Hardly a surprise that on a clear sunny afternnon, with a good north easterly blowing, Pink Feet were piling into Marshside from all points of the compass - off the mudflats, down from the north, in from the south and east, all whiffling down onto Marshside One and Two (Rimmers/Suttons Marshes) and Crossens beyond.
Estimating numbers was hard, 'cos so many were moving about, but there were at least 4,000 birds in the hour or so I spent down there.
Snipe, Blackwits and Lapwings on Marshside 2, with several Greenshank calling loudly from Polly's Pool. Seven Ruddy Duck on the Sandplant lagoon.
Winter wildfowl staples like Pintail are steadily increasing in numbers, altho' I suspect this one's decision to swim uphill is more down to my ineptitude with a tripod than anything else.
Diggers were closing in on the remnants of the Forest of Bale, so I didn't really check the compound, but Mipits, finches and Skylarks were heading over, albeit in smaller numbers than on Sunday.
A young Peregrine tore through panicking all the waders, but I didn't see it catch, while Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were hunting the outer marsh.
Hesketh Road platform revealed small numbers of Curlew and Blackwits feeding amongst the gull and Wigeon, and a few Mipits trickled south.
Surprisingly a single Yellow Wagtail went south over my head, calling loudly at about 5.45pm - it pitched down onto the Municipal Golf Course.
I wonder what race that was at this time of year?
A reminder that its not just big fat Pinkies the north easterly brings - passerines are lurking out there too.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Mega - just heard there's a Brown Shrike at Flamboro' round the Old Fall Hedge...
After seeing you, had a drive down the Coast Road and parked up in Crossens layby, 4 Ruff close in with Lapwings, Teal and 5 Golden Plover all in attendance, out in the creeks and gullies 5 Grey Heron and 4 Little Egrets with a further 9 in flight further out, LOADS of Wigeon took flight out towards Warton and more Pinkies drifting in.
Andy
Great to hear a Redwing calling in the velvetty black September sky tonight over Dempsey Towers - the inaugural meeting of the 2008/2009 Nocturnal Birding Club isn't far away...
Yellow Browed Warbler at Seaforth this morning , showing well apparently.
Not seen by me though as at Martin Mere filming Pink Feet.
Not many there though but thousands yesterday at Marshside and loads over Churchtown this morning, including two flocks at same height heading in opposite directions at the same time.
No longer a case of "out to the mosses am and back to the shore pm".
Ron Barker hide, top section, full of I guess regulars regaling all and sundry with their sightings, opinions and just bloody loud and boring chatter.
Makes Sandgrounders by comparison seem like the reading room at the B.M. or Goodison on the last day of the season.
I've just paid 200 quid for a new shotgun mike, might as well have left it at home and the "Feet were calling at full strength!
Ron
25.09.08 Marshside: 8,800 Pinks on the reserve early this avo; Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Marsh Harrier and Merlin.