We started with a cruise along Curlew Lane near Martin Mere, where two pairs of Yellow Wagtails were flitting around the fields on either side of the roads. Close views from the car, and what lovely little birds they are.

On to Martin Mere, and straight to the United Utilities Hide where the star of the day, a white winged tern, was quickly spotted. Feeding over the water in the strong wind, the bird provided extended views, a bit far for binoculars or photography but smashing in the scope. Quite a spectacle!

At similar, but definitely not providing much of a binocular view, were some small waders. Two Sanderlings, which is a bit of a mega for Martin Mere, Ringed Plover and some stints. There was little agreement as to which ones were Little and which Temminck’s amongst the assembled experts, and with my little telescope and littler experience, I wasn’t going to join in.

Fortunately, at the Ron Barker hide, there was a small assembly of small waders at a still difficult but doable distance. One ringed plaver, several Little Ringed Plovers, and two stints, standing next to each other, and the assembled non-experts in tentative agreement that there was one of each. The difference in size, colour, shape and breastband strength were all evident, and the greyer, smaller, more tapered bird had the more pronounced breastband so was god for Temminck’s. I was confident enough to award myself the ticks.

Also down as a year tick according to this stupid blog was the Tawny Owl near the Kingfisher Hide, although I know we saw one there in February so I’ll have to go back and look at that. The final year tick was a Common Tern - I expect that means they’ll be back at Mere Sands wood next time we visit there.

Other highlights included a Great Spotted Woodpecker at Janet Kear, two super-cute baby Oystercatchers from Ron Barker, and an uncomfortably close view of a Lesser Black-backed Gull devouring a duckling.

Realising that had we gotten out a bit earlier, today might have been a good day to aim for a decent total in the Ribble Estuary birding challenge thing, we wrote down what we’d seen and headed on to see what else we could spot before it got dark.

Continued here.