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Where the sand meets the sea

Posted by on May 13, 2008 7:09 PM | 

beach1305.jpg

While the sun lasts I decided to walk down to the low tide mark this afternoon at Ainsdale Beach (ignoring the allure of the Green Beach and Taggs for once).
Nice roost of about 45 Grey Plover, 15 Bar Tailed Godwits, 20 Dunlin and 30 Oystercatchers, dozing at the water's edge.
The Grey Plover are absolutely stunning at the moment.

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That said, I particularly liked the one on the right of the next pic, practising a bit of yogic flying when it thought the rest of the flock wasn't looking...

grey21305.jpg

Offshore a small feeding flock of gulls drew in an adult Gannet which drifted away to the south, and four Sandwich Terns.
Four Swallows buzzed north low over the waves still heading north.
About 30 Sanderlings coming into summer plumage now and feeding along the water's edge and the small pools left by the ebbing tide.
They were really getting stuck in, probing the sand, pushing down with their whole body, instead of picking at it like they do in winter.

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Three Willow Warblers, two Whitethroats and a Blackcap singing around the Sands Lake, otherwise fairly quiet.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...


Comments (4)

john conway wrote...

Hi my name is John, I would just like to now if you could help me.
I have started up doing wildlife photography and I believe that there is a place in Flint or Gronant to see Little Terns and maybe Sandwich Terns.
Would you have any information on this and maybe a land mark as to where to park and hopefully take some photos of them?
hope you don't mind me emailing you thanks john

Posted by: john conway  | May 14, 2008 10:14 AM

Jim Irvine wrote...

Hi John
I woke very early this morning and went up to North Moss Lane at 4.45. Lots of Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and some Blackcaps singing and 1 (or more?) Cuckoos going berserk for 20 minutes or so.
I thought I heard a Lesser Whitethroat as well but I’m not great on bird song so I can’t be sure
The grass in the fields is getting quite long now so it’s a bit difficult to see things though I counted 6 hares in the (ex)ploughed field south of the lane. As well as a few Lapwings chasing off the Jackdaws.
I took some pictures especially of a bird on a wire whose identity still baffles me. I was going to send you a pic but couldn't figure out how to do it.
The bird looks very red (rich russet) almost no neck, thin bill and a longish tail which is partly red.
Any ideas? How do I send pictures?
Jim

Posted by: Jim Irvine  | May 14, 2008 8:12 PM

john wrote...

Hi Jim - send your picture to me at:
john.dempsey@liverpool.com
Sounds interesting!
By the way, anyone seen the Temminck's Stint on Polly's Pool/Creek at Marshside? - Neill texted me about it last night.

Posted by: john  | May 15, 2008 6:05 AM

Derek Williams wrote...

Latest from Haskayne, May 7th - 12th: Great Crested Grebes 2; Common Tern 2; Tufted Duck 5; Buzzard 3; Yellowhammer 2; Oystercatcher 11; Garden Wabler (May 10); Sedge Warbler 5; Mallard 50+; Hobby (May 8); Barn Owl; Whimbrel 50+.
Plex Moss: Tree Sparrow 3; Cuckoo.
Altcar Withins: Ravens 2.

Posted by: Derek Williams  | May 15, 2008 10:25 AM

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