Green sandpiper still on River Calder at Altham

Well, thats the six nations rugby over for another year. I was feeling quite fragile this morning after consuming enough beer to get me through all 3 games yesterday, but I was still keen to get out for a walk to shake off the hangover. Altham was the closest reported bird of interest, the green sandpiper that I still hadnt caught up with.
I parked at Altham bridge and followed the river down as far as the old barn.

Unfortunately, no sand martin seen on the river today.
Min 6 goosander.
Skylark in full song, first one sighted this year.
Many pied and grey wagtails plotting out territories and nest sites
20+ oystercatcher














10+ redshank















Circa 60 curlew seen in one flock. Flocks would break up and reform, but 60 was the max number seen simultaneously.
A single stock dove at the old barn.
And of course, the reason for todays walk, the Green sandpiper

Great grey shrike still on Waddington fell

Edinburgh, Scotland for the Calcutta cup

I've been up to Edinburgh this weekend, to attend the Calcutta cup match at Murrayfield.





















Jill isnt to fond of camping in March, so we visited our usual campsite, Mortonhall, but stayed in their wigwams!














Excellent comfort but still all the fun of camping.
The campsite was near deserted in comparison to its capacity during the Edinburgh festival, when we camp in the tent.

Being an early riser, I get out and about for a bit of birding before Jill gets up. The usual birds were around, buzzards, a good population of bullfinches, a couple of late(ish) redwings, and these jackdaws (who have already started nesting).





























I should have visited Vane Farm or a few other good site I know in the vicinity but a weekend of food, drink, comedy clubs and rugby had us exhausted.

Hesketh out marsh
As usual, this was not a dedicated birding trip, just a rest stop whilst I was delivering in the area. Its the first chance I've had to have a look here. Looks like theres a lot of scope (pardon the pun), but I arrived at low tide, and thus didnt see much.
A couple of distant merlin, many shelduck, lapwing, golden plover and my first little egret(1) and stock dove(4) of 2010.
I'll def return here soon, for a full days birding.

Campegine, Reggio Emilia, Italy 24th-28th Feb