Nipped over onto Plex Moss at lunchtime as the sun began to heat up, in the hope of connecting with a few migrants, unfortunately, no one told the migrants.
Just one singing Chiffchaff and a trickle of Meadow Pipits.
That was it.
At least the butterflies made an effort, with Comma, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock all on the wing.
On Station Lane, a female Sparrowhawk was being reminded by two Carrion Crows that there's no such thing as a free lunch, as it tried to pluck a freshly caught pigeon in peace.
They pestered and harried the accipiter for a good 20 minutes as I scoped the drama through a vicious heat shimmer.
Eventually the Sprawk gave up her dinner and backed off, leaving the crows to enjoy what was left of the carcass.
No sooner had they got the pigeon, when one of the local Common Buzzards came swooping in for a spot of scavenging, sending the Carrion Crows scattering.
The crows were back within seconds, and unlike the Sprawk, which had cleared off in a sulk, the Buzzard lacked the tenacity to hold onto the prize and hopped out of the way as soon as the crows edged in, leaving them to clean up, as it flopped away over the ploughed, Wheatear-less fields.
Aside from that, it was quiet, plenty of Lapwings and Oycs, Shelducks, Stock Doves and a few Corn Bunts...nowt else.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Hi John, Marshside 2-4-09.This afternoon 7 Wheatear on Marshside 2 opposite the cattle enclosure. Also 11 Small Tortoiseshell and 1 Peacock, Mike.
On a trip from Seacombe to Hoylake we found no migrants but did see 3 Little Egrets at Meols on the foreshore. A work colleague reported a Robin attacking a discarded mirror he left out in his garden which he has since covered over.
6 Redwings flew over my garden early this morning heading south west!!
Another interesting interlude at Mere Sands Wood. Called in at around 3pm to see if any migrants about. Only 6 Chiffchaffs; two Crossbill flew over and 6 or so Siskins in the pines.
However, on the irrigation lake just off the reserve on the sw side was a cracking Green Sandpiper - which counts as a migrant. No hirundines, but loads of Peacocks. My cat has brought me in three Commas as presents over the last few days and I have released them all - totally unharmed, if slightly wet. He must know where they are waking up.
Will be out on HGC at 0730 tomorrow morning ready for a huge rush of migrants.
Ears to the piers.
A quiet morning at Marshside yesterday (2/4) came alive as a big bruiser of a Lanner-type hybrid falcon tore into a flock of Golden Plovers over Rimmer's Marsh. One Plover was struck and fluttered down, followed by the falcon, eager to finish the job.
As the raptor touched down it was shoulder-charged with maximum force by a Coot, and knocked on its arse; it departed the scene without further resistance.
Nice one, I thought; prey species of the world, unite!
The Fascist Falcons have ruled the roost for too long!
Unfortunately for these fine sentiments, the pair of Coots then proceeded, calmly and without apparent emotion, to kill the wounded Plover, treading it underwater until it drowned, and pecking its head when it struggled to surface. They then ignored the floating corpse, and went back to nest-building.
I've always had a soft spot for Mr Coot; after all, as many birders will agree, it's no joke being bald, fat and ugly.
But he's definitely off my Christmas Card list from now on.
Hi John
A Report of birds seen in the Akrotiri area of Cyprus from 16-24 March 2009:
As my daughterâÂÂs husband is army based at Episcopi Garrison for three years IâÂÂm intending to make fairly regular visits them. Spring migration seems to occur on Cyprus fairly early and I was lucky that the weather (apart from two glorious days) was overcast and raining which seemed to bring a lot of stuff down that otherwise might have passed over. Four sites were visited each producing some interesting birds.
Asprokremnos Dam
Only the pool nearest the dam wall had water in it (and this dried significantly during the hot day I was present). Skulking in the reed edge, though occasionally showing well in the open were a male and female Little Crake. The peace and quietness was constantly shattered by the raucous chatter of a CettiâÂÂs Warbler which obligingly showed itself as it traversed the pool from reed bed to reed bed. On the cliffs behind and beyond a Chukar sunned itself. In the bushes adjacent to the pools were half a dozen CretzschmarâÂÂs Buntings whilst one bush held three RuppellâÂÂs Warblers -two males and a female - in addition to Lesser Whitethroat and Chiffchaffs. On the rough ground were Serin, two Tawny Pipits, Crested Lark and Black Redstart.
Dreamers Beach
This is on the RAF Akrotiri base and accessable only by those with a MOD visitors pass. A large area of grassy scrub with small low thorny bushes was teeming with warblers. Mainly Chiffchaffs but with RuppellâÂÂs,Cyprus, Subalpine, Lesser and Common Whitethroat among them. I presumed they had recently made landfall as they were feeding quite oblivious of me. In the case of the Subalpine I was able to get to within two metres! Black-eared and Cyprus Wheatears were also present too.
Zakaki Pools
This is an excellent site with a convenient road bisecting the pools affording discreet watching to be done whilst using the car as a hide. Immediately on arrival I saw male and female Spur-winged Plover the male apparently displaying before flew giving good wing pattern views. Other goodies included 40 beautiful Slender-billed Gulls in summer plumage showing their incredibly pinkish breasts. An almost white Pallid Harrier flew in off the sea and over the pools were a male and female Marsh Harrier were hunting the reeds. The pool also held six Ferruginous Duck (four males and two females), Marsh Sandpiper, Kentish Plover and Black-winged Stilt. Four Glossy Ibis overflew but decided not to land.
Phassouri Reed Beds
This is a far bigger area than I imagined and though it was pouring with rain I got the car close to a clearing. Again this area is ideal for using the car as a hide. Here literally hundreds (yes hundreds!) of Black-headed Yellow Wagtails and White Wagtails were noisily feeding, surely another passage downed by the weather. We get excited to see a single Black-headed but to see them in such numbers was quite bizarre.
Even my daughterâÂÂs garden (on an Army base remember!) yielded RuppellâÂÂs Warbler, half a dozen Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Serin, Hoopoe and Collared Flycatcher! I also found a Fire Salamander in the long grass under a dustbin lid and a KotschyâÂÂs Gekko in the shed!