Lovely crisp conditions today, so I headed down to Marshside for an hour or two, rather than risk financial ruin perusing the book stands at the bird fair.
As expected there had been something of a clear out on the marsh thanks to the heavy frost, but there were still a few Blackwits and Lapwings about.
Snipe rose from the outer marsh as a Sparrowhawk skimmed south and two Cormorants were loafing around the Sandplant pool.
Seven Pochards and a Ruddy Duck were dozing on the bank too, amongst the Wigeon, Pintail and Shoveler.
I joined SiG, Jason and Bones to look over the outer marsh from the remains of the Sandplant walls, but it was pretty quiet.
Squeaky arrived shortly after for a hard scoping of the estuary.
At least 7 Little Egrets out there, with a few hundred Pinkies, loads of Wigeon, plus Kestrel and Merlin.
Hoped for a hunting Hen Harrier, but it never materialised.
Robins, Wrens, Song Thrush and Blackbird in what remains of the scrub on the southern side.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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The 3 Brent Geese were still present on the beach at Taggs today, with a couple of Little Egrets knocking about also. Didn't manage to pin down the fairly large finch flock which was very flighty.
One of the Brent Geese at Taggs was ringed - I have reported it through the BTO site - will report back when I have any info.
Plenty of Twite in the finch flock though they were all skulky!
A male Blackcap on peanut feeder in my Liverpool garden early this morning.They appear in ones and twos most winters around early December, stay for a few days and then move on. Grey Wagtail still a regular visitor to my garden pond.
A small roost of Little Egrets (6) on one of the Marine Lake islands in Southport this morning, passed the other night and there were 12.
Good to see
One of the three Brent Geese was colour ringed - red ring with white letter C on the birds right leg and a blue ring with the white letter X on the left leg.
This is a female goose which was first ringed on 08/08/2007 in De La Beche Bay, SW Bathurst Isl.,Canada - the bird was in adult plumage when ringed but had hatched in 2007.
This bird was subsequently seen once at Hightown, Crosby on 15/02/2008.