Over the Christmas period the weather has actually been a lot better than expected here at Warton Bank Marsh and despite the usual Christmas Day family activities Dee and I have managed a few brief escapes.
On Christmas Day evening a walk along the bank towards Lytham produced at least (5) Little Egret and a trio of Raptors with Kestrel, Peregrine and ♀Merlin. This area also appears to be very well off for Curlew with excellent numbers all around and the pools in close proximity to the cottage are filled with Wigeon each evening. The Great White Egret Dee found on our first day here has remained and it's been quite surreal watching the bird from the comfort of the living room! A couple of other highlights during our short walk were: (4) Meadow Pipit, (3) Reed Bunting and (2) Rock Pipit.
Today the tides were a little more favourable and so quiet a few species could be seen a little closer in. This included a good few Geese flocks which contained Canada, Greylag, Pink-footed and a white Goose in among these but slightly too distant for a definite ID. We were also treated to (42) Whooper Swans feeding near one of the pools this afternoon, plus a ♀Marsh Harrier and another view of ♀Merlin, probably the same bird as yesterday.
Hope your having a great Christmas - A Very Merry Christmas everyone....
