Just got back from our annual trip to the Village of the Damned (or Flamboro', as residents know it) with Bazzo and Tropical.
Superb three day seawatching marathon at Flamborough Head, with 4 species of skua, 4 species of shearwater and lotsa other goodies.
Landbirds were very poor, but at least I managed to get a slightly better shot of a Stonechat (above), saw the QEII sail by, and experienced a Bon Jovi tribute act from Newcastle called Bon Jordi (geddit).
Will put seawatching totals on tomorrow.....meanwhile what have I missed over here?
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Hi John.....On saturday at 11am I was surprised to see a group of 4 buzzards flapping and gliding southwards low down right on the coast at Crosby baths to the marina and onwards over Seaforth container base.....Apropos the QE2 you'll be able to see her close up at the Pier Head on friday.
There have been two Bittern nests again this year - luckily the wet weather didnâÂÂt flood them out.
Two Marsh Harrier nests produced 6 young (nest one with 4 and nest two with 2).
John Wilson continues to monitor our Bearded Tits with a preliminary count this year of 20 pairs.
ItâÂÂs been a good summer for birds. A White Tailed Plover arrived here on 10 June, after being at WWT Caerlaverock, this is only the fourth time it has been seen in the UK and the first time there has been a good sighting since 1975.
Other sightings since then have been so brief that most birdwatchers were unable to see it.
Luckily thousands of birdwatchers managed to see the one here.
Other bird highlights have been a Black Tern at the public hide on 24 Aug and an Osprey has been seen regularly since May.
The saltmarsh pools have been a real bird spectacle this summer with 3 Spoonbills being joined by up to 27 Little Egrets and finally a Great White Egret since 27 Aug along with loads of wading birds.
Sightings are now posted on our website if you wish to keep up to date with the wildlife here at Leighton Moss see http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/l/leightonmoss/sightings.asp
Jen Walker
Visitor and publicity officer,
Leighton Moss.
Mmm, could be a chance of a few Leach's if the wind keeps on blowing...
A group of us (oldsters) had 4/5 Manxies at Hilbre on Friday, in close and settling on the sea.
Not much else, a few divers, all in summer plumage, one definite Red Throat, one probable Black Throat, the others? Red Throats by far the commonest according to the "residents".
Nowt by way of movement except one Wheatear.
The GWE is still around apparently, a mention in the Sandgrounder's log and a co-webster saw it yesterday by the sewage works.
Been seen occasionally at Banks tho' not by me.
Yesterday's Ribble WeBS count was on the low side, very low considering time of year though lowish tide didn't help. 31 Eiders on the river was about all of note.
600 odd Redshanks in a single roost is I suppose to be expected.
Monster tides at month end will flood the marsh and maybe bring stuff in close.
Only Yank in area seems to be Everton goalie,
Ron
Some fairly serious westerlies forecast for Weds-Fri inclusive, so there may indeed be Leach's Storm-petrels...but not likely at Formby Point, where the daytime tide-line this week will be somewhere in Dublin Bay.
Better off at Crosby, Blackpool or Heysham/Morecambe, I reckon
Worth someone having a look at the long island in Polly's Pool. I saw a small wader there this afternoon, but had left scope in car.
Through borrowed gear in Sandgrounders could have been a Reeve but not the juv Reeve I saw there last week.
This had yellowish legs and pale underparts and straight dark bill. Not a Tringa methinks.
Creeping about among the gulls. Just something ? which makes me hesitate at Reeve. Need a look through my big scope if still around.
4 Spot Reds and 5 Curlew Sands and (usual) Green Sand at Banks,
Ron