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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Bazzo wrote...
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.
Posted by: Bazzo | November 6, 2006 12:30 PM