LANCASHIRE AND NORTH MERSEYSIDE

HIGHLIGHTS: A Snow Goose was at Marshside (30th Apr-4th). Two Glossy Ibises were there (4th) and mid-month, after overflying Brockholes. Temminck’s Stints were at Marshside (11th-12th and 19th) and at Martin Mere (25th). Cattle Egrets were at Freckleton Naze (3rd), and Marshside plus Newton Marsh (11th). Hoopoes were at Thornton and Catforth. A Black-necked Grebe was at Bispham (4th-13th). A White-winged Black Tern was at Hesketh Out Marsh (20th) and Marshside (25th). A Honey Buzzard flew over Martin Mere late in the month. A Red-backed Shrike was at Cockersands (29th). EAST LANCASHIRE: A Glaucous Gull was at Dean Clough Reservoir and Parsonage Reservoir (9th). A Wood Sandpiper was at Stocks Reservoir (13th), with a Turnstone there (20th). Two Black Terns were at Rishton Reservoir (25th) and two at Brockholes towards the month’s end. A Wood Warbler sang at Moor Piece. A Little Tern was at Foulbridge Reservoir (31st). FYLDE REGION: Seawatching off Blackpool produced hundreds of Manx Shearwaters and Sandwich Terns, four Little Terns (5th), many Arctic Terns, a Black Tern (5th) and five (28th), 23 Red-throated Divers (9th), two Black-throated Divers (11th), several Arctic Skuas and two Pomarine Skuas. Pomarine Skuas were also off Rossall with a Great Northern Diver there (17th). Up to 200 Common Terns and 20 Arctic Terns were at the Preston Docks (24th). Four pairs of Shovelers and a pair of Avocets bred at Newton Marsh. A Marsh Harrier flew over Lytham Moss (19th) and later Martin Mere. An Osprey flew over Little Singleton (23rd). A Great White Egret was in the Pilling area (7th). Pied Flycatchers were near Blackpool Zoo (3rd) and at Bispham (11th). A Quail called at Cockersands (30th). There was a Wood Warbler at Bispham, Redstarts at Stanley Park and Pilling and two Garden Warblers plus a Spotted Flycatcher at Stanley Park (4th). Whinchats were in several areas in above average numbers. A Firecrest was at Fleetwood (9th-10th). Swift numbers were below average. SW LANCS-N MERSEYSIDE: Marshside had two Spoonbills (3rd) and one (4th). Early in the month, there were two tundra Bean Geese, a taiga Bean Goose and two Whitefronts with the lingering Pinkfeet. Two Garganeys were seen. Marshside logged 80 Ruff, several Curlew Sandpipers and two Little Stints. A Great White Egret was seen (6th), with two (11th). Lunt Meadows had three Whinchats (4th), three Wood Sandpipers (5th), with one (20th-21st), a Long-eared Owl (11th) and an Osprey (31st). A Spoonbill was at Martin Mere (31st). Maurice Jones