Admittedly I took the shot of a Migrant Hawker in the bushes around Sands Lake mid-afternoon - but there were plenty of hawkers at Marshside too.
Two Chiffchaff, female Blackcap, Goldcrest and good numbers of Common Darters resting on the boardwalk at the Sands Lake, where there were at least 50 dozing Tufties, Little Grebe etc.
Drawn to the marsh by Graham's blog info today (thanks as always Clarko!), I popped into Sandgrounders Hide, where Tony Johnston was on duty still.
He'd had four Greenshank earlier, but Ruddy Duck, scurrying Snipe and increasing numbers of Teal were parading when I got there just before 5pm.
Between 26 and 30 Pink Feet were on the far side of Polly's Pool, and later in the afternoon, I had another 50 or so dropping onto the outer marsh from high level.
Diggers, er, digging, in the Sandplant Compound (Forest of Bale is just a lone ride of bushes now) meant there wasn't much point checking it out, although I did have another two Chiffchaffs in the scrub on the southern side, and more Migrant Hawkers.
Blackbird and a single Goldcrest here too, and a respectable sized flock of Goldfinch.
A Peregrine spooked everything on MarshsideTwo, revealing several hundred Wigeon, 3 Pintail and at least 70 Golden Plover as they took flight amongst the Blackwits, Lapwings and other wildfowl.
I whizzed up to check Crossens Outer after Graham's successes there earlier in the day, and while there weren't as many waders, four Ruff and two Curlew Sandpipers were still feeding amongst the Lapwing and Goldies.
Two Little Egrets on the outer marsh too.
Unsurprisingly, the light began to go a bit by 6pm, so I headed for home through Southport, past garden sycamores looking all crinkly and yellow-browedy.
It won't be long now.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Brimstone and Comma in garden in High Park, Southport, today, also Small Skipper, Small Copper and Red Admiral in Wicks Lane area in Formby.
18.09.08 Marshside: Seven Curlew Sandpipers and twelve Ruff on Crossens Outer Marsh, they are further out today and easiest to see when flushed; Peregrine and Harris Hawk obliged! A juvenile Marsh Harrier is over the saltmarsh too.
Susan Inglis reported a juvenile Arctic Skua causing panic over Rimmers marsh. On Suttons/Crossens inner marsh 83 Pink-footed Geese and c.1200 Wigeon.
Other birds included several Goldcrests, 40 Meadow Pipits over, 33 Linnets and 135 Goldfinches.
Short-eared Owl this afternoon on Birkdale Green Beach. Also, 190 Sandwich Terns on the shore at high water. Lots of Migrant Hawkers and one male Southern Hawker in the slacks.
At least 2 Little Stint again this evening off the end of the boardwalk on Birkdale beach with a scattered mixed wader flock; Dunlin, Sanderling, Ringed Plover and Grey Plover. Also 2 Little Egrets here.
Hi John, out enjoying the lovely weather this morning on Leasowe sea wall I watched small groups of Swallows arriving off the sea from the direction of Formby, Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs were calling from the sallow bushes, and 8 Common Lizards were basking on the bottom rail of the wooden fence along the inland path.
I also noticed several Common Footman Moth caterpillars feeding on the wave wall lichens.
Just about every gull was inland spiraling high, presumably feeding on flying ants, although I didn't see this behaviour over Liverpool or Crosby this afternoon where there was a steady southward trickle of Red Admirals despite the overcast skies.
Last week I found good numbers of their caterpillars in nettle-tip leaf-tents at Burton Marsh and Red Rocks, most of them were half grown so I reckon they'll be on the wing in early October.
I still haven't found any Painted Lady caterpillars this year or even seen an adult!