Newton Lake, Newton-le-Willows Friday 19 July

After an encouraging visit the other day and reading the sightings on here from the other guys I thought an early visit to Newton Lake was in order.

The lake has a good amount of mud and that kind of thing normally pulls in a wader or too even in St Helens!

Believe it or not most waders will have finished breeding by now and they begin to move south or to the coast. Mud on lakes like this can be a vital refuelling station on these long journeys.

A quick scan revealed maybe a hundred moulting duck. You know these guys are flightless during this moult and therefore the males lose their smart plumage evidenced by the fact that later on when some locals brought some bread and they simply swam over.

Just as I finished my 3rd or 4th scan of the mud I noticed 3 small waders getting up and flying high off to the west ( toward Pennington Flash perhaps ...). Their pale colour, white tail edges and lack of wing bars plus the fact that 3 had been reported recently made me put them down as little-ringed plovers - a rare treat in St Helens.

A little later on an oystercatcher appeared from nowhere probably the same one I had here the other day.

The local kingfisher kept me entertained whilst I waited to see if any more waders would magically appear. At one point a black-headed gull chased a kingfisher from it perch but the tables soon turned and the bully became the bullied.

Round the back of the lake several reed buntings were singing whilst the riar of the already busy M6 drowned out mist birdsong.

Back on the lake A pair of little grebes were whinnying ... Perhaps a late breeding attempt?

Arguably the best birds of the day though was a family party of grey wagtails who came the feed along the 'dam' wall. A single young bird begged for food from its mother. Later on a very smart dad appeared, I wondered did he do any parenting as he was so pristine.

Still after over two hours no more waders appeared .... Oh we'll there's alway tomorrow.