Screaming jet engines hadn't yet drowned out any bird calls when Bazzo and I checked out Hesketh Golf Course this morning - but it was only a brief respite before the Red Arrows et al were tear-arsing all over the place during the second (and thankfully last) day of the Southport Airshow.
The golf course was pretty quiet - three Goldcrests and a Jay as well as the usual residents, with Speckled Wood and Red Admiral flitting about.
The marsh proper was useless - unless you enjoy watching flocks of Lapwings continually spooked into the air by some nifty formation hawk jet acrobatics.
Sandplant compound was quiet, apart from a few mipits and planespotters, and there was a single Little Egret on Marshside Two and the outer marsh.
Bazzo did his best to send a clear message to the Airshow flyboys, but it was in vain.
Driven off the marsh by sonic warfare, we headed over to Martin Mere, which wasn't too bad.
Three Goosanders on the main mere, with loads of hirundines going through (there had been good numbers of House Martins at Marshside early on.
Plenty of Greylags and Grey Herons, but no sign of any Pinkies that we saw, but from the Ronnie Barker hide Bazzo picked up a nice eclipse drake Garganey, while eight Avocets fed on the flooded marsh.
Kingfisher was perched up beneath the hide as usual (see top of entry), and a few Ruff were in with the Lapwings.
Juvenile Marsh Harriers were still hunting round and about, with up to three birds while we were there, and several Stock Doves trundling about.
Called into In Focus and got a new 30x wide lens for my scope, leaving the ever-obliging Andy Bunting trying to get the salt and sand out of the one I part exchanged - you can't seawatch without a bit of collateral damage after all....
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies....
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08.09.08: Black Tern around Sandgrounders Hide at Marshside again.
Had a Ringed Teal at Banks this afternoon, white wing patches, and green speculum very noticeable in flight. Bird might have been a immature female. Anyway an escape. Perched asleep on a piece of debris in a pool, gave me a long slow look before flying away.
Wigeon numbers now building up but I couldn't see or hear any 'Feet,
Ron
Very beautiful birds (Grey Heron and Common Kingfisher). Nice photos :)))