Hesketh Out Marsh, Lancashire,

The common crane that was found yesterday afternoon was out of view when I arrived. In a ditch about half a mile away I was told from the handful of birders present but no problem because about 2 minutes later 2 loud bangs sounded and the crane took up with the shellduck. It slowly gained height and flew off high to the north.So that was that , only just made it by a few minutes and Tony C cutting it even finer who arrived about 30 seconds before it flew off. The loud bangs are apparently a bird scarer emanating from the Warton air base were they test the euro fighter . So not the best views of this 1st summer common crane but I was really pleased to have connected with this Lancashire rarity.

I then moved on to Seaforth but none of the hoped for little gulls on show today in a cold northwesterly.A very interesting adult herring gull with bright yellow legs was on the long bank probably of the type 'omissus' which breed in the Baltic region.

7 whimbrel flew in, a few white wags and a little owl showed well in the short time I was there.