Plenty of birds on the move today, with Bazzo's White Stork being the highlight, but before that big 'un, passers were pushing through north right along the coast with Tree Pipit and a few Siskins joining an early movement of Swallows and Sand Martins along the dunes at Ainsdale.
Even when the coast got busy (and believe me, it got busy), there were still Wheatears around Weld Road, and Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Whitethroat in song at Sands Lake.
Speckled Wood out here, alongside Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell.
A fine, but tired flock of 6 Yellow Wagtails, 15 White Wags and 20+ Mipits were out on the beach between Ainsdale and BIrkdale, looking knackered, and often sitting still for long periods before forays after insects.
The Yellow Wags positively glowed against the sand.
Ringed Plover and Dunlin out here too of course, and two fine powder blue male Sprawks chasing each other over the dunes, while the female circled above them, presumably selecting a mate...
After work, I popped up to Marshside for a quick look around the Sandplant - a lurvely male Whinchat was here, with more Swallows moving through, small groups of Golden Plover scooting about and a few Wheatears.
Spent a peaceful hour or so checking the compound with Si Glinn and Django the dog, before heading for the hills.
Loadsa Little Egrets on the outer marsh, and marauding GBBs still - obviously not frightened of Llamas.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Beautiful picture - great colours - ready for the ladies I think!
Hi John, after I saw you last night I had a Rock Pipit in the compound and 4 Wheatears, but no sign of the Whinchat.
Blue Headed Wag with 40 odd White Wags at Old Hollow Farm today.
Curlew Sandpiper from Nels Hide yesterday.
Up at Formby today there were thousands of waders all in summer plumage flying about Dunlin , Sanderling,Grey Plover,Godwits also the Oystercatcher with the deformed beak is still doing ok.
Another 20 Natterjack spawn strings on Birkdale Green Beach (Ainsdale end) this afternoon, laid in response to the rain the other night. Unprecedented numbers of Northern Dune Tiger Beetles on the adjacent embryo dune ridge. Without trying too hard, I counted 94 over a distance of about 400m.
At least 3 Reed Warblers back in the Taggs Island reedbed this evening, also a Grashopper Warbler reeling nearby. I spend hours every spring tracking Groppers in Birkdale dunes but I have never had views like this bird gave tonight! It was reeling on top of brambles only 5 or 6 yards away with me stood out in the open watching it, amazing views.
A small movement of Swallows and lots of Ringed Plover out on the beach. As well as lovely views of a Willow Warbler collecting nest material and lots of Reed Buntings.
27/4: Marshside - Crossens: 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Gropper, 3 Whinchats, 15 Wheatear, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher.
3 Whinchats at Birkdale NR this morning along Hillside Golf Course fence also 4+ Wheatears and now plenty of displaying Whitethroats.
Widnes Wharfe this morning, Skylarks,Reed and Willow,lots of Whitethroats parachuting,Godwits on the river,overflying Raven and a stunning male Peregrine behaving like a renegade biker gang in an old 60's film....
Sometimes I love my job....
Swift and a Cuckoo over the Woodvale end of the Coastal Road this evening. A Raven at Crosby Marina yesterday and 2 local Swifts over my house every evening since they appeared on 24 April.
7 buzzards up in the thermals together wheeling about a couple of days ago,also at least 17 whimbrel in one of the fields close to the road . i failed misrably to find any yellow birds again i.e wagtail and hammer