My turn to do the weekly shop today, so once mission was accomplished I took it for a quick tour of the mosses - Withins, then Plex.
Wind was pretty stiff from the north west, so not much about, and disappointingly no Wheatears on any of the ploughed fields.
One Buzzard was getting lorryloads of grief from the local Lapwings on the Withins as it steamed into the breeze, while a second bird was soaring over the woods on Plex.
Few small groups of Meadow Pipits and Linnets feeding near the Cheshire Lines, and plenty of Red Legged Partidges, Skylarks, Reed Buntings etc
12 Fieldfares still on Station Lane, where I managed to get one in the 'scope at the same time as a Comma Butterfly, which was nice.
Another Comma at Dempsey Towers.
Thought about heading down to the marsh, but didn't really fancy playing "Pec, not Pec".
As Trops memorably uttered during one of his more philosophical moments in the Legless Arms last night, "People have to learn to take the Ruff with the smooth."
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Hi John...With high pressure to the N.W.and low pressure to the S.E.giving a stiff N.Easterly flow, a North Westerly wind over the mosses was one hell of a local meteorological achievment.
Welcome to my weird world Maurice - now you know why the missus usually insists I take a compass when I go to the shops.
Clearly I left it at home today.
Hi John
Having spent Friday at the marsh there wasn't much new there on Saturday 31st so the offer of a lift to scan around the mosses was welcome.
We set off in hope of Little Owl, of which none, but did see a number of Wheatear on ploughed fields: a pair on Plex Moss near where (I think) the Kingfisher has been reported, and later at least three in a field near the pumping station on Dicconson's Lane.
A number of Fieldfare around too, and a good few Corn Bunting. Later, we "may" have heard a Crossbill in Ainsdale Woods, but that needs a more expert ear than mine ...
Howdy SiG, Derek Williams had over 200 Fieldfare on the mosses at the weekend, with a few Wheatears too.
Don't worry, Crossbills aren't so hard to pick up - just listen out for the most annoyingly loud "Chip" "Chip" "Chip" calls in the woods and you're probably on to them.
Once you hear it a few times it's hard to forget.
They can be pretty mobile even at this time of the year, so perseverance is the key.
As for separating the various races/species, well that's a whole different ballgame...