There's only so long a man can stare at ploughed fields on Plex Moss, hoping that the Dotterel trip of his dreams will come winging in, before he cracks and heads back to Marshside.
Don't get me wrong, there was nothing wrong with Plex - today there were numerous Wheatear, including one group of 16, 31 Whimbrel and the lone Cattle Egret still in the cattle fields by the caravan park, looking rather forlorn.
Some of the cows have been moved into the field right next to the track now, so you never know, he may come closer.
Yellowhammer, Willow Warbler and Whitethroat, with circling Buzzards and Sprawk out there too.
But I needed a break.
Marshside had at least 15 Wheatears around the Sandplant, with more in the vegetation of the outer marsh, with Mipits, Pied Wag and Linnets, and three singing Sedge Warbler around the Marshside Road junction, with one or two sitting up despite the breeze to chatter away.
A pair of House Sparrows between there and Sandgrounders Hide again too.
Reed Warbler still in the SSSI ditch.
A report of two Garganey on Marshside One was enough to make me wander down to Nels, but I didn't connect with the ducks - probably lurking under the bank somewhere.
From the hide 12 Golden Plover, Snipe, a handful of Dunlin and two Curlew Sandpipers feeding together - one seemed to be the bird heading into summer plumage from last week, the other was much cleaner underneath.
11 Swifts hawking high over Marshside One amongst the House Martins and Swallows, but they drifted slowly north.
At least the Blackwits are in stonking summer plumage now.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Got some great views of a Whinchat from the sand road this afternoon - love the way they perch up on the tall weed stems in that classic pose also Sedge Warblers near Sandgrounders.
Male and female Kestrel showed well separately
Hi John,
Of local interest I noticed from my vantage point that the first small section of the wonderful Southport Gas Tower was removed today.
I did a rough calculation using 'Bannon Mathematics'.
The crane has been up 2 weeks, there are 1400 sections, therefore its actually going to take just over 53 years to take it down.
I'm pleased about this as it is an essential element in directing people onto flying raptors at Martin Mere WWT.
Only 9 copies of Wild Merseyside left.
Morning JD,
Caught up with both Curlew Sands at Nels yesterday lunchtime. Very like the Dunlin aren't they !!! Even got them both in the same grainy photo !! loads of Dunlin, 50+ and over 30 Ringed Plover as well as the Blackwits and Avocet. Swallow, House Martin and my first Swift this year zipping through.
No sign of the Spotty now.
Latest from Downholland Moss.
Apr 19th: 2 Great Crested Grebe; 3 Greylag Geese; 2 Canada Geese; 5 Teal; another pair of Buzzards mating; 1 Greater Pecker; 6 House Martins; 7 White Wagtails; 6 Wheatear; Rook - still only four nests - are the Buzzards deterring them?; 2 Raven; 10 Corn Bunting.
Plex: 32 Whimbrel; 66 Curlew; 1 fem Redstart; 1 Wheatear; 1 Whitethroat.
Apr 20th: 2 Great Crested Grebe; 2 Canada Geese; 2 Teal; brood of 3 young Moorhens; 1 Whimbrel; 1 White Wagtail; 8 Wheatear; 3 Whitethroat; 5 Long Tailed Tit.
Plex: 37 Whimbrel; 44 Curlew.
Apr 21st: 2 Great Crested Grebe; 2 Canada Geese; 1 Whimbrel; 1 Barn Owl; 2 White Wagtail; 17 Wheatear; 2 Sedge Warbler; 3 Whitethroat; 1 Willow Warbler.
Plex: 58 Whimbrel; 6 Curlew.
Apr 22nd: 2 Great Crested Grebe; 2 Canada Goose; 1 Sparrowhawk; 6 Whimbrel; 1 Common Sandpiper; 1 Greater Pecker; 2 White Wagtail; 23 Wheatear; 1 Weasel.
Plex: 68 Whimbrel; 1 Jay.
Apr 23rd: 2 Great Crested Grebe; 2 Canada Geese; 2 Tufted Duck; 42 Whimbrel; 14 Wheatear.
Plex: 42 Whimbrel; 13 Curlew; 1 fem Yellowhammer.
Apr 24th: 2 Great Crested Grebe; 2 Canada Geese; 2 Tufted Duck; 1 fem Merlin; 28 Whimbrel; 16 Wheatear.
Plex: 2 Cattle Egret; 27 Whimbrel.
Apr 25th: 2 Great Crested Grebe; 2 Canada Geese; 2 Tufted Duck; 4 Grey Partridge; 43 Whimbrel; 1 Curlew; 4 White Wagtail; 105 Wheatear.
Plex: 2 Cattle Egret; 3 Buzzard; 31 Whimbrel; 7 White Wagtail; 53 Wheatear.
Apr 26th: 2 Great Crested Grebe; 2 Canada Geese; 50 Whimbrel; 8 White Wagtail; 120 Wheatear; 1 Reed Warbler; 1 Lesser Whitethroat.
Plex: 1 Cattle Egret; 30 Whimbrel; 3 Curlew; 2 White Wagtail; 37 Wheatear; (2 Helemted Guineafowl).
Apr 27th: 2 Great Crested Grebe; 2 Canada Geese; 3 Tufted Duck; 1 fem Merlin; 26 Whimbrel; 8 White Wagtail; 37 Wheatear.
Plex: 1 Cattle Egret; 39 Whimbrel; 18 Wheatear.
Preston's urban Lesser Whitethroat still giving it his all this morning; he's now in bushes beside the Preston International Hotel on Marsh Lane.
Poor bugger: to fly all the way from Central Africa to set up territory where the chance of a female passing by is about the same as my getting into Heaven.
On International Dawn Chorus Day on Sunday 3 May there is a special event being held at RSPB Leighton Moss in Silverdale that promises to be a vibrant and uplifting morning and worth setting your alarm clock early for. Listen for the very first birds starting to sing (usually robins or blackbirds) just before dawn at 4 am, which then builds up to a birdsong crescendo on a walk round the nature trails and an extremely tasty full English breakfast in the tearoom at about 7.30 am. Costs are ã11 (RSPB members ã9).
For those who prefer to get up a little later, we are holding a âÂÂBirding for beginners: birdsongâ guided walk on Sunday 26 April and Sunday 10 May from 7.30 am to 10 am. Costs for this event are ã8 (RSPB members ã6), which includes a bacon or veggie bap and a hot drink at the end.
Due to popular demand booking is essential for both these events by telephoning the visitor centre on 01524 701601.