At the risk of stating the blindingly obvious, it was still bitterly cold today, with fewer birds moving than yesterday at Ainsdale.
Then there was a clear trickle of Skylarks north, Fieldfares, Redwing and even 4 Mute Swans caught up in hard weather movements...today there was less of it.
What there was though, were large numbers of thrushes in the dunes, with many Redwings in Birkdale Dunes and plenty of Fieldfares and Redwings at the top of Sands Lake.
Didn't get too near to them - when the weather is this harsh it is NOT a time to put pressure on the birdies - they're gonna be dying off in large numbers anyway if this cold snap continues, so the last thing they need is the stress of humans trying to get too close.
If shooters and ringers are suspending normal service because of the freeze-up, I guess birders should show a degree of responsibility too.
Contented myself with 'scoping one of several Song Thrushes which dropped in around the depot today, fresh from foraging for deep frozen snails in the Ainsdale dunes.
Stonechat and Reed Bunting sheltering in the buckthorn scrub too.
A brisk low tide seawatch at lunchtime revealed Lakeland and Snowdonian hills - and the Pennines - coated in snow, about 60 Common Scoter offshore, 4 Great Crested Grebe and a single Red Throated Diver.
A Grey Seal made a half-hearted attempt at hunting one small group of scoter in the shallows, but they crash dived as soon as they saw it.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Large mixed flock of several hundred Fieldfares and Redwings feeding on seabuckthorn at end of Fisherman's path this morning. Twice within half an hour they were spooked by a Sparrowhawk. Judging from the squawks it was successful the second time but the strike took place out of sight.
c200 Pied Wagtails roosting last night in Liverpool city centre near Clayton Square.
As much of Britain remains in an icy Arctic embrace, the RSPB is reminding the public that birds need extra help and consideration during this exceptionally cold spell.
The charity is among a group of organisations calling for people not to disturb flocks of ducks, geese, swans and wading birds. The call is made on the eighth consecutive day of freezing temperatures in England and Wales.
This week the Society has also made a plea for householders to put out food and water for garden birds, which need extra help during spells of extreme weather.
Nature conservation bodies, including the RSPB, the British Trust for Ornithology, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust and Natural England, are calling on birdwatchers, walkers, anglers and water sports enthusiasts across Britain to minimise disturbance to groups of ducks, geese, swans and wading birds on lakes, rivers, wetlands and coastal areas from this weekend.
On Monday night, Scotland had experienced a continuous 14-day period of freezing temperatures sufficient to trigger a temporary ban on the shooting of ducks, geese and wading birds until next week, when the situation will be reviewed.
Dr Mark Avery is the RSPBâÂÂs director of conservation. He said: "During freezing conditions birds use far more energy than usual keeping warm, so they have to spend more time fattening themselves up.
"Large flocks of wetland birds, such as ducks, geese and waders, can be disturbed by people getting too close to them. This disturbance causes them to expend their energy needlessly and if they canâÂÂt find sufficient food to replace their energy levels then these birds are existing on borrowed time.
"We hope everyone who uses the countryside will heed our advice, allowing the millions of birds which visit the UKâÂÂs coasts and wetlands during the winter to stand a better chance of survival."
Huge flocks of winter thrushes moving south east over Lifeboat Road, Formby today, mainly Fieldfares, some Redwings. c1-2,000 birds.
I'm not sure why I texted you Lifeboat Road - I was at Fisherman's Path, freezing but a bit overwhelmed by being in the middle of that vast flock of thrushes. Later on I'd have put the count even higher, well over 2000 birds. Also 11 GC Grebe on the sea, a Woodcock from the path, and some Dunnocks looking noticeably resplendent in the dunes. Also good numbers of Goldcrests from the path, whereas they're missing from my garden this winter.
Huge amount of pipit sized birds on the field just before the Lighthouse pub Formby this morning. I couldn't make out what they were as I was driving...also lots of Pinkfoot on the left hand side of the Formby bypass next to the harvester pub, all busy feeding
First for the garden. Fieldfare since Sunday, chased another lone Fieldfare off today. Grey Wagtail also in and out.
Buzzard overhead today as well.
Location: Zet St, Southport.
Never seen before - Lone Fieldfare in our garden, Didsbury, South Manchester,
for the last three days. Seems to have come for the apples we put out for the Blackbirds etc. Regularly chased off by female Blackbird but returns doggedly once her back is turned.
Wed. 13 Jan 2010.