Superb weather over the weekend, so I had to desert my post as wallpaper stripper extraordinaire (extraordinarily stupid more like _ what a lousy job), to go birdin'.
Time, paste, paper and Polyfilla wait for no man, so I had to be quick, tazzing around Marshside in the warm sun.
Skylarks were in full song from Crossens down to Hesketh Road, the four Scaup were with the gazillions of Pochard on the Sandplant lagoons and the stonking ringtail Hen Harrier was quartering the marsh, just to the north of Mount Baker and the Sandplant compound.
A few hundred Pink Feet were still on Crossens Outer, and Coot were displaying around Polly's Creek.
Best of all, three Avocets were roosting on Marshside One, their earliest return to date _ if they stick aroond that is, they could just be wandering individuals.
If they are "our" returning breeders, it suggests its going to be a mighty busy year for Avocets, if the vanguard is getting onto the marsh a whole month early to secure the best nesting sites _ they'll look daft if it freezes up again!
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Just like to let you know had a male blackcap in my garden in huyton over the weekend. I hear more and more of these beutiful songsters overwintering and wonder how they manage to survive (just hope the local sparrowhawk doesn't spot him).
Thanks for the gen George _ Blackcaps can survive with us over winter now because of milder temperatures.
Ringing recoveries show the initial wintering population were males from western Germany _ heading west instead of south in autumn means they can get back to breeding territories in spring BEFORE birds making the journey back from Africa, so theoretically they should get the best nest sites....
It is a gamble tho' _ a hard winter could kill 'em off, but now they've learnt to come to garden feeders they have a pretty good chance of survival.
Hey funnily enough been doing some wallpaper stripping the Wallwik way. If you've never tried it, it's worth a go... much easier than steaming.
Anyway, nice post, hope those Avocets get busy this year =)
-T.