The rain bounced off the bonnet of the Baby Black Death and streamed down the windscreen..there was little to do for Bazzo and I but admire the foaming Cow Parsley lining the lane, 'cos conditions sure as hell weren't right to find our target today.
No sign of the pair of Hobby back at a top secret hush hush site for the summer, but when the rain eased and hopes rose again, at least there were good numbers of Skylark, singing Whitethroat and Yellowhammer in the hedgerow and plenty of Swifts hawking about overhead.
Lapwing and Redshank in the more overgrown fields, Buzzard and hunting Kestrel, and best of all a female Cuckoo prospecting for nests to leave a nasty surprise in.
The bird flew slowly over the rank vegetation, hovering repeatedly as it looked for hosts for its young, before the rain got too heavy even for that type of cloak and dagger operation.
Some days you really are better off staying home.
Much earlier at Marshside, 6 Wheatear round the Sandplant, plenty of Swifts and a few Dunlin at Nels.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Woo hoo!!! First day back at work after three months - I started with the Coast and Countryside Dept on the Sefton coast today...duties to include shifting sand and far less pleasant items.
Filled in lots of forms and got a tour of the coast, and while I had no bins, managed a Grey Heron coming in off the sea being mobbed by Herring Gulls at Ainsdale, a marked southerly movement of Swallows, hordes of Swifts over Crosby Marina (but no sign of the Pallid in torrential rain), and a flock of at least 20 Ringed Plovers on the mud at Weld Road, with smaller numbers of Dunlin.
Anyone been out birding today?
Hi John just been catching up with your blog from Switzerland where I'm staying for a few days. Today I've had Red and Black Kite, Cuckoo, Black Redstart from my balcony and Tree Pipit, Green Woodpecker, Firecrest, Spotted Flycatcher and Yellow Legged Gull - all lifers also possible Alpine Swift and Tawny Pipit.
Osprey over Rimmer's Marsh and drake Garganey at Marshside today. Also the Swift with the big white patches is still around, I think the same bird as 2007 and 2008.