Bolton Ings - 20th May

An afternoon visit to Bolton Ings this week for a change, rewarded with fine views of the cream crown Marsh Harrier flying over and dropping into the reedbeds. However at about 1 oclock it flew up then circled higher and higher untill lost to view. Other highlights today were still 15 Pochard, 2 broods of Lapwing and first brood of Redshank. Full list as follows:- Grey Heron 1, Mute Swan 4 adults + 3 cygnets (there were 4 cygnets last week and this is the first cygnet to be lost by this pair for 4 years, in 2010 they had 9 young), Canada Goose 32 (broods of 6 & 2), Grey Lag Goose 9 (brood of 2), Great Crested Grebe 2, Little Grebe 10, Mallard 18, Gadwall 22, Shoveler pair, Tufted Duck 75, Pochard 15 (10 drakes, 5 females), Coot 75 (broods of 3, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 & 1), Moorhen 5, Lapwing 16 (broods of 2 & 2), Redshank 2 (brood of 2), Oystercatcher 6, Black Headed Gull 914, LBB Gull 4, Common Tern 1, Marsh Harrier 1, Sparrowhawk 1, Kestrel 2, Jay 1, Green Woodpecker 1, Reed Warbler 2, Sedge Warbler 1, Willow Warbler 11, Chiffchaff 8, Blackcap 3, Whitethroat 3, Lesser Whitethroat 1.