What else to do yesterday in near constant rain but to go for a quick seawatch at Ainsdale?
Lousy day - and the wind was wrong for seawatching too.
Managed 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Red Throated Diver, 2 Red Breasted Mergs (males), 5 Common Scoter and the usual Sanderling, Knot, Cormorants etc.
None of which succeeded in taking my mind off the Glaucous Winged Gull in South Wales (yes, I know it wasn't seen yesterday as the weather was even worse down there, but you've got to be in it to win it, and I wasn't in it).
A few LBBs moving north offshore at Ainsdale - light passage?
Better was the Little Owl I had flying over the road in front of the car at 5.30am this morning on Liverpool Road, Ainsdale, about 400 metres before the Woodvale Lights.
Jen Walker up at Leighton Moss in Silverdale sent me the following too - so if you're in the market for some new optics, read on....
"Come along and try out some binoculars and telescopes at a demonstration at RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 March from 10 am to 4 pm and see what suits you.
Choosing the right binoculars and telescopes can be difficult and everyone has different needs. By coming to a demonstration, you will be able to try them out in actual field conditions and receive impartial advice from qualified staff.
âÂÂDonâÂÂt worry if youâÂÂve never used binoculars before-it would be great to see you and weâÂÂd be happy to answer any questionsâ said Jacqui Fereday, the reserveâÂÂs visitor centre manager
There is an opportunity to buy as Leighton Moss stocks a wide range and make of binoculars and telescopes all year round. The RSPB range is produced especially for bird and wildlife observation using the experience of birdwatchers from around the world. The range represents excellent value and provides even more money to help birds and wildlife. "
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies....
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Tough day by the Towy
As nasty a dip as I can remember!
Neill, John M, Jellyhead and myself arrived on the shore at the village of Ferryside at 10:45 in driving rain and left, thoroughly soaked, cold and Glaucous-winged Gull-less at 1630.
You could write the day-list on the back of a stamp.
A few good laughs, mainly of the wry type, but I shoulda stood in bed, as Bugs Bunny used to say.
Flight-view of the Glaucous-winged Gull reported after we'd left, but how valid I don't know.
Any one of your birds would have been very welcome down in south Wales.
You win some, you lose some.
If you connected with the bird everytime, where would be the adrenalin rush of a twitch?
Although I recognise that's easier for me to say, not having schlepped down to south Wales in appalling weather yesterday.