Grey, dark November afternoons, raw and bleak, are made for a trip to Taggs Island for a splash around the creeks and reedbeds, so that's what I did today, and it was pretty good.
Not many gulls on the beach (the tide was right out), but several Pied Wagtails and Mipits around the Weld Road beach entrance, and in the marsh itself, 18 Snipe and at least 2 Jack Snipe, the latter plump little brown and golden striped balls bursting into the air under my feet, always good to see them.
About 200 Pink Feet headed north overhead, presumably aiming for roosting grounds at Marshside.
Plenty of Wrens and Song Thrushes lurking in the bushes on the seaward side of Taggs, but a big fat Woodcock that flushed from the base of one of the bushes and flapped a short distance north again, giving great views, was a surprise - I can't remember seeing one on Taggs before.
Two Stonechats a fair way down, and on the beach Redshank, Shelduck and Curlew.
As I was walking back I noticed a Ranger's Land Rover slowing down on the wet sand - and close to it three pale bellied Brent Geese.
A young bird and two adults, they cropped the marsh grasses on the hummocky islands at the edge of the marsh as the light faded.
Shame I didn't come across them earlier, I may have got better pix with more light.
One of the adults had a yellow colour ring, but I couldn't make out the detail in the growing gloom.
Even trying a blow-up in the fading light, it was Sod's Law that its left leg was hidden by mud, such is life.
They may stick around....they were walking slowly north and grazing almost off Weld Road by the time I left them.
Skylarks and another Jack Snipe on the saltmarsh edge here, so not a bad afternoon for Taggs - Woodcock, Jack Snipe and Brent Goose is not to be sniffed at!
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Hi John,
Love the blog and try to read it at every opportunity (a long time birder but I don't get out much!!!)
However where is Taggs Island (I presume its near on the beach)?
Regards
John Wilden
Glad you like the blog John. Taggs Island is the area of salt and fresh marsh, reedbed, infant dunes and scrub that lies directly to the south of the beach entrance at Weld Road, Birkdale.
The Velvet Trail runs down the inland side of it, but the outer (seaward) edge usually yields better results, and you need wellies for that.
Taggs merges into the Green Beach, ending about half a mile to the north of the beach entrance at Shore Road, Ainsdale.
It is all corking habitat.
Sandgrounders Hide at Marshside will be closed all day Monday (November 24th)...just a reminder to everyone. Sorry for any inconvenience.
WWT Martin Mere is hosting the North West Bird Watching Festival on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 November. Whether you have an interest in bird watching, photography, conservation or simply enjoy nature, the North West Bird Watching Festival is an enjoyable and informative day out. New for 2008: ÷Access to the hides from 8am in the morning (usually open at 9.30am) to see an early morning swan feed and watch birds leave the roost ÷A range of optical and digital demonstrators ÷An exhibition of wildlife photographers and artists ÷Launch of the âÂÂFamily HideâÂÂ. Families can come along and learn how to spot birds, draw what they have seen, make nestboxes and pine cone feeders. There is plenty of additional things to do with five guest speakers, workshops to learn about photograph manipulation using Adobe Photoshop, a range of stands offering clothing, holidays, binoculars and second hand books, and swan feeds at 3pm and 3.30pm when up to a thousand wintering waterfowl will come up to feed including Pink-footed Geese, Whooper Swans, Teal, Pintail, Pochard and Wigeon. . Guest speakers will talk about Managing RSPB Marshside, Birding on the Severn, Leighton Moss RSPB Reserve and Decline of Barn Owls on Wirral peninsula. For further event information and a detailed list of exhibitors, please visit: www.wwt.org.uk/martinmere. WWT Martin Mere is open every day from 9.30am to 5.00pm and parking is free of charge. Situated off the A59, it is signposted from the M61, M58 and M6. The Centre is also accessible via the Southport to Manchester and the Liverpool to Preston line by train from Burscough Rail Stations. Visit the web site http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit/martinmere/ to find out whatâÂÂs on all year round at Martin Mere and the other eight centres.
NW Birdwatching Festival. Ought to be sub-titled 'commercial wing' - no RSPB, BTO, Wildlife Trusts etc because, thankfully, they used to have their stands for free.
Now however the NWBF has become commercial.
I have no issues with this but would have liked the WWT to have given some of their publicity material to explain why they have taken this route and the fact that they are trying to accommodate the charities at another event.
Currently it just seems like we have all scorned it!!