Marshside was on fine form today.
I got down just before high tide and spent an hour or two 'scoping the outer marsh and the went up top on Mount Baker with Bazzo for a scan of the estuary.
The Glossy Ibis was initially on Polly's Pool, but then flew out onto the floods on the outer marsh, where good numbers of Blackwits and Dunlins were roosting.
About 200 Blackwits in varying stages of summer plumage, and a similar number of Dunlins out there, with at least three Greenshanks too.
A Little Egret flew south, one of five counted on the tide today.
Twice a female Peregrine spooked the birds, but didn't strike at anything.
The Ibis was feeding like crazy for a while, then flew back across the road. Took a few long distance record shots.
Whitethroat, Sedgie and Reed Bunting still singing.
Jellyhead and Bazzo were doing the WeBs count, meanwhile a few large groups of Swifts headed south, one party containing close on 100 birds.
Neill was out too, digiscoping the Ibis.
From the top of Mount Baker, Common Terns in steady procession were flying upriver to the nesting colony on the outer marsh, and a superb dark phase Arctic Skua was waiting for them in the shallows just off the lorry road, rising up to harry them on several occasions.
Further out a few Gannets and Common Scoter passed by.
The young Swallows were being fed by adults on the barbed wire fence by the Sandplant Pool - another month or so and they'll be on the move.
Bazzo had Willow Warbler down at Wheatear Corner - the traditional Irish Sea movement of juveniles should be starting any day now, and there was a Little Ringed Plover around Nels Hide again.
Mr Blobby the Little Owl put in a fleeting appearance around Stanley School for Bazzo.
Mike Bird was out having a hard time counting butterflies in this wet summer - but I did have a Gatekeeper at the foot of Mount Baker, Mike.
With the rain getting heavier, I nipped over to Martin Mere, but it was quiet there - apart from Moorhens, which were all over the place, many still on eggs.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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No wind! Maybe tomorrow....
Dear John,
Just a few notes after my Hilbre visit on Monday.
Making my way out I came across two great flocks of Sandwich Terns midway between Red Rocks and Hilbre - 460 in total!
Most amazing was a male Common Scoter very close to Hilbre's lifeboat slipway, about 50 yards out.
Textbook views when I normally see the species at great distance in winter.
Several Graylings flitting about the rocks and gravel paths and a marvellous display of the rare subspecies of rock sea-lavender, which is special to the island.
On my way back to West Kirby, a Common Tern, with a fish in its beak, constantly dived at me as if on nesting territory - this went on for a good ten minutes.