Collected Bazzo and Jellyhead and spent a few hours at Marshside today, from about 11.30am, just after the first really heavy shower of the morning.
Good numbers of Swifts hawking over Marshside Two and the outer marsh - at least 200 birds, possibly as Bazzo observed, passage birds already.
They certainly disappeared after 30 minutes or so, leaving smaller numbers zooming about amongst the Swallows and House Martins.
The large post breeding flock of Starlings were around Mount Baker as usual, looking bedraggled (see above) and occasionally spooked in a tight "chinking" mass by the resident Kestrel.
The adult Starlings didn't look much better than the juvs.
One Common Sandpiper in front of Sandgrounders hide, and another in front of Nels, feeding amongst a carpet of goose droppings for insects - hardly photogenic behaviour.
Back on the peninsula we came across a great boat - Marshside Pelagic anyone come the next high tide?
All aboard!
What could possibly go wrong?
Reminds of that great fancy dress party joke when one guest asks another dressed as a pirate: "Where's your buccaneers?"
Answer: "Under my buccin' hat!"
Well, it makes me laugh anyway.
Reed Bunting still singing around the peninsula, and there were a few half hearted bursts of song from the Whitethroats.
The Linnets were twittering round the Forest of Bale, with some males in fine condition, but this young bird was the only one that would sit still long enough for a pic.
Mr Blobby the Little Owl was on top of Stanley School again, but there were only two small flocks of Blackwits, and the Common Sand already mentioned in front of Nels.
The female Tuftie still had her eight young in tow, perfecting diving techniques in front of the hide.
No Avocets while we were there - but we bumped into Graham Clarkson later and he'd had a flock earlier, before they flew off the marsh. Clarko hadn't seen much else tho'.
Few Meadow Browns on the wing, but not much else butterfly wise.
A quiet July day.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies....
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hi john, carried out the weekly butterfly census at marshside this afternoon.the weather had picked up a bit so a small number of butterflies were in flight. meadow brown, gatekeeper, small and large skipper, g v white, large white, red admiral and small tortoiseshell.
mike bird.
Went to Martin Mere yesterday.
2 x cuckoo, 4 adult male ruff, avocets, kingfisher, ringed plover, kestrel, green sandpiper.
Other than that, just the usual suspects.
Didn't manage to see the tawny owls, but the trees that they tend to frequent are totally covered in leaves, so they would be tricky to pick up anyhow.