The Juvenile Birder

 Rare Scaup in Spring and Summer Wagtails! We arrived at around 2:00pm in hopes of seeing a rare duck Rob had reported to us. It was called a Lesser Scaup, much rarer than our native Greater Scaup. It was seen at RSPB Marshside (go to Wader Fest blog post to see location pin). We headed straight towards Sandgrounder's Hide and right outside were flocks of birders. I asked one of them where the bird was and almost immediately after, I managed to spot it. It looked similar to a Tufted Duck, yet lacked the tuft. Then, a drake Garganey flew in. There were also a pair of Little Ringed Plovers on an island. We then came back to the car, and I was thrilled I had just seen my first Lesser Scaup. Many people I met said it was highly unlikely this was an escaped bird as it had nothing wrong with it's feathers, hangs out mainly with the Tufted Ducks and hasn't got a ring on its leg. We then ended the day by driving down Curlew Lane (location pinned to post). After a bit, we saw a Yell...

  Gulls, Sandpipers and Partridges! We first set of for WWT Martin Mere, seeing a pair of Red-Legged Partridges on the way on Southport New Road in the fields. When we arrived, we headed straight for the UU (United Utilities) Hide in hopes of seeing Cuckoos but had no luck so we headed to the Discovery Hide in hopes of seeing a Ruff in breeding plumage. Just then, two small gulls with black heads were seen bobbing in the water before coming onto the bank. There were two adult Little Gulls in complete summer plumage. A new tick for me! We then headed for Newton Marsh by Clifton Business Center- location pinned to blog- in hopes of seeing a reported Jack Snipe Rob had told us about. We had no luck for Jack Snipe but did see a Wood Sandpiper really close up, about four meters away. Another new tick for me! There were also Avocets, Skylarks, Little Ringed Plovers and Common Sandpipers as well. Lastly, we went to RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands where we saw two Willow Warblers and a male Blac...