Zipped down to Seaforth after work this afternoon and spent an hour watching the first summer Wilson's Phalarope through the fence from the Crosby Marina side.
Luckily the bird flew onto the causeway and, when the sun was behind the clouds and the heat haze dropped away, it wasn't too bad through the scope.
No chance of a decent pic at that range, but it might be better later this evening when the sun sinks....there it is look, on the bank in the right hand side of the shot....
And here's what it looks like if you blow it right up....
Oh dear.
No way to do justice to such a fine bird, it is the first one I've seen since the Martin Mere bird a zillion years ago.
Now they're so rare, it's worth popping down to see it - just remember to watch from the Marina side of the fence...
I know this permit routine at Seaforth is no fault of the Lancs Wildlife Trust, but what do the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board think is going to happen if people start to come and go as they please at the reserve again?
Some type of Osama Bin Laden-orchestrated plot to blow up the Common Tern rafts maybe?
Or perhaps a devilish Al Qaida attempt to pee in Seaforth's freshwater pooI...
I mean really...
A family of young Linnets watched us from the other side of the bars in pity (was I looking in, or were they looking out?)
The phalarope was feeding along the water line, occasionally stretching those long legs, in a bid to hide its pot belly, and in some lights you could just make out the eyestripe and thin bill - but not often.
It narrowly avoided being stood on by Canada Geese, and was harassed once or twice by the terns, flying up at one point before returning to the causeway.
Plenty of Common Terns about, Wigeon and several young Little Gulls in the causeway roost, but I think I prefer to get a bit closer to my birds.
Thanks to Jim Irvine for sending me his much closer shot of the phalarope - you can actually see what it is on this one....
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies....
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Jim Irvine wrote...
Thanks for the heads-up John.
I don't usually bother going looking for rarities unless they're right in front of me but since Seaforth is my local patch (c 1.5 miles away) I ignored the tiredness from driving back from Edinburgh an hour before and headed down there.
Great views from hide A and my usual not so good photos - but I liked them!
Jim
Posted by: Jim Irvine | June 4, 2008 1:44 AM