Dan de lion and Goldfinch

Another early visit in poor light.

A male Chaffinch, a pair of Blue tits, two or three Goldfinch, a Whitethroat, a pair of Linnet, a pair of Gadwall, a pair of Shelduck, 27 odd Herring Gulls of various ages, Coot and Moorhen, a Mute Swan on a nest and a Mallard with 11 young. They looked they had only just hatched and she was walking them across the field to the water, so the nest must have been well hidden, and just in time with those marauding gulls about.

One or two Goldfinches were feeding on dandelions in the roadside verge, see photos. You can see the yellow nectar on the crown of the bird. The bright yellow on Goldfinch has always been a wonder, yet when feeding on the ground on dandelion, the perfect camouflage.

Later that day, over at St Annes a Dunnock popped up as I was parking the car at the tax office! The Whitethroat pic is only so you know, I know what one looks like and it was still about on the way home later in the afternoon!

Hghi in the sky, I thought there was a Swift but on closer(!) inspection it wasn't a Swift. A couple of brief snaps at considerable distance, and not big enough for a Peregrine I am leaning towards a probable Hobby. What do you think? (see below)

Dentist so it's Marshside

Fly by on the way to the dentist.

A male Reed Bunting, Sedge Warbler singing their hearts out, 3 Wheatears on the 'sand dunes tip', 17 Avocets, Linnet (male) while down by the marine lake two Pied Wagtails and a Black Swan. I keep seeing reports of Black Swan sightings along the River Ribble and can only assume this is the same bird that goes 'walkabout' from time to time.

Peregrine Falcon

These were not posted at the time for various reasons, not great photos but the viewer may be interested (then again maybe not). Choice is yours. One can see how difficult they are to see, locate and photograph... and one isn't going to get close.

Newton Marsh

A Bit Quiet

But that might have been because of the dog walkers.

A Common Sandpiper on Newton Marsh, while in the field to the east were a pair of Wheatear, a pair of Chaffinch and at least 6 what I think were Pied Wagtails. Later sightings in the week by others suggested White Wagtails but I couldn't be sure. A pair of Mallard and Shelduck were feeding before being disturbed, along with everything else by said dog and companions. A couple of record photos.

RSPB Marshside

The sun was out! It seemed rude not to stop!

Avocet, Godwit, Redshank, Gulls... see the photos.

Corn Buntings at the Marsh

Another quick drive-by

Ended up with a chat with the local gamekeeper and a small flock of Corn Buntings (13) dropped into a local hawthorn bush. An Oystercatcher and Wheatear were in the nearby field but I only managed a record shot.

The day before on a run through the Fylde turned up Whimbrel, Grey Heron, House Sparrow and a Robin, along with a pair of Red-Legged Partridge and a Tree Sparrow at Treales.

House Sparrow (as opposed to Tree Sparrow), just to avoid any confusion.

Only a record shot of a Tree Sparrow, but just so you can see the difference.

Odds n Sods

Just for the record ...
A Song Thrush because they are declining and the archetypal song bird, joyous.
A cob Mute Swan because of the odd colour of its head
A Black-Tailed Godwit because the light was so flat it reminds me of a Chinese print (and if anyone can help with the species, please advise)
The first Swallow of Spring (11 April)
A male Tree Sparrow, because they're cheeky
Baby Mallard because it's 12 April
A Starling, because I like them...

Out n about

I am afraid these are for my record. Folk of the Fylde and wider afield may be surprised at just how many deer are in the area; alas seeing these shy and secretive creatures is another matter, but they are not far away. A sunset over Newton Marsh as I am collecting scenes of one location in all its moods and fr refernce and Oystercatchers at roost (or here disturbed) towards Cockers Dyke.