No, it's not the Loch Ness Monster, it's a juv Red Necked Grebe offshore during my seawatch at Formby Point this afternoon!
(Remember any record shot is better than no record shot at all...)
Okay, it's not a mega-tick or anything, but a top bird for the Tobacco Dump...the bird was only 20 yards offshore and gave great 'scope views as it bobbed about near two young LBBs for ten mintues or so after 2pm, until it was spooked by a windsurfer (if only I was allowed a mortar).
Nice pale streaky face, lovely orange stocky neck, pale bill, dark cap, dusky flanks, mottled brown back, a superb bird, which was lucky as there wasn't much else offshore today, despite the force 5 SWly last night.
The wind seemed to drop away just before I arrived, but as I walked down from the National Trust car park a heavy squall pummelled the sand, which is what may have pushed grebeboy so close to shore....anyway I'm not complaining - who needs to go to Audenshaw Reservoir????
A few brick-red Bar Tailed Godwits were feeding along the tideline, until the dogwalkers saw them off....
Birds seen (1.40pm to 3.45pm) were:
Arctic Tern 3
Common Tern 20+
Sandwich Tern 20+
Gannet 34
Common Scoter 60+
Manx Shearwater 3 (n)
Cormorant 10+
Red Necked Grebe 1
So there wasn't much moving, apart from the grebe!!!! - obligatory tideline pic follows.
Eyes to the skies everybody, eyes to the skies...
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pete drewery wrote...
hi do you think you could tell me the best way to get to the seawatch point at formby & where it is.thanks pete d.
Posted by: pete drewery | August 1, 2006 4:42 PM