A fine social gathering down at Marshside this afternoon, with Bazzo, Jellyhead, Mike S and Squeaky all out, scoping furiously from the Sandgrounders Hide.
With almost all the ice gone, the marsh is still a bit quiet - Wigeon herds grazing and a gull roost of about 2,000 birds on Marshshide One, but it'll take a day or two before numbers really build up again.
Blackwits and Curlew still, but not too many Lapwings as a consequence of the cold snap.
Bazzo had a young Kittiwake feeding with the gulls over the tide from Mount Baker, and the Green Winged Teal was still scooting about Marshside Two, but nearer Polly's Creek than the hide.
A few Little Egrets about and two Peregrines on the gasometer.
We were long distance scoping the Golden Plover and Dunlin right at the back of Marshside Two, when a Spotted Redshank flew through, heading south before it seemed to pitch down on Marshshide One.
Could be worth keeping an eye out for.
Squeaky picked up 7 wild swans in flight over Crossens and as they got closer we could see they were all Bewick's - always good to see these days.
They kept going towards the outer estuary.
A quick look over the marsh from the Sandplant walls revealed the Marsh Harrier still hunting out there, Merlin and a few hundred Pinkies in the grasses.
Not a bad hour or so.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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35+ Twite at Weld Road early afternoon, also a single Little Egret.
Hey John; Rimmers Marsh is the old name for the terribly named M1, we are now using it again (and have been for quite some time now).
Similarly Suttons Marsh is the old, now reused name, for the dull and unoriginal M2. These are the names used on RSPB maps and in publications.
We'll continue to use it in bird reports etc.
Any chance of any bird records for 2008 from Marshside regulars or irregulars!? Please email them to graham.clarkson@rspb.org.uk
Cheers
6 Snow Buntings still on Ainsdale beach, south of Shore Road, two thirds of the way between the two metal barriers.
Very little offshore, a few scoter + 2 auk spp.
Hi John
Had a look out on the mosses yesterday between Lane Ends and the back of Leisure Lakes and this is what I saw:
Green Sandpiper
Whooper Swan 150
Redshank 2
Grey Heron 3
Shelduck
Little Grebe
Kestrel
Fieldfare 64
Redwing 30
Curlew 2
Buzzard 2
Mixed finch flock of 30+ birds inc Linnet, Chaffinch, Goldfinch
Thanks
Andy
Flock of about 20 birds just flew over Hesketh Lane, Tarleton, heading towards Southport. May have been Waxwings.
Flock of Waxwings still present at Gainsborough Road Stockton Heath area - 17 yesterday - bit south for you lot but worth the trespass!!