No two ways about it, this is the quiet time now at the end of winter and before the start of Spring; an afternoon at Marshside did little to quicken the pulse, but the only way you get through this time of year is to keep on birding.
14 Mute Swans showing a wide array of rings at the bottom of Hesketh Road, with most showing white on blue, as is normal round here.
One bird had a narrow yellow band on its right leg, with no numbers, something I don't think I've seen before...does anyone know where that one comes from?
One or two had standard BTO manacles but no colour rings.
The swans spent most of their time preening today with the odd bit of male wing rattling, while Curlews broke into short bubbles of song as they flew in to roost and feed at the bottom end of the marsh.
Still plenty of Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler and Pintail about, with Gadwall starting to display out on the deeper water, but far fewer Pink Feet, with only a few skeins over the outer marsh.
No sign of the Green Winged Teal from Sandgrounders (it has been missing for a few days now), so walked up the road with Jellyhead Jackson, only to find Phil Smith hunkered down on the bank staring out at the marsh.
He really deserved a Hen Harrier or Shortie for his troubles, but got neither.
And neither did we.
Mike McKavett was heading up there as we walked back to the car, I hope he did better than us.
Skylarks singing, and there were two Stonechats on the fence wires, with a few Dunlin scurrying around the Blackwits, but otherwise it was quiet.
Little Egrets and hunting Sprawk were the only distractions on a grey afternoon.
Pochard and Tufties, with four Cormorants, that don't appear to have moved since last Sunday on the Sandplant Pool, where I found Tropical Thomason, fresh from his latest diplomatic successes in Galway.
Trops hadn't seen anything either.
First Avocet should be arriving any day now, if the cold-ish winter hasn't set them back too much.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Just heard - 20 Waxwings in Penwortham.
23.2.09: Formby Point seawatch, 0900-1130:
Red Throated Diver 3
Great Crested Grebe 17
Gannet 7
Scaup 3
Red Breasted Merg 1
Common Scoter 235
Little Gull 3
Common Gull 85
Thawing out slowly.
Hi John, just a quick note to say that 4 Avocet (everyone's favourite wader.. apart from perhaps Black-tailed Godwit, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, White-headed Lapwing actually 'Northern' Lapwing are great too) arrived at Martin Mere WWT at 10am today.
More news at http://www.wwt.org.uk/news/192/sightings.html
cheers
Andy
Hi John, an adult Ring-billed Gull was present at Seaforth N.R this afternoon. Large numbers of Common Gulls are building up in the area, so it's worth checking through them.
This was a very large individual, presumably a male, calling and displaying and generally putting itself about.
Also 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls and an adult Med.Gull.
Hi John.23-2-09: 23 Pied Wagtails on Marshside Two this afternoon.They were by the channel next to the old sea wall. Mike.
Four Avocets at Martin Mere this afternoon, also two Marsh Harriers and the usual stuff. Will try for Jellyhead's Waxwings tomorrow.
Tried for the Waxwings in Penwortham this afternoon ...no joy, they'd moved on, as is often the case.
They were around New Lane (quite a way down and off Cop Lane) apparently.
On the upside I did have a White Tailed Bumblebee in the garden at Dempsey Towers...
Went into Chorley to try for the Waxwings reported there, after about 10 minutes of searching we found them feeding in the treetops.
Apparently they've been there for 8 days but were only reported yesterday on BirdGuides.
They were in trees in the car park at the back of the Council building on Union Street PR7 1AL for those of you with sat navs.
Also Dipper, Kingfisher and plenty of Nuthatches at the nearby Yarrow Valley country park.