Thanks to Victoria Guinan from Martin Mere, who has just forwarded the following details of this year's NW Birdfair at Martin Mere next month.......
North West Bird Watchers Festival at Martin Mere
WWT Martin Mere is hosting the North West Bird Watchers Festival on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th October.
Whether you have an interest in bird watching, photography, conservation or the environment, the North West Bird Watchers Festival is an enjoyable and informative day out. With six guest speakers, ringing talks twice a day, workshops to learn about photograph manipulation using Adobe Photoshop and a range of stands offering clothing, holidays, binoculars and second hand books in addition to environmental and bird charities, there is plenty to see and do.
There is also plenty for the local community to get involved in with craft activities for children including building nestboxes and there will also be a feed on the mere at 3pm and 3.30pm when up to a thousand wintering waterfowl will come up to feed including Pink-foooted Geese, Teal, Pintail, Pochard and Wigeon and the first of the Whooper Swans arriving from Iceland which could even be one of the âÂÂSuper Whoopersâ that are currently being tracked by satellite.
There will also be a barbecue lunch in the coffee shop or simply browse the gift shop to complete your day.
Guest speakers will talk about the Great Crane project, The Red Breasted Goose Conservation Project, as well as talks such as âÂÂFootsteps of Incasâ and âÂÂA lens for all seasonsâÂÂ. All talks will be in the Lecture Theatre and are from 11am to 3.15pm.
WWT Martin Mere is open every day from 9.30am to 5.30pm and parking is free of charge. Situated off the A59, it is signposted from the M61, M58 and M6. The Centre is also accessible via the Southport to Manchester and the Liverpool to Preston line by train from Burscough Rail Stations. Visit the web site to find out whatâÂÂs on all year round at Martin Mere and the other eight centres.
And there you have it - time to smash the piggy bank.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies....
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Sabs, Long Tailed Skua, 14+ Leach's Petrels rptd in Liverpool Bay today
26.09.07: Seawatch, Formby Point, 08.40-12.20:
1 Pomarine Skua; 2 Manx Shearwater; 1 Gannet; 5 Scaup; 2 Red Throated Diver; approx 550 Common Scoter; 6 Kittiwakes; 1 Sandwich Tern; 3 Guillemot; 1 Peregrine; 1 Grey Heron; 1 Greylag on the sea.
The Pom was a scruffy critter, cap and partial spoons, but a blotchy body. Possibly a second year bird.
Took the day off work. Went first to Formby Point from 0850 to 1045 - absolutely awful, nothing of any interest whatsoever. A single Sandwich Tern and one unidentified auk.
Loads of scoters on the extremely hazy horizon, plus the bizarre sight of a Greylag on the sea, a heron passing by and 6 Canada Geese offshore.
Gave up and went to Formby Channel which was equally poor. No wader roost; just a roost of the 5 'common' gulls, plus 1 Med Gull and 2 Sandwich Terns.
No Common Terns at all.
So gave up here also and went to the mosses around Altcar. This is ok if you like Pinkfeet and Buzzards, otherwise don't bother. An estimated 4750 of the former and c6 of the latter.
Gave up and went home! Anyone get the idea I might be feeling a bit frustrated?
Could be worse Derek...it could be raining, or you could be working.
Dearie me, fed up with Pinkfeet!
Apart from being marvellous in their own right a flock of 4,750 is worth a thorough scoping in case there are a few waifs and strays hiding among them.
As to what's happened to the Southport flocks it appears the air show might be the reason so many seem to have "foffed".
Yesterday evening there was a massive swirl of them over Martin Mere WWT, visible from Moss Lane Churchtown, perhaps a mix of MMWT winter residents and birds feeding out towards Burscough and Rainford and roosting in the reserve.
30 odd Fieldfares there maybe a product of the north easterlies and a Grey Wag has started appearing in my garden for the third autumn/winter in succession.
A flash from the past was a request yesterday for info re the 1967 Stilt Sand at Hundred End (or Hesketh Out Marsh as the RSPB insist on calling it, Hundred End , Anglo-Saxon, predates Hesketh , Norman if you believe the "propaganda" by some centuries), exactly 40 years today since first seen by Richard Kennedy and Pete "but it's got a de-curved bill" Fearon when they were looking for the Wilson's P.
Norfolk tomorrow, dodging Johnny Twitcher and his camp followers by the look of it. Hopefully we'll find our own like the Richard's Pipit and Corncrake on our last September trip long ago,
Ron
This is really for Ron Jackson. Are you the same Ron Jackson who I use to see over 30 years ago along with Pete Fearon at Hundred End and Martin Mere
Mal Smerdon
malthebof@btinternet.com