May 2006 Archives

Mike McKavett has just sent me these BRILLIANT pix from his trip to Turkey, plus a brief trip report.
Many thanks Mike. ALL PICTURES ARE MIKE'S COPYRIGHT AND MAY NOT BE USED ELSEWHERE.
Incredible photographs - but you expect nothing less from Mr McK.

Latest records from Derek Williams from his patch on Old Moss Lane/Haskayne.

Re earlier Ruddy Duck posting - look at the size of this White Headed Duck for comparison. The brute was caught on camera by Neill H up in the north east in 2004.
The Mike Tyson of stiff-tails?

Barry McCarthy texted this a.m. "Mega c-watch. 1st summer Sabs, hundreds Gannets, Fulmars, Manx, Kitties, terns..."

Shocking weather this a.m....down side is it'll wash out waders nests along the coast, upside is it'll be good for seawatching today.

More rain...no birding, so here's some pix of Ruddy Ducks Neill Hunt took at the weekend...

Two adult summer plumage Curlew Sands at Marshside today....courtesy of Neill Hunt

Crackin' pictures from Neill Hunt fresh from Marshside this a.m.....Garganey, Dunlin, Whimbrel and Blackwits

Was it looking out, or was I looking in?

Okay....the Common Lizard Survey form has now been amended so you can tell me WHERE you saw them _ always handy with a population census!
You can get to the form at www.icliverpool.co.uk/lizard
Please fill it in if you see one of the critters!

A poor morning at Marshside today _ plenty to look at right enough, but no real passage.....

This second year Herring Gull tried to eat a tennis ball - which was different.

I know we've had a few southerlies recently, but this is getting ridiculous - Superb Parrot found and photographed by Neill Hunt on the golf course at Marshside this a.m....

Great to watch a Peregrine sailing over Old Hall Street at 8.30am today _ commuters oblivious to the silky smooth flier above 'em, but it soon disappeared over the rooftops.

One of the benefits of getting up at 5am at this time of the year is the dawn chorus _ it was mindblowing this morning _ hordes of Song Thrush, Blackbird, Blackcap, Dunnock etc

Caught up with the Stilts at Martin Mere today, but my pix aren't as good as Neill's...too far away....as was the Pectoral Sandpiper, and the damn Yankee was flighty too!

Thanks to Neill Hunt for this great pic of one of the Martin Mere Black Winged Stilts which turned up this a.m. The birds are out on Vinson's Marsh.

Watched a singing Garden Warbler in the hawthorn hedge at Dempsey Towers yesterday evening, shortly after the heavy rain _ a new bird for the garden list.

The first pair of Common Swifts zoomed back to Dempsey Towers in Ainsdale last night _ always good to see them settling in.

Barry McCarthy just sent me his trip report on our visit to Latvia (I've dropped some of my location pix in, but you can see the birds on earlier blog entries). Thanks Baz.

Started off calm at Marshside but wet, then a raging hooley picked up _ force 5-6 SWly so I tried a few wader shots from the hides.