Took a walk up the tideline along the Green Beach from Ainsdale this afternoon, despite the large amount of disturbance from horse-riders and dog-walkers, exacerbated by the fact that the high tide pushed the water right up into the frontal dunes, leaving the birdies nowhere to go when the Thelwell Posse came trotting through.
Plenty of Sanderling trying to roost alongside Dunlin, Grey Plover, Turnstone, Oycs etc.
A few Stonechat, and a flock of about 15 Linnet, with smaller numbers of Skylark and a hunting Kestrel.
About 400 yards up the Green Beach I came across two Snow Buntings feeding in the tidal debris, but they were hard to watch as they kept running in and out of the low dunes when the waves covered their feeding area - it maybe better to look for them on a low tide when they don't have to get their feet wet and they're not sprinting around everywhere like demented clockwork toys.
At times they were almost invisible against the tidal debris - excellent camouflage for a winter on the beach, but a right royal pain when you're trying to digiscope 'em.
Just enough light left at the end of the afternoon for a quick check north of Weld Road.
A good gull roost here and more waders, but I couldn't pull anything unusual out of them, despite a thorough going over.
Further up the coast under the seawall, the Twite flock was feeding away, at times coming fairly close, to give good 'scope views.
A few Linnets out here too to trap the unwary, but although the Twites were moving about in one or two groups, Phil Smith had managed to count 58 of the little beauties earlier in the afternoon.
With the fading light it was hard to make out any colour rings accurately, but at least one individual was banded.
Occasionally they come right up under the seawall, which is the right time to pin down colour rings I think.
Mipits, Skylarks, Starlings and Pied Wags feeding away on the mud here too, but the Shorelark didn't put in an appearance this afternoon.
You can't have everything I suppose.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Chris Collett, RSPB wrote...
Staff at RSPB and Natural England in Lancashire are looking to recruit fit and active long-term volunteers to help count the internationally important numbers of birds that use the world-renowned Ribble Estuary.
New volunteers are needed to help established volunteers count on the Natural England- managed Ribble Estuary National Nature Reserve (NNR) for the monthly Wetland Bird Surveys (WeBS).
Graham Clarkson from the RSPB, who helps to coordinate the counters said: “Counting birds on the estuary is an adventurous and exciting job and is definitely not for the faint-hearted. The Ribble Estuary has hard-going terrain so potential volunteers would need to be fit, be willing to get muddy, as well as competently identify wetland bird species. Training in counting methodology will be provided.”
Every month, always on a Sunday, for the past 60 years, volunteers have set out onto the UK’s wetland sites in order to count internationally important numbers of wetland bird species including swans, geese, ducks, waders, herons, cormorants, gull and terns. The data gathered is published annually and is used to help monitor bird numbers on individual sites and also to show how each individual species is faring nationally and internationally. This helps conservation charities and government agencies prioritise action for species, sites or habitats.
During the winter months, the Ribble Estuary is home to nearly a quarter of a million birds. These include internationally important numbers of black-tailed godwits, pink-footed geese and wigeons. They are attracted by the estuary’s varied wetland habitat, which offers a rich and precious source of food.
Natural England Site Manager Alice Kimpton said: “The Wetland Bird Surveys provide us with really useful data, so if you love wetland birds and would like to assist in this work, please get in touch.”
If you are interested in joining the wetland bird survey (WeBS) team on the Ribble Estuary please contact Graham Clarkson graham.clarkson@rspb.org.uk
Posted by: Chris Collett, RSPB | December 8, 2009 11:04 AM