Withdrawal is a terrible thing, so I had to have a quick look at the tide from Ainsdale this afternoon in about the worst conditions possible for a seawatch - receding tide, the lightest of south westerly breezes and balmy September sun.
Not surprisingly it was pretty quiet - apart from good numbers of Sandwich Terns fishing offshore, 4 adult Gannets close in and about 15 Common Scoter.
When the ice cream van of destiny parked up beneath the dune I was sitting on and began chiming out "Greensleeves" as if the very life force of the coastline depended on it, I knew it was time to concentrate my efforts elsewhere.
Sandwich Terns in with the commoner gulls species nearer the Green Beach included several young birds almost out of juv plumage, but still begging for food from adults.
They stood little chance by the looks of things.
About 50 sarnies on the shore, but more out over the water.
Further north, the Green Beach was quiet, with one or two Swallows and Mipits going south, and opportunist Kestrels using the red flag poles to hunt Craneflies from.
Plenty of Migrant Hawkers and Common Darters and a few Silver Y moths too.
Earlier in the day a Painted Lady fluttered over the windscreen of the Baby Black Death while I was waiting at lights in Litherland.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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230 Sandwich Terns roosting on the shore off the southern Green Beach this afternoon.
On Thursday, had a pale phase Honey Buzzard, heading south, west of Warrington, at about 2pm, while cruising the Manchester Ship Canal with Mrs Tropical.
20.09.08: Apparently an Arctic Skua at Marshside (on reserve) this avo.
Ken Abram had an Arctic Skua chasing the wildfowl on the splashes at Banks Marsh on the 17th.
Ron