LEIGHTON MOSS SHOREBIRDS

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Ruff from the new Eric Morecambe hide (Mike Watson) 

LEIGHTON MOSS'S ALLEN POOL WAS FULL OF SHOREBIRDS this afternoon. Joined by Mark Varley I had some great close views of juveniles of some of the c.20 Curlew Sandpipers, ruffs and Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits. Also here were four Little Stints, two Spotted Redshanks, a few lapwings, one oystercatcher and a lot of Common Redshanks. The influx of Curlew Sandpipers has been one of the events of the autumn so far and this number at Leighton is quite exceptional. Around 10 Little Egrets was barely noticed, as usual, how times have changed! This was the first time I have been in the new hides. They are the same style as the new Griesdale hide, like large greenhouses with loads of glass that doesn't conceal the occupants. I noticed this caused the shorebirds to flush a couple of times, when folks rushed to the windows or made sudden noisy movements. The window frames prevent easy viewing when standing up as well and the seats are too low so in a nutshell they were disappointing. I often wonder how much (or little) thought goes into the design of hides on bird reserves but the RSPB's move to become 'nature's home' also tells me that they are no longer interested in birders, which is a shame. 

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The new Eric Morecambe hide would make a good greenhouse or a potting shed

THE WILD AND WINDY MOOR

Pendleside from the top of the landslide trail

THE HIGHLIGHT OF AN ENJOYABLE WALK UP PENDLE HILL with Alan McBride was a couple of smart Whinchats on the walls below the landslide. This area was quite full of activity by Pendle standards with four stonechats, three wheatears and a Willow Warbler, a very uncommon bird on the hill itself. We also managed a total of 46 Red Grouse, which was a high total for Pendle - they obviously had a good breeding season! Three golden plovers were seen singly on the summit, we flushed around 40 Meadow Pipits plus 8 skylarks and the usual kestrel drifted along Pendleside. There was a distinct autumn chill in the air this morning despite a moderate southerly wind and the summit was shrouded in low cloud. Pendle is bleak at times like this! The mist cleared later prompting the arrival of other walkers. It was time to pop in for a coffee at Huntleys! Thanks a lot Alan!

EAST COAST WRYNECK FALL!

Eurasian Wryneck, Crown & Anchor, Kilnsea. Magic! 

A BIG FALL OF WRYNECKS ON THE EAST COAST prompted a visit to Spurn Point with Mark Varley and Rocket. We arrived to news of a wryneck trapped at Kew Villa, which we zoomed off for immediately. A lifer for Mark it soon showed how it got its name, twisting and turning its long neck before it was released. There had been an unprecedented 20-30 wrynecks the previous day but we were happy to see a total of six, including a couple of very showy and confiding birds, feeding on ants on sunny grass verges in the evening. It is great to know that drift migrants can still turn up in such good numbers and we were surrounded by others - smart whinchats and wheatears were dotted all along the Humber shore to the point, as well as lots of warblers, mostly Willow Warblers and Common Whitethroats and we also managed to see two Icterine Warblers. One of the 'Ickys' disgraced itself while Rocket was barbecuing his head in the hot sun, landing a fence wire only a few metres away. Other interesting migrants included Yellow Wagtails, Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, however, the bird of the day for Spurn was a Yellowhammer over the Warren – good one for us too, it was lost as a breeding bird from the East Lancashire Ornithological Desert years ago. It was also nice to see lots of familiar faces at Spurn today with cars from Burnley and Blackpool as well as Spurn regulars Adam Hutt and Garry Taylor. Less welcome was another encounter with armed police. We had been reported acting suspiciously near Easington Gas Terminal in the morning – looking for another wryneck. They added this facility to their list of other places I’ve been stopped that already included Heysham and Seaton Carew Nuclear Power Stations! Should I be worried?

LARGE EMERALD MOTH BREAKFAST

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Large Emerald Moth, Crow Wood Farm (Mike Watson) 

ARRIVING BACK AT CROW WOOD FARM, Barry and Louise had already taken a peak at the catch from the three traps they had set with Pete the previous evening and had potted this beauty, a Large Emerald - a widely distributed and fairly common moth but a very beautiful one. Pete was right to say it is as pretty as any butterfly. This was a new one and the highlight of the overnight haul for me, amongst piles of Large Yellow Underwings. Thanks again to Barry and Louise Tyrer for their hospitality and to Pete and Nina for identifying most of the moths. Must do this more often!

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Peppered Moth against a pebble-dashed wall