Having waited an inexcusably long time, I finally got round to visiting Marton Mere with Bazzo this a.m. for a gander at the Laughing Gull...
No sign at first, which made us uneasy as a Laughing Gull was reported by Andy Price over Southport Marine Lake last night....could the bird be on our local patch while we wandered about in Blackpool?
Tensions rose as we walked through the scrub (loadsa Willow Warblers calling) and past the zoo (one Tiger calling - good trip tick for the North West), but luckily we found the gull sitting on the moss covered roof of one of the buildings behind the caravan park at 8.15am.
Nice full summer plumage bird - but for proper pix, go to the websites of Steve Young/Chris Galvin/etc etc. A Lancs tick for me, and my third or fourth in the UK, so not to be sniffed at.
It showed well for a few minutes before flying off, only to reappear five minutes later with a big piece of cake in its gob...then it drifted off to dine no doubt.
Lots of cowslips flowering at Marton Mere at present, introduced presumably, but still mighty nice.
Chiffies singing too, but no sight nor sound of the Cetti's Warbler heard there earlier in the week. There were about 20 Swallows and 10 plus Sand Martins over the water, but with some ropey pix taken of the gull, we headed back down to Marshside.
1500 Golden Plover on Marshside 2, with a Wheatear amongst them, Avocets mating on the Sandplant pools (don't they know it's Easter Sunday???) and a few Swallows and Sand Martins thro'.
Jellyhead had Whitethroat earlier opposite the Sandplant, and after I left Bazzo had a Little Stint in front of Nel's Hide while doing his monthly WeBs count (only fair reward).
Neill and Paul tazzed over to admire the Alpine Swift on Wirral, but failed to connect with the Hoopoe reported there this morning.
Back at home I went for a gardening/Peroni/gardening/Peroni approach to the sunny afternoon _ Blackcaps n Willow Warblers singing at Dempsey Towers, loads Buff Tailed Bumblebees and a Comma butterfly.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies....
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