juv Gannet over Littleborough and Blackstone Edge
Went to LIDL in Littleborough shopping this afternoon with Joanne. As we came out of the car park at around 3:45pm I noticed a gull-like bird over the houses opposite that seemed a bit odd. My first thought was was Gannet, from its jizz, but it did seem a bit out of place to be honest! It quickly disappeared in the direction of Littleborough behind houses and trees, so we followed in the car in the direction it was going and I spotted it again over the hillside behind the bottom of Hollingworth Road, but again lost to view. I decided to chase it up the hill towards Blackstone Edge, and around two-thirds of the way up, we came to a wide open area, and there it was, circling over the road, a juvenile Gannet!
Luckily I had my spare bins in the car, so got some good views before it headed off again towards Blackstone Edge Reservoir. I jumped back in the car and raced up to the reservoir, hoping it might have come down, but as we reached Turvin Road, I could see it over the moors, heading towards Sowerby Bridge, and I watched it until it went out of view. Phew! Never thought I'd get Gannet, and even so, would not have expected it from the Lidl car park!