After a heavy frost this morning, Marshside was on tip top form - you could even feel warmth in the sun, which is always a good thing.
A few Snipe were right in front of the Sandgrounders Hide - brought out of cover by the frost no doubt, and there were between 50-60 Pochard on the Sandplant Pool, plus about 18 Tufties.
Two Little Egrets, with more on the outer marsh, and a few hundred Lapwing, with smaller numbers of Golden Plover.
The Green Winged Teal was doing what it does best, just to the north of the Sandgrounders Hide.
No sign of yesterday's Avocets, but they were probably the ones that were at Martin Mere this morning - expect more in the coming weeks.
Met Bazzo and Tropical and we headed out to Mount Baker, pausing to admire the big female Hen Harrier which was quartering the marsh quite close in.
At one point a Merlin tailed it closely, hoping to snatch a flushed pipit or Skylark.
The harrier didn't seem to mind too much.
A Skylark singing away above the marsh was nice, and a Rock Pipit called briefly.
The hawthorns and blooming blackthorn of the Forest of Bale held at least 9 Reed Buntings, Greenfinch and briefly a male Kestrel which freaked all the passerines out.
Out on the mud of the estuary, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Barwits, Oycs, Redshank, Curlew etc were feeding, and a female Sprawk joined the day's raptor list.
Coltsfoot is already blooming up on the top of Mount Baker, mainly at the southern end.
A few Pinkies overhead, but not many. Bazzo went of for his WeBs count, and Tropical went off for his lunch, but a last scan of Marshside Two saw everything spooked by a passing Peregrine - looked very brown, may have been a hybrid, or it may just have been a trick of the light.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Went for a walk down the Woodland Path at Ainsdale NNR this morning, (back of Woodvale Airfield.)
Was surprised to see 2 Nuthatch at the start of the path with Goldcrest, lots of Coal, Great, Blue and Long Tailed Tits and at least 3 GS Woodies.
Further down the path by the inner woodland loop 3 Siskin were drinking from a puddle in the middle of the path.
Then on the way back I heard, and after a short wait saw, a Green Woodpecker in the recently felled area.
Not bad for a morning stroll.
Old Formby Tip this morning (10th) in the mist:
1 Red squirrel
Fox
Shrew (singing)
53 Redwing
2 Fieldfare
large mixed flock of Chaffinch, Linnets about 60 of each with Godlfinch, Greenfinch and at least 1 Lesser Redpoll.
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel.
Lots of Pink Feet in nearby fields.
WeBs count for Marshside One, 10.2.08:
2117 Wigeon
1640 Teal
111 Pintail
93 Shovelers
19 Tufted Ducks
5 Ruff
374 Golden plover
443 Black Tailed Godwit
The adult Yellow-legged Gull was back again on Sands Lake, Ainsdale today at high tide. About 1000 gulls on the beach but nothing notable found.
Hi John,
Black Redstart has finally made it out of Pontins and back to feeding on the grass on the prom! Must have been the disturbance of a busy Pontins weekend.
Latest from Haskayne and area, Feb 1st to Feb 6th:
Shelduck 65; Lapwing 716; Pintail 4; Buzzard 5; Black Tailed Godwit; Shoveler 2; Pochard 2; Ruff 6; Redshanks; Snipe; winter plumage Med Gull; Coot maximum 46; Ostercatcher; Mallard 300 (total); Stock Dove 36; Great Spotted Woodpecker 3; Barn Owl 2; Whooper Swans 74 on New Cut Lane on Feb 2nd.