Linkway Pool, St Helens

Manadarin 2 (m&f)

Great Grey Shrike - Grindleton Fell

Travelled up to Grindleton Fell, north of Clitheroe, today for a Great Grey Shrike. The bird performed pretty well, and was on view for at least 45 minutes, sometimes at long range, other times quiet close. Too far away for a photo, unfortunately. Also seen (briefly) a ring tail Hen Harrier.

Eccleston Mere

Water Rail 3 (all in SW corner).
Siskin 30
Lesser Redpoll 2
Bullfinch 2 (m&f)
Teal 2 (m&f)
Kingfisher 1

A glorious sunny day until the fog rolled in, then it went freezing cold. The mere was 50% iced over. Great views of two of the Water Rails in the SW corner. The third was calling from the "new" ditch which runs across the fields to the west of the mere. I've only ever seen singles at the mere before.

Eccleston Mere Mangrove Swamp.. sorry Alder Swamp

Pink-foot ICS

Back in October last year, when the big flocks of Pink-feet were by the Coach Road, I saw one individual with a white neck collar ICS. I emailed the details to the Wildfowl Trust, and today I received some information back. The bird is a female, and was initially ringed as an adult at Maanabeinafla, A-Huna, Iceland on 25th July 2000.

It has since been seen on about 70 occasions in the UK, but interestingly, before my sighting, all bar one had been in Norfolk. The exception was a sighting at Elvingston, Longriddy, East Lotian, Scotland in 2006. Interesting that it has never been observed at Martin Mere, where they are obviously constantly checking collars, or at Marshside.