Took 15 minutes to scan the rising tide off Ainsdale after work at 4.30pm on Friday - the balmy southerly wind and cloudy conditions meant the visibility offshore was pin-sharp, and the Manxies and Gannets were still taking advantage of shoals in the shallows to feed.
I could watch Manx Shearwaters for hours - 73 past in 10 minutes this afternoon, with many just behind the surf, and a fair few fluttering along low to the water, rather than shearing up and down.
Superb birds.
About 20 Gannets offshore and 7 Common Scoter past too, with scores of Sandwich Terns and smaller numbers of Common Terns fishing.
On Thursday I spent my lunch break watching dragonflies in the slacks - plenty of Common Darters about, perching up in the heat, plus Brown Hawker and a single Ruddy Darter.
The Emerald Damselflies were basking on reedstems at favoured pools - great to watch, with Willow Warbler in the scrub and Swallows zipping through.
A Peregrine hunting the beach between Ainsdale and Birkdale at low tide, and 35+ Ringed Plover in the area too.
Mipits and alba wags on the move, but no Swifts.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Adult male Peregrine back on the Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool, chasing Starlings above Rodney Street, and a moulty adult winter plumage Med Gull on Sefton Park lake.
Two Kingfishers at Crosby Marine Lake on Friday, in south east corner.
Out at Hesketh Out Marsh today (Saturday) with the Edge Hill Birdwatching and Beyond group, plenty to see: 22 Little Egrets, 18 Greenshank, 2 Marsh Harriers, Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, c.100 Teal, Common Tern, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 20+ Sand Martins, plenty of Tree Sparrows, Linnets and Stock Doves. Unfortunately we got drenched in the process, it was worth it though.
RSPB Leighton Moss nature reserve in Silverdale is celebrating being awarded âÂÂGoldâ in the Green Tourism Business Scheme, which is the national sustainable tourism certification scheme for the UK.
This popular visitor attraction was assessed by a qualified grading advisor against a rigorous set of criteria, covering a range of areas, like energy and water efficiency, waste management, biodiversity and much more.
As well as the amazing wildlife conservation work and education that we do here at Leighton Moss, we are also striving to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Many people visit our café as they know we serve delicious home-cooked meals, made with seasonal local produce. The shop is proud to sell many ethical gifts as well as having a wonderful wildlife care range.
We made sure that we used recycled products when re-doing our wonderful âÂÂnew lookâ visitor centre recently. In our colourful café, the new chairs are made with recycled games consoles and the new table tops were made from plastic coffee cups. Reclaimed timber has also been used on the walls which give the place a lovely rustic feel!
The Lancashire Green Tourism project supported Leighton Moss throughout the grading process.
âÂÂIf youâÂÂre a business and are interested in becoming greener, itâÂÂs worth asking your local tourist board how they can help you as well as contacting the Green Tourism Business Schemeâ said Hetty Byrne, Forest of Bowland AONB, Sustainable Tourism Officer
For a chance to see the âÂÂnew lookâ centre and help the team at Leighton Moss celebrate their award, you are invited to a special event on Friday 28 August. TV celebrity Sean Wilson (previously Martin Platt in Coronation Street) will officially open the centre at 1.30 pm and then there will be a variety of local produce to sample throughout the afternoon, as well as SeanâÂÂs new range of cheese. Everyone will get a special 10% discount when you buy bird food that day (and throughout that weekend 28-30 Aug) and our final summer sale clearance will be a great chance to pick up a bargain too. Hope you can make it to check us out!