Classical music, chimps and coots...

Posted by on March 4, 2006 2:48 PM | Permalink

Busy few days _ off to the Philharmonic with the in-laws, bit of gull roosting and seawatching and lots of snow...(and even some work).

Went to the Phil on Thursday, where Mr Facade's Walton, a bit of Sherbert and the riddle within a puzzle within a riddle that is the Enigma Variations, were all performed beautifully.
Just one suggestion _if they could get Chimps in dungarees and bowler hats to wheel on the grand piano, instead of folk in "monkey" suits, I think they'd get far more applause.
Yes, I know using Chimps can be exploitative, but don't tell me your eyes wouldn't be glued to the stage....there is no better entertainment than a good bit of monkey (unless you count Laurel and Hardy).
I was still considering this when I went for a quick seawatch yesterday, just in time to see a wall of snow swoop in off the Irish Sea and transform the dune at Ainsdale I was sitting on into a deep frozen 'berg.
A few Red Throated Divers were offshore, as were Goldeneye, at least 11 Great Crested Grebes and a distant raft of 100 plus Common Scoter.
The small gull roost was disappointing _ no white wings, despite Med Gulls being seen at Weld Road (at least three different birds)over the high tides in the last 48 hours.
A small party of linnets flying down the shore beneath me created a brief "twite panic" until I saw them properly, but it was otherwise quiet.
Luckily the Sands Pub is nearby to serve reviving Theakston's bitter _ guaranteed to ease the pain of frostbite.....
The cold, ice and snow pushed seven Shoveler and a few Teal onto the Sands Lake at Ainsdale _ usually the domain of Tufties and Mallard, and a few Coot wandered about the ice showing off their splendid feet _ size 13s minimum.

Jellyhead Jackson has just returned from Finland, where he managed to see a few Waxwings and not much else (okay it wasn't a birding trip, but did you have to spend SO much time chasing Moomins????)
Aside from that, there's not much to report _ the tides are still good tomorrow, so I may try a bit of short eared owl/hen harrier watchin' at Marshside or Parkgate.
The weather is meant to change from Monday, with more southerly airstreams, which means warmer days _ and easier passage for the first Wheatears and Chiffchaffs _ it won't be long now...

Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies.