Calling into Marshside for an hour or two late this afternoon seemed a sensible option, with the tempting south easterly still blowing, but rain set in fairly soon.
At least three Little Egrets on Marshside Two, where a lovely juv Merlin zipped in to put the willies up the host of Blackwits and Lapwings, as if they weren't jittery enough.
Curlews and a few Golden Plover in the long vegetation of the inland marsh, but as the rain started, small groups of Snipe began to drop in - as you would expect at this time of the year.
Wildfowl-wise Teal and Wigeon numbers steadily growing too, but I couldn't see or hear any Pink Feet.
Drake Ruddy Duck on the Sandplant lagoon.
Meadow Pipits calling over what's left of the Sandplant Compound now, with Blackbird, Wren and two Goldcrests in the island of greenery at the tip that is the remains of the Forest of Bale.
Ironically all the digging means the forest isn't quite as impenetrable as it used to be, so you can see what's moving through it...I don't know how much longer it'll be there for though....
A Greenshank called overhead and in the brambles, nettles and bindweed on the southern side a single Whitethroat was shimmying through the undergrowth, feeding away in a world of its own, and a blur through a camera lens....
Blackwits were feeding busily just under the Hesketh Road platform, with more Snipe there and Wigeon dropping in in small groups.
Over the Hesketh Golf Course a swarm of about 100 hirundines were feeding.
I watched the Hobby bait for about 20 minutes, but nothing showed, so called it a day.
Tides are pretty good this week, but as long as the wind stays in the S/SE I think we can forget any chance of Leach's Petrels for awhile yet.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies....
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10 Pink Feet from Sandgrounder hide late afternoon on Sunday plus Marsh Harrier, Merlin and Osprey over out marsh
Climate change is a major threat to migratory waterbirds, according to a new report by the British Trust for Ornithology and Wetlands International.
Of 235 species of migratory waterbirds protected in Europe and Africa, all
except one are experiencing some threat from climate change, and nine
species face severe threats that could cause extinction.
The report highlights the need for more international co-operation in helping migratory species cope with climate change and other environmental problems.
Dr Andy Musgrove, Head of the Wetland Bird Survey at the BTO, said, "Climate change is of over-arching importance for the conservation of the planet's biodiversity.
This is an extremely important and timely report, drawing together a huge
amount of information that not only highlights threats but also suggests
many practical ways in which we can help waterbirds across this huge region."
International co-operation is required to reduce the many pressures that
they face and the report shows that many of the existing threats these birds face are being compounded by the effects of climate change.
With warmer temperatures, many birds are finding their current living
conditions increasingly unsuitable. Some are shifting their ranges towards
cooler climates. The report also highlights that warmer temperatures are not the only risk that waterbirds face in Africa and Eurasia.
Many regions, particularly in Africa are predicted to become drier and consequently the wet habitats upon which waterbirds depend will dry up. This is a particularly pressing problem just north and south of the Sahara. Waterbirds must make the perilous journey across this vast arid expanse without stopping for food and water. If the wetlands either side of this desert dry up too, the journey is likely to be a wing-beat too far for the exhausted, hungry and thirsty birds.
A similar situation exists for those species that breed in the high Arctic, such as the Sanderling. Dr Ilya Maclean, lead author of the report said, "Although these species are at severe risk of extinction if temperatures increase too much, we can help them in other ways. Many of the species are also threatened by activities such as habitat loss and over-fishing. If we can minimize these other pressures, we increase the birds' ability to cope with climate change."
Marshside 17.09.08: 12 Curlew Sandpipers, 1 Little Stint, 6 Ruff on Crossens Outer Marsh - on pool next to the pull-in.
Graham Clarkson,
Warden, Marshshide RSPB
Add juv Wood Sandpiper and Hobby to the list!!