Lazy Sunday - picked up Bazzo at about midday and headed over to Martin Mere to pull faces at the Pink Feet.
There were plenty of them - at least 5,000, and King Baz reckoned about 30% of 'em were young birds, so it looks like it was a good breeding season in Iceland.
Glad someone got a decent summer.
Harry Sharrock had seen the two pale bellied Brents with them earlier in the day, but they were scattered all over the reserve by the time we got there, via a circuitous route over Churchtown Moss, where there were plenty of Corn Buntings in small groups, Goldfinches and Linnets.
Three Whoopers snoozing at the mere too, but it was the Pinkies that were drawing the crowds - skeins flying in all the time, freaked out no doubt by the Red Arrows roaring over Southport.
One or two Migrant Hawkers about too.
Small groups of Swallows going through and a few Ruff and Golden Plover in with the Lapwings and Snipe,but the water levels seemed a bit deep for smaller waders.
One or two raptors knocking about - an adult female Marsh Harrier was eating carrion at the back of Vinson's Marsh before it took flight and tussled with an immature bird.
Cue very amateur long distance shots.
Few Kestrels and a distant Peregrine were around too, and Common Buzzard loafing about. Nice to meet Austin Thomas in the Ronnie Barker hide - always good to put a face to a name from the blog - Howdy Austin!.
Called it a day early afternoon, but not before I spent some time watching Tree Sparrows spitting out seed cases at the feeders, while pewling children ran about looking to take in various duck-related races.
Roll on the Birdfair - it's earlier this year (Oct 13/14th I think) to avoid Bill and Kate's Autumnwatch love-in.
More details to follow.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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mike bird wrote...
hi john,23 sept. early morning,marsh harrier briefly on crossens inner before flying over the road to the salt marsh.later three buzzards were sailing over crossens inner down by the sewage works,these soon left on the arrival of the red arrows.
Posted by: mike bird | September 23, 2007 7:20 PM