Local birding (Little Stints & Hobby) - 20th Sept 2007.

Two juv Little Stints - Rishton Reservoir, Lancs - 20th Sept 2007

Above: Hobby - Brockholes Quarry, Lancs - 20th Sept 2007

Left: Peregrine. Right: Hobby - Brockholes Quarry, Lancs - 20th Sept 2007.

Peregrine - Brockholes Quarry, Lancs - 20th Sept 2007.

Good local migrant grounding weather conditions of westerly sector (SW) winds with cloud and showers produced the goods with two delightful juv Little Stints on Rishton Reservoir. Sadly, water levels at Brockholes Quarry are horrendously high this year, hence unproductive for waders. Highlights from a visit there this afternoon were Hobby and Peregrine. A flock of 40 Pink-footed Geese > SW at 13:55hrs. The Hobby attacked a mixed Hirundine flock six times over a twenty minute period mid afternoon over the sheltered stretch of River Ribble upstream of Redscar weir.

Leighton Moss, Lancs - 5th Sept 2007

Went back to Leighton for another Egret fest. The Great White Egret didn't show as well second time round as it spent most of its time on the EM pool. Twenty-three Little Egret were present as well as 1 juv Curlew Sandpiper, c50 Dunlin, 3 juv Ruff, 2 Spotted Redshank, c250 Black-tailed Godwit, 10+ Greenshank, Juv Merlin and Kingfisher. A juv Merlin showed well from Grisedale Hide as it fed on Dragonflies.

A distant and mostly asleep Aythya at the back of Lillians Pool was reminiscent of the Ferruginous/Pochard hybrid from winter 2006, although I didn't see this bird in the flesh at that time.

Four checks of the dead tree at Island Mere for the elusive Osprey during the day drew blanks on all four occasions, so I gave the Kent Estuary a check and was rewarded with an Osprey fishing the far side of the estuary viewed from Sandside.

Glaucous Gull - Brora, Sutherland - 27th Aug 2007.

The summering Glaucous Gull at Brora Harbour has now developed into 2nd winter plumage.

Juv Black-throated Divers, Sutherland - 8th Aug 2007.

A few photos of two juvenile Black-throated Divers on a Loch in North Scotland taken on 8th Aug. There was a noticable size difference between the two. Indeed, the older bird looked big enough to leave the natal loch at any time.

Egret Fest - Leighton Moss RSPB, Lancs - 3rd Sept 2007

It simply wasn't possible to obtain better views of the Great White Egret as it fed as close to the Allen Hide as it could get, in the company of several Little Egrets. Wonderful! At least 16 Little Egrets were present plus 1 juv Curlew Sandpiper, 8 Dunlin, 3 juv Ruff, c200 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Greenshank, c300 Redshank, 2 Snipe, Pintail, Teal, Wigeon and a Peregrine.

Great White Egret - Marshside, M/Side - 2nd Sept 2007.

Despite the inclement conditions an enjoyable couple of hours was spent at Marshside with John Wright this morning. Good views of the impressive Great White Egret and c15 Little Egret on the inner marsh, whilst the long staying Glossy Ibis showed well on the pool at Sandgrounders. c250 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Ruff, 4 Curlew, c200 Teal, c50 Wigeon, several Shoveler and Gadwall were on view from Nels Hide.