Over the mosses or an hour or two this afternoon (in daylight, what a novelty!), and it wasn't bad.
A few flocks of Fieldfares about on the Withins and Plex Moss, up 20 or so birds in them, but always flighty and tricky approach.
Most were scoffing hawthorn berries.
Gorgeous birds when you can get close to them, with such evocative calls....
Mistle Thrushes in many of the ploughed fields too, with smaller numbers of Redwing in with the Fieldfares, equally dedicated to gorging on berries.
Starling numbers are on the up, winter birds from the east no doubt, with a particularly large flock on the Withins, where they were habitually spooked by Common Buzzards, Kestrels etc.
Over on Plex, the shooters were out, so I went over to the northern side, where Tree Sparrows were feeding by the track with Gringos, Chaffinches and Dunnocks.
Two Greater 'Peckers near to Haskayne Cutting.
About 20 Rooks headed over towards Carr Moss, and there was still a big feeding flock of Pink Feet between Plex and Carr Moss.
A lovely little Merlin was perched up in a field, allowing me to get a few distant record shots, before it flew off, fast and low. Superb bird.
At Gettern Farm a roost of Pied Wagtails was beginning to build, with Corn Bunting and Goldfinch about too.
Red Legged Partridges and Pheasants still scuttling about in the area.
Not too many Skylarks and Meadow Pipits about today though.
With dusk closing in I left the wagtails to snooze and headed for home.
All in all, not a bad bit of winter birding really.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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10-15 Curlews, plus loads of geese going over yesterday morning, Sniggery Woods, Crosby.
Hi John
Could be so kind as to tell me where
Taggs Island is.
Many thanks,
J. Isherwood
Taggs Island is the area of brackish marsh,low dune and emerging scrub on the shoreline between Birkdale and Ainsdale.
Park at Weld Rd roundabout beach entrance at Birkdale.
To do it dry, follow the Velvet Trail footpath south (marked).
Otherwise wear your wellies - some of the channels can be a few feet deep!
PS When I get round to it, I'll post a map.....