The eagle-eyed amongst you will have detected a certain absence from
the marsh over the last week or so, well don't worry, Marshside's finest
are due to return tomorrow, after a tour of duty of Israel and the West
Bank (assuming all has gone according to plan that is).
More of that later, when I've got the sandflies out of my billies...
More importantly, what have we been missing?
Please let me know in the comments section.
Hopefully you've all had more than these young Herring Gulls, which I
photographed on Sands Lake in Ainsdale recently.
That said, one of the young gulls was uttering the most bizarre two note
begging call repeatedly - like a gull-version of Dupont's Lark, I kid
you not.
It stuck to the other bird like glue for most of the time.
Can't remember hearing one calling like that before - just goes to show
what you can come across on your doorstep.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Hi John and Marshside's finest.
While you were away, spring finally sprung.
SE winds forecast for rest of week, with rain and getting warmer.
82 Avocets now in residence, a dozen of which saw off a Harris Hawk, from the local Country Fair falconry display at Stanley High School, on Saturday.
John Mercer had two male Ring Ouzels at North Moss Lane on Sunday am, where also 3 Whimbrel with 50 Curlews and Willow Warblers.
Marshside and HGC last few days has had Whimbrel, Sedge and Willow Warblers, Blackcap, House Martins and best this morning when dog walkers flushed another (or same) two Ring Ouzels for me on HGC.
Has been very slow until last few days, with only small vizmig of Siskins, Redpolls and Mipits.
Ears to the piers
John B - Marshside's finest and most cunning linguist !
Dear John
I am fortunate enough to own the fields on the right of Frankby Road just past Hillcroft Farm Newton/Frankby border and seem to be at the end of a corridor that stretches down between Caldy hill and Thurstaton hill towards the Estuary. Because of this we are visited daily at this time of year by Curlews and Oyster Catchers. We have pheasant, grey partridge and last year a nesting pair of Buzzards that produced 4 young. When the fields were cut on the other side of the road last August both adults and the 4 young spent the day gorging on field mice. An amazing sight. However yesterdays sighting was the most spectacular. We had been away since Thursday at the Blue Chip Show Jumping Finals and on Monday morning the lad who helps us with all the horses told me of a black and white bird that had been hanging around all weekend. He said it was really noisy and I just assumed it was one of the Oyster Catchers although I did wonder when he said it was sitting on the fences! How wrong was I. Yesterday afternoon my son was riding in the menage when I heard all this screaching coming from his direction. A massive black and white bird was swooping down almost vertically at him. Why I cant imagine, although the hedge along one side on the menage is full of nesting birds at the moment . Anyway this went on for several minutes before he flew over the fields on the other side of the road but remained in view, twisting and tumbling and then swooping down like a fighter jet. A very discintive black stripe on his head gave his identity away but I had to rush home to get my bird book out just to check. I haven't seen him this morning but do you think he is just on his travels or could he possibly be looking to nest in the area? I thought osprey only ate fish so what was he after in the fields I wonder and do they take birds in the air?
Well hope you find this interesting, I'll let you know if he's still around at the weekend.
Kind regards
Adele Hughes-Jones
Small colony of about 20 Sand Martins on the River Wyre north of Preston.
What's about update.
Weather forecast rollocks as usual.
Out at 0730 today (Thursday 17th April) and cold enough to freeze hell. Highlight of Hesketh Golf Course was 4 Rooks heading north at 0800, Marshside tick for me, plus Jay for 2nd time this week. Yesterday morning had a male Redstart near the central copse and Tree Pipit over, so migrants are trickling through, despite huge low pressure system over France. Rimmers (aka M1) had 77 Avocet, Dunlin 17, Ringed Plover 2, Little Stint 1, Golden Plover 225.
Best local birds are 3 Whimbrel, with 37 Fieldfare and six White Wags in end ploughed field on the right, down N Moss Lane, just before old Formby landfill. Even better local bird are pair of WILLOW TITS !! found this morning, while not finding Cuckoo.
Cross Cheshire Lines and take first bridleway track to the left, Sixpenny Lane, runs alongside large wood and birds were in the right at the end, just before Broad Lane. Mega-bird locally and very nice apparently on a Lancashire BAP.
TTFN - JKB - Marshide's finest and most cunning linguist.