Grey old November day, so went for a walk along the seawall from Old Hollows Farm at Banks north about two miles on the off-chance yesterday's Rough Legged Buzzard was still about.
It wasn't.
There were about 10,000 Pinkies on the outer marsh, and a herd of at least 20 Whoopers, including two grey youngsters.
Two Marsh Harriers (juvs) and Merlin and Peregrine, plus a Common Buzzard perched up on a tree trunk about halfway out.
On the landward side of the wall had a female Stonechat, flock of approx 50 Linnets (no Twite), 5 Grey Partridges and plenty of larks and mipits.
Met Ron Jackson who had a few Twite here last week - so at least they're back.
I'd forgotten how bleak it can be out here at this time of year, but it wasn't particularly cold.
A grey, green and brown landscape.
Plenty of Grey Herons for Trace!
No b*llocking off Farmer Palmer for daring to dump my wheels near his farm, which makes a pleasant change, but I'm sure he'll catch up with me sometime this winter.
Went back down to Marshside, where there was at least 8 Pochards back on the Sandplant lagoon.
Wigeon, Blackwits and Teal showing very well in front of the Sandgrounders hide, and Jellyhead had a ringtail Hen Harrier earlier.
The harrier was down in the spartina when I got there, but there were at least two or three Little Egrets about - Clarko had five earlier in the day.
One Merlin went for a Snipe on the outer marsh and ended up chasing it the length and breadth of the reserve until the endgame up on Crossens.
Not a good day for Mr Snipe.
On the high tide this morning there was a good gull roost off Weld Road, plus a fair few Grey Plover and Barwits - might try a bit of digiscopin' there this month.
Graham had a big Clarko smile on his face after the Rough Legged yesterday, but he also managed to show a visiting party of birders from Gloucestershire crippling views of our raptors and waders too on Saturday, and they went away hailing this coast as being as good as Norfolk.
Who knows, might be time to set up a birding tour company, but what to call it?
"Peroni Pelagics" perhaps, or maybe "Journey with Jellyhead"?
Perhaps not.
As we were jawing a fine male Peregrine ripped south through Marshside Two before creating havoc on Marshside One, superb bird.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Last seawatches of the season?
Good onshore breezes forecast for Formby Point Wednesday/Thursday, 15-20 mph average at midday, cloudy, reasonably mild, early afternoon tide. Perhaps a little late for passage, but who knows what stragglers may be out there? If I can I'll try both days, two layers of Long Johns called for.
Thanks Bazzo, may your thermals be many.
John
Formby Point sea-watching on Wednesday/Thursday: is it worth trying that without a telescope? Mine is nackered and I've only got my 8x40 bins now.
Jim
Sorry Jim, no 'scope, no show off Formby Point.
Some birds do pass through behind or over the surf, but the majority are a good distance out, sometimes over a mile or more!
When it comes to seawatching here I use 10x40 bins (okay they're old Zeiss Notarems held together by electrical tape - but they still work....just), Nikon 780 gas filled scope with 30x wide lens, thermals, gloves, hat, numerous fleeces, waterproofs and occasionally even trousers.
It gets very cold sitting on top of a dune at this time of year very quickly.
Your best bet with 8x40s is watching the river mouth of the Mersey at the end of Crosby Marina, or from New Brighton Prom.
But your real problem is that generally bird numbers are pretty low at this time of year, so the chances of many things passing by close in are slim.
As Barry says, we're right at the end of the seawatching season.
Bazzo will, of course, now make a liar of me this week and see something brilliant zooming past 100 yards out - but that's the allure of seawatching - you just don't know what you're gonna get.
John
I think this shows my problem (and that of many another I suspect)
I am one of the silent minority, one of many I have met; those who have some time to spare, a little knowledge (a very dangerous thing!) and no idea where to go or when to go to where we don't know to go to.
Is there anywhere (apart from this wonderful site - (full proskinesis here) which would educate us in the mystical world of bird-watching? I'm not talking about 'twitching' per se - just looking for the semi-normal in ones 'area'.
I get almost as much pleasure looking at a robin as I do looking at a Pallas's Warbler (although that was a bit exciting! and a long way from here!) but I would love to have someone show me more.
But where can I find this?
Perhaps I'm now past it but where will we get the new bird-watchers to replace John, Bazzo, Tropical et al when they have gone to that great Pelagic in the sky?
I ask with due reverence...
Jim
Touching that you assume we'll be going to that great pelagic in the sky Jim - I rather fear that given our exploits over the years we'll be off somewhere a good deal warmer and in the opposite direction when the time comes....
We don't have any plans to join the ranks of the birding damned just yet though.
www.surfbirds.com has something for everyone (twitchers to garden watchers), and you can't beat www.rspb.org.uk for covering all the bases, but they don't have Jellyhead...
Meanwhile I'll try to put more gen on re local sites whenever I get the opportunity.
John
Hi everyone.
I like to go birdwatching in my local area across the farmlands between Netherley and Halewood. Ive seen lots of different birds inc {buzzards kestrals herons yellowhammers merlins}to name just a few. I'd like to go down to Oglets shore at Speke with my new telescope, problem is I don't no how to use it. Is there anyone out there who lives local who could maybe show me how to use it.
Thanks Chris
oglets shore? sounds like a disease is it treatable ? Did Churchtown moss on foot today, saw nothing of note apart from a flock of about 100 skylarks and 1 corn bunting. interesting no Redlegs but loads of pheasants ! By the way where is Oglets shore ? Never heard of it ! Wibble Wobble Jellyhead
Excuse my jellyheaded friend Chris.....we only let him out of the cellar when we're at least two weeks clear of a full moon. Jellyhead, Oglets Shore is on the Mersey at Speke - that's way to the south of Marshside, y'know, past the big town I've told you about called Liverpool.
John