Walked from Shore Road at Ainsdale up to Weld Road and back along the beach today - wasn't expecting too much, given the fact that the world and his wife/dog/children/horse/kite/4x4 were out enjoying the winter sun, and I wasn't disappointed.
Three Stonechats, a handful of Skylarks, Reed Bunting and 15 Linnets, the latter down at the Ainsdale end.
Up to 18 Carrion Crows rooting amongst the infinity of razorshells washed up along the high tide mark - along with sea urchins, dog whelks etc.
Sanderlings, Grey Plovers, Oycs and Barwits out in the channels as the tide receded and an adult Peregrine sitting on the sand nearer Weld Road.
Tried to get closer to it, but it let me move to within 200 metres and then flew off to the north east contemptuously.
Probably the bird Duncan Rothwell had seen flying past Ainsdale earlier in the day.
A quick look offshore just after the high tide revealed 8 Great Crested Grebes and three Red Throated Divers plus about 50 Common Scoter.
Good light with the sun making the grebes and divers shine white against the gentle swell - may be worth another look tomorrow over the tide.
Didn't bother looking for Jack Snipe in the marshier areas - they'd probably been disturbed enough by passersby, and when it gets frosty they tend to decamp over the Coast Road and into the Birkdale NR Slacks anyway - and that mysterious world is best left to Tropical Thomason....
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies....
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Hi Brick
Out atlasing this afternoon in SD31T (one of Barry's that Jellyhead Jackson couldn't get round to because he had other 'bird' interest instead). It's the one with the soon to be demolished gasometer and soon to be homeless Peregrines.
Beautiful cold winter's afternoon and mega-birding. 53 species in two hours accompanied by Mrs B and Teddy our Tibetan temple dog in his Mactavish tartan jacket.
Good birds locally seen by me and Phil (what's'isname) who knows Simon well and who joined us on our mosslands perambulation included Nuthatch, Little Egret, Grey Wags, Goosander, Stonechats, Redshank, Snipe, eleven Gadwalls, 250 plus Lapwing, Barn Owl and at dusk at the back of Meols Hall, Buzzards coming in to roost, Woodcock over and a calling Tawny Owl. Southport Old Links birches also look good for Willow Tit and Lesser Pecker if any still live in our parts of West Lanarkshire.
The book about Eric Hardy has been very well received and for anyone who would like a copy it's now on sale at the usual outlets - Subbuteo, Martin Mere, Leighton Moss, Broadhursts Books, Southport, etc., or direct from David Bryant or me at jkb@gdpassociates.net
Condiments of the seasoning to one and all ...
Flock of about 20 Crossbills this afternoon on Corsican Pine along the Woodland Path about 200m north of its junction with Fisherman's Path, Ainsdale NNR. Feeding in the trees on the east of the path near two small ruined buildings. Several colourful males.