Just enough time to squeeze a walk around the Sands Lake in before brekkie this morning, while the sky was still blue and the Willow Warblers were singing their brains out.
At the risk of getting all "Springwatch" on you, their song really is the business at this time of year, joyful, uplifting etc etc etc.
I'd have swapped them all for one nice Redstart.
Okay, maybe that's a bit harsh, they are great singers after all, and pretty obliging for the amateur digiscoper at this time of year.
Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing around the lake too, with a steady stream of Swallows moving through.
Goldfinches were dropping in too - I've noticed there's more than usual on Plex these last few days - a reminder of how they used to be mainly a passage bird here before they discovered the joys of nyger seed.
Whitethroat back on territory in the dunes behind the Sands Lake, dancing up into the air once or twice before it began to cloud over.
Mrs D, back from the wilds of Spain (Bee-Eater, Hoopoe, Little Egret, Vino Tinto grande, cervesa and Montpellier Snake), went for a bike ride over Plex this a.m. and failed to see the remaining Cattle Egret - has it gone?
Has anyone had it today? Please let me know.
Jay, Blackcap and a new Chiffy singing in the garden at Dempsey Towers this morning - with the rain in the night, there may be more goodies lurking out there today.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Yellow Wag, 7 Wheatear, 8 Whitethroats, 1 Whinchat, 4 Swifts at Marshside this morning.
I hope/trust Phil Smith reads this cos I owe him an apology for insisting on "Frank " W. Holder rather than "Fred" W. Holder.
Bill Hale confirmed it was the latter.
I reckon I owe Phil a pint (Natterjacks surely) while I've got to eat humble pie for my mistake.
(I did once meet "F.W." in rather embarrasing circumstances involving chicken feet , Lesser Spotted Eagles and Banks Marsh).
100 plus Eiders on Sunday's WeBS on the Ribble with a big, mobile , flock of knackered Dunlins on the (dried out) splashes, possibly part of the flock seen by Duncan Rothwell and Tony Duckels on Ainsdale/Birkdale beach.
These turn up every year in late April (25k on Banks splashes in 2008) , but don't hang around very long.
Different behaviour to the big wintering flocks which stay out on the beach/estuary rather than the salt marshes.
A Yellow Wag with 20 White Wags at Banks yesterday while there are still 3k'ish 'Feet out there.
Siskins still to my feeders in Churchtown,
Ron
I was on Plex yesterday morning too and no sign of the Cattle Egret when I was there. Wheatear everywhere (one group with a White Wagtail) and Whimbrel group near the cycle path.
Whitethroat were popping up all over the roadside too.
Cuckoo and 3 Whimbrel on Plex last night.