Sunday, 9 April 2023

8th April 2023

A warm morning spent up on the Rudheath Lime Beds. Spring migrants thin in the ground but the waders are settling in to breed. At least 5 Little Ringed Plovers, 8+ Redshank, 20+ Lapwings and a pair of Oystercatcher. Single Ringed Plover and Dunlin, and up to 50 Curlew were present, with a dozen or so each of Teal and Gadwall, 20 or so Shoveler and up to 12 Shelducks were getting amourus.  A female Wheatear and a single Swallows were my first of the year, and a Peregrine was back on the nearby Tata works.  

Great to be back up here and water levels look decent. Let’s hope spring delivers.

After a few hours in the beds I joined up with Malc and we headed to Widnes for the 2nd winter Kumlien’s Gull, which showed well, although strong light made photos poor. White-winged gulls of any type have been thin on the ground this past winter.



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