Driving rain _ the like of which I haven't seen since the last monsoons old boy _ and traffic backed up to Balamory made the walking speed car journey into the city EXTRA pleasant today.
Although it's Friday, there's not much new to report on the birding front _ hardly surprising given the horrendous weather _ why couldn't we have had this a month ago, when it would have given superb seawatching conditions.
The tide is high in the mid afternoon at present, and may be worth a look, although the torrential rain and gales force south westerly will need to drop before a November seawatch is a realistic option.
I may give it a try tomorrow.....alternatively I could stay dry indoors and watch the weather bashing off the window _ no contest, where's my waterproofs!
If peering through the murk at scoters doesn't press your buttons, there are plenty of old faithfuls still around, with the Ring Billed Gull at Crosby Marina (always good value) and the Long Billed Dowitcher at Inner Marsh Farm.
A few Black Redstarts are beginning to show up along the coast, with birds in North Wales and North Lancs _ and a single at Red Rocks, Wirral earlier in the week.
Bewick's Swans at Martin Mere are noteworthy now, as the bigger Whoopers drove them off years ago so they could scoff all the grain put out by staff.
One or two Bewick's Swans were seen at the mere this week.
Small numbers of Bewick's usually hang around on the outer marsh off Hesketh Bank these days _ such a change from the days 25 years back when they were the wintering bird at Marshside, and you had to work hard to find a Whooper in the feeding flock on Crossens Inner Marsh.
In the last few years a few Bewick's have begun to turn up on Marshside One in early Spring, roosting there until shortly after dawn _ handy to know if you're Lancs Year Listing next year.....
My Daily Post column tomorrow is on an uncomfortable seawatch off Formby Point, Starlings and the North West Bird Fair....
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies.
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