I said goddam! That was a sharp wind today!
Had a quick look around Ainsdale Lido for Mr Quivery Tail, but the Black Redstart was nowhere to be seen.
Although it has been around since at least Tuesday, early morning is best - it was perched on the picnic tables by the loos at the end of Shore Road before 9am this morning, so I may have another go tomorrow.
A Little Egret was on Taggs Island this morning.
All the usual stuff on the Sands Lake, so I drove up to Marshside.
After the frosts of the week it's a bit quiet (many birds move out ahead of a freeze) but there were still good numbers of Blackwits feeding close to Marshside Road and 67 Pochard on the Sandplant lagoon.
Two Little Egrets (one outer marsh, one inner) and concentrations of Wigeon and Pintail here and there.
This big hybrid falcon was perched up north of the Sandplant - Graham has seen it before and apparently it spends much of its time hopping about on the deck - does it belong to anyone?
LannerxSakerxPeregine of some sort....
Looks a bit like a giant Merlin.
Long primaries, big white supercilium and breast, heavily marked underparts.
A few Blackbirds around the Sandplant lagoons - interesting given Bazzo's comments earlier this week.
Took a walk down the lorry road, but dogwalkers spooked what little there was about, including a big looking but distant egret that flew off the tideline and never came back...long trailing legs and what appeared to be a long yellow bill hmmmmmm!
I did manage to get better views of a nice ringtail Hen Harrier north of Mount Baker being mobbed by two Carrion Crows.
The harrier just sailed off effortlessly on the icy wind - gorgeous bird.
Kestrel and Merlin out there too.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Been off for a couple of days. I've finally added the webs for Marshside last Sunday. As widely reported high duck numbers, here are the 'official' totals for the count;
Wigeon 17,535
Teal 2974
Mallard 590
Pintail 1157
Shoveler 173 ...........22,500 dabbling ducks, not bad!
Pochard 45
Golden Plover 2132
Lapwing 2600
Black-tailed Godwit 2200
Curlew 52
Redshank 81..............over 7,000 waders, not bad either!
I did the dawn Icelandic Goose census at Martin Mere last Sunday no Cattle Egret and not many Geese but 1400 Whoopers and 13 Bewick's Swans. Cheers, G
Female Blackcap in my garden at Hillside yesterday (15.12.07).
Bumblebee around heather flowers in my garden this morning (16.12). Seen them in January, but never December!