriers were on the Ribble marshes, and a Marsh Harrier at Lunt. Three Brent Geese were at Marshside (19th). A tundra Bean Goose was at Martin Mere (16th). Maurice Jones, Mavis Smith