Managed a quick wander round Marshside this evening, after a few hours of glorious sunshine on the coastline.
The place felt like it was slowly beginning to slip into summer - vegetation getting lusher, good numbers of Swifts and hirundines over Marshside One and Two, Sedgie, Reed Warbler and Whitethroat babbling away, and some of the male ducks starting to look a bit shabby - eclipse plumage will be looming in a few weeks.
That said, the Tufties were displaying on the Sandplant lagoon.
And the Gadwall still looked fine.
I like Gadwall - unobtrusive as they dabble about, but really quite sharp and elegant when you look at 'em closely.
Marsh orchids sprouting up, and on Marshside One, some of the Blackwits were so bright you could pick their yellowy bills and chestnut heads and necks up from Hesketh Road when the flock was in front of Nels!
After a busy day, a small gathering of gulls was bathing and preening beneath the Hesketh Road platform.
The peninsula and Sandplant were pretty quiet, apart from hordes of Rabbits scattering in front of me.
Mmm... Rabbit stew.
Seven Wheatears on the south side - so birds are still very much on the move.
Breeding Meadow Pipits gathering food on the cropped grass.
Tides starting to look good for a seawatch or two now.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Out early 0500 today, checking sites for a new Lancs Bone-day total attempt (target 151) this Sunday, May 24th.
Found reeling Groppers; two pairs of Yellow Wags; pair of Kingfishers; Little Owls everywhere and later in the morning, the Hobby was still on pylons - perhaps it's stuffed!
All within 10 -mile radius of Southport !
As I'm the sole candidate for the INNL Party, I'm already preparing my claim for a new Big 5 nature reserve stretching from Garstang to Wigan ( estimated cost around 50 billion pounds) and a fleet of new Range Rovers to help out the ailing automotive sector.
INNL stands for the I Need New Leicas Party.
Toes in your nose !!
23/5: Formby Point seawatch, 8.30-11.40:
Great Crested Grebe 4
Manx Shearwater 9
Gannet 194
Common Scoter 80
Arctic Skua 1
Kittiwake 3
Sandwich Tern 92
Common Tern 270
Arctic Tern 5
Little Tern 7
Guillemot 6
Razorbill 4
Plus a group of 3 Greenshank north over sea.