Now I know it'll come as no surprise to many of you to learn that I am not overly familiar with the contents of the Bible, but I certainly don't remember any passage that says drinking loads of Tiger beer, then red wine into the wee small hours is a big no no in the heinous sin department.
So I was a little peeved to wake up this morning with a head like a lodging house cat, and a nasty big front sweeping in over the blue sky from the south west.
Neill had heroically pushed south to score with the Crested Lark and Collared Flycatcher in Kent and Dorset respectively, but a wet, wet, wet day was beckoning on the local horizon.
Checked Plex Moss for the "Scottish" birds (great nickname Ron), for the umpteenth time without success, but there were still plenty of Wheatears and a small flock of Whimbrel out there as the rain started to fall.
Yellowhammer, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Sedgie scattered about, with a few Buzzards up before the deluge.
I headed to Marshside, where I met Phil Johnson who'd had four male Garganey on Marshside One, with a male dropping onto the Sandplant lagoon - even if that was one of the first four, it makes for at least five Garganey on the reserve at the moment (including the female, which was seen again today between the Junction Pool and Nels).
A good total.
Quiet from Sandgrounders Hide, apart from drenched Meadow Pipits, nesting Avocets, Snipe, Blackwits, Redshank and Lapwing.
Tufties on the Sandplant lagoon, but the male Garganey was lurking out of sight behind the back inland, as the rain streamed down the backs of Avocet and Oystercatchers.
I noticed there's only two copies of "Wild Merseyside" left there now, so I'll have to order some more - if you want a copy ask one of the hide volunteers and they'll sort you out, or alternatively buy it online - it's available from everywhere from Waterstones to Amazon at present!
Thanks as ever to all the folk out there who have bought a copy already.
As the rain got heavier I walked down to Nels, where over the next hour or so I saw at least three male Garganey with Ron Jackson, all a bit flighty and sneaky, apart from one that landed right in front of the hide to start feeding.
Other than the Gargellies is was fairly quiet - a few parties of Dunlin came through, and the Little Stint was still about, now in crisp summer plumage.
Two Ringed Plovers and small groups of Swift zooming past, while Swallows, House and Sand Martins fed over the water.
Sedge, Whitethroat and Reed Warbler all singing away, with a few Wheatear around the Sandplant.
Hopefully this rain will produce something more than very wet Shovelers.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Cracking Garganey pics John (sharp intake of breath and "oooh!" as I opened the page). One of my favourites .....
Singing Redwing on Hesketh Golf Course this morning, and a large influx of Sedge Warblers, with seven on the corner of Marshside Road, where there was also a Grasshopper Warbler.
Three Garganey on Marshside One.
Hi John, Brimstone Butterfly - Marshside Rd this afternoon.
Mike