February 2015

So, it's six months since my last post.  Oh dear.  A lot has happened, including moving further south along the Fylde Coast to Freckleton and a subsequent change of direction for this blog!  This post is titled February but lets start by mentioning a few things from the 'missing months'.  In January we had a female Hen Harrier showing well from Quays Creek.  They have finished the development now so the pathway that overlooks the marsh is easily accessible by car.  I hope this encourages birders to call in more often as I've always found it a great spot (a spot I'll be seeing less of now I'm in Freckleton).  A Great Grey Shrike turned up on the Fylde at the end of 2014 with me last seeing it on the 24th January.  Luckily I managed to get some footage of it coughing up a pellet in November 2014.



A Shore Lark showed well at Rossall Point and I managed to see it in January but sadly missed the ill-fated Pomarine Skua at Cocker's Dyke.

So February..

It's been a busy month so not as much birding as I'd hoped but enough to write about.  The afore mentioned Hen Harrier was still around on the 1st.  I also saw 2 Fieldfare (a bird I really don't see enough of) from Witch Wood.  The 14th was our first trip to the Naze as 'Freckletonites'.  The number of birds in the village itself was a contrast to Lytham.  The small roads are bordered with hedgerows, the gardens packed with with trees and shrubs and bird feeders a plenty.  The sound of garden birds on the short walk through the village to the Naze is brilliant.  After moving in we spent the next few days around Freckleton and the Naze and saw the following.

14.02.2015 45 species counted at NAZE POINT inc REDWING, GS WOODPECKER, STOCK DOVE, COAL TIT, LT TIT, BUZZARD, KESTREL, BT GODWIT & WHOOPER.

— Ribble Birding (@RibbleBirding) February 14, 2015

15.02.2015 NAZE POINT: 3 BUZZARD, KESTREL, SONG THRUSH, REDWING, BT GODWIT, TREECREEPER, GOLDCREST ++ CURLEW

— Ribble Birding (@RibbleBirding) February 15, 2015

17.02.2014 NAZE POINT AND POOLS - GREY WAGTAIL, c100 GOLDEN PLOVER, 12 BLACK-TAILED GODWIT.

— Ribble Birding (@RibbleBirding) February 18, 2015

On the 17th a Red-throated Diver rocked up at Fairhaven Lake and gave really good views but didn't get to see it until the 21st.

On the 20th a Goshawk was reported in the Lytham Hall area - late morning and early afternoon and I believe that would have been a Fylde tick for a lot of people!

We finished the month with a trip to Warton Bank and Newton Marsh.  Usual suspects including Marsh Harrier, which is always nice.

So only 75 species seen this month (full list here) - let hope for more in March!