02/02/2020 Ribble & Alt Estuaries

Purple Heron: I love my job, I really do, but being stuck in the office for a week with no survey work scheduled in isn't good for the soul.  So it was good to get out and with some good mates, Gary and Tobie and do some local birding.

We headed south early morning to Ashton flashes in Northwich, were I was hoping to get better views of the Sibe stonechat. After looking in the wrong area for about an hour Dan Foy turned up without any binoculars or a camera spotted the bird in the north east corner - you can't make this stuff up!

The bird was showing much better and much more closer. We had our fill, grabbed a McDonalds then headed north to Pilling near Preston.

This time our target bird was the long staying purple heron which again put on a better show then the first time I saw it. The heron was foraging in the open in the middle of a field.

Barn Owl: We were also treated to a brilliant barn owl coming out of its roost from the nearby sheds. This bird is probably the most photographed wild barn owl in the north west and although it quickly disappeared after we saw it, I think I will have to come back and try again with it.

The purple heron seems like it's being a little more mobile and foraging further away from its favorite ditch, one day soon it might just go for good!

Long-billed Dowitcher: Next stop, Southport where we bumped in to some local legends, John Dempsey and Graham Clarkson who were busy searching for some barnacle geese across the marsh. 

We however were interested ins seeing another long stayer, the dowitcher who was in pretty much the precise location to when I saw the bird back on the 11th of January, the day after it turned up.

The bird was happily feeding amongst a group of mallard and appeared to be the only wader in the area except for some distant curlew and redshank.

Our last stop before we lost the light was to Martin Mere, were we bagged the Tundra bean goose before getting kicked out by the surely staff members who were obviously keen to clock off on time and with no exceptions!!. Forget the fact Gary and Tobie paid almost £30 for an hour and a half visit.

30/12/2019 Eagland Hill, Lancashire

Purple Heron: This was my 2nd purple heron of which both have been in the North West, the first being at Leighton Moss back in 2017.

This bird has been very unusual in its behavior as since its discovery on the 4th of December, after being identified via photos, the bird remained very loyal to a small, narrow drainage ditch.

It stayed here for about two weeks until it decided to take a 15 mile trip to Southport's RSPB Marshside Nature Reserve.

It was only observed here for a single day on the 17th of December before returning to its favorite ditch on England Hill, assuming it was the same bird, which is highly likely.

When I finally got around to see it the bird spent much of its time behind vegetation within the dark, narrow ditch. It eventually flapped up the bank and started to forage for voles.

It was remarkable to witness as the bird used it keen eyes and stealth to sneak up on its prey and caught several bank voles with such ease.

26/08/2017 Leighton Moss RSPB

Purple Heron: After my first visit to see the purple Heron at Leighton Moss last week I was keen to go and try my luck again, for some better images.


..........and I wasn't disappointed.

Upon my arrival the bird was in it's usual place, viewable from Greizdale hide, tucked in and obscured by the reeds on the left hand side.

Seeing the bird was made more difficult by the eight or so birders scrabbling over one another to get a better view, whenever the bird decided to lift it's head up from the reeds.

Eventually my patience paid off and the bird walked in to view revealing its whole body and legs before talking off for a short flight on to the water and out of the reeds.

I was absolutely thrilled, Purple Herons are great birds enhanced by the fact this bird should be overwintering in Africa made seeing it even better.

The bird eventually moved completely out of view and was hidden again by the reeds. I did however read via Twitter that it flew off once more, but this time it headed over to the causeway and roosted with the Little Egrets.

19/08/2017 Carnforth, Lancashire

Autumn Lady’s-tresses Orchid: (Spiranthes spiralis) The Autumn Lady’s-tresses are out now and a must see little gem of a plant. They unfurl their sprilaised flowers at the time of year when most plants have set seed.

They get their scientific name of “spiralis” which describes the arrangement of flowers that form an elegant spiral up the stem.

Autumn Lady’s-tresses flower from August to September and can be found on calcareous grasslands or sandy dunes of Jack Scout, near Jenny browns point, Cranforth. Here there is a large colony growing on the limestone hills that have short but not overly cropped grassy sward.

Up close the Orchid have crystalline petals that appear through the lens as fresh and crisp as fresh snow, these are enhanced by the pastel green stems that has short sparkly hairs on.

This is a new Orchid tick for me and I was surprised to how small they actually are, I was even told by Isabel Hardman who kindly gave me some information and directions the night before.

They grow no more than 7-20cm high when flowering they are not easy to spot. Stopping to look closer at what appears to be a short grass flower head can often lead to their discovery.

Purple Heron: From Jack Scouts I went on to Leighton Moss where I saw my first UK Purple Heron, and although it was probably the worst view of a Purple Heron I've had in my life I was happy to finally have caught up with one and have it on the list.