Torrential mega-monsoons like the one that engulfed me five minutes after I'd got onto Plex Moss this afternoon however, turning day into night and sending dull rumbles of thunder rolling across the sodden crops, are completely beyond a joke.
A sultry, potentially migrant rich sesh was washed out almost before it had started!
Plenty of hirundines on the move still, mainly Swallows, with five very miserable looking Kestrels perched up and one Sprawk gamely gliding over the territory.
After what seemed like a lifetime pretending to be Jacques Cousteau ("zee fields of wheat, zey sway like zee magneeficent kelp forests of Atlantis..."), the rain eased and drenched Buzzards took to the air, generally flapping only as far as the nearest hay bale to dry off.
The Withins wasn't much better, with one or two alba wagtails and Meadow Pipits going through and more hirundines.
Hordes of Red Legged Partridge and Pheasant have been put down there, all with the same death wish - trying to run in front of the Baby Black Death along the narrow track rather than jumping out of the way into the safety of the fields.
Rain had really stopped play though.
By the way, I understand another large cetacean (species unknown) was washed up nearer the Alt estuary at the same time as the Stinky Minke - anyone know anything about that one?
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies....
- Post to:
del.icio.us
Digg
Newsvine
Nowpublic
Reddit
« Previous | Home | Next »
09.09.08: Juvenile Black Tern over Suttons Marsh again this afternoon, also Raven, Whimbrel, Merlin, Peregrine, 2000 Black-tailed Godwits and three Wheatears present today.
A Ruddy Shelduck reported at Martin Mere today, Ken Bridge reported one at Marshside on Saturday. Pure or hybrid, anyone know?
Graham,
RSPB Warden,
Marshside.
10.09.09: Marshside - Juvenile Black Tern present on Suttons Marsh again, also Peregrine, Merlin, Chiffchaff, Wheatear and c.2000 Black-tailed Godwit.
Graham Clarkson,
Warden, Marshside RSPB.