Thanks to Steve Young for this gorgeous shot of the Hightown Pallas's Warbler, which I finally nipped down to see this afternoon.
Before I go any further, you can see more of Steve's brilliant work at his website http://www.birdsonfilm.com, and order shots online too.
A good job because the Pallas's was zipping around like a demented lime sherbert today, generally keeping very low in the vegetation of the coastal slack about a mile or so north of Crosby Coastguards.
There was no way I'd have got a digiscoped picture of the bird, but I did enjoy tremendous views of it through the bins with a bit of patience.
It darted about after gnats constantly, and disappears for long periods of time.
Even though I've seen these lovely warblers before, my heart still skipped a beat everytime it's yellow rump flashed like a torch in the grey afternoon light.
Didn't hear it call, but boy oh boy - yellow stripes galore, rich green upperparts and nice pale underparts. Looked good enough to eat.
A little stunner - well done to Ian Wolfenden for finding it. An incredible record.
Dunes were predictably quiet apart from the Pallas's, a Stonechat, Turnstone on the coastal path and barwits on the shore.
The Hall Road car park briefly held the Ring Billed Gull amongst other scavengers, including a big Brown Rat, but I only got a quick look at the Ring Billed (2nd/3rdyear?) before it was flushed off by a promenader and it didn't return while I was there.
Such is life.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies.....
PS My Daily Post column tomorrow considers the effects of global warming, caterpillars and the trauma that is Haircut 100.
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