Plenty of action since the last blog post. Brockholes position by the Ribble is a continuing attraction for Osprey. So far this year we have had 3 birds go through including one which performed well from the Ribble View Point for Craig Smith.
Peak time arrivals
Mid April onwards and we can expect a whole block of arrivals onto the reserve as well as birds passing through.
Super action shot from 4th April of Osprey fishing on the Ribble - Craig Smith
Osprey in action - Craig Smith
On the same weekend a Red Kite also passed through.
A female Common Scoter has spent sometime on the Ribble and occasionally drops onto No.1 Pit.
Great views of Common Scoter. This sea duck is unusual inland - pic Bill Aspin
Wildfowl numbers continue to drop back although Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard and Shoveler are still all present. A pair of Pintail dropped in on the 7th April. At least 2 pair of Great-crested Grebe are present and Little Grebe has also been seen.
Goosander breed on the Ribble, this female has chicks already - Bill Aspin
The first Willow Warblers were in singing on the 5th April. Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin have all been present.
A White Wagtail dropped in on the 2nd April and it or others have been seen over the past week.
White Wagtail showed well from the Lookout
On the wader front, Lapwing, Redshank and Oystercatcher have all present and showing sighs of staying to breed. Green Sandpiper still present, Jack Snipe was still showing on the 7th April, Common Snipe still present 12th April. Little Ringed Plover arrived on the 3rd April with occasional sightings since. A Turnstone dropped in briefly on the 4th April and a Black-tailed Godwit on the 7th April.
Turnstone, unusual in April at Brockholes - Bill Aspin
Other sightings included Little Gull (a 2nd Calendar year bird) briefly on the 7th April. Regular sightings of Mediterranean Gulls including a bird ringed as a youngster in November 2011 in Dublin. Blackcaps are singing across the site.
We can expect a flurry of new arrivals in the next 4 weeks including Whitethroat, Sedge and Reed Warbler and the marvellous Grasshopper Warbler. Keep an eye out for more Wheatears passing through and movements of Redstart, Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat as well as potential Cuckoo, Spotted Flycatcher. If you see a Ring Ouzel, get a shot as it would be a first for the reserve!
We have a newly installed sightings board in the in focus shop, based in the Lookout.
It should be possible to see 50+ species of bird on the reserve currently, so if you are visiting the reserve and would like to know what is around and where the best spots might be or have something to report, feel free to drop into the in focus shop, based in the Lookout and we can point you in the right direction.
