Nipped down to Weld Road at lunchtime today to watch the alba wags feeding on the mud just beyond the barriers.
Best time of the year to try and see if you can distinguish White and Pied Wag calls like all the grown-ups say you can.
Admittedly, the strong, cold wind wasn't the best aid to this wee test, but after 40 minutes sitting and listening to birds down to six feet away, I have to confess I was none the wiser - there were certainly different calls, but as the hyperactive little weasels scurried about constantly, it was hard to work out which call was coming from which birdy.
Or maybe I'm just getting old.
White Wags seem to have a softer call than Pieds, but I wouldn't bet my boots on it.
Appeared to be more female White Wags than males (opposite of early Wheatear movement? Why?), but I've never really bothered to try to sex them in the field before, so it probably means nowt.
Plenty of Mipits and two Reed Buntings feeding on the mud too, with a few Skylarks now and then.
Not much else moving on the coast today in the cold, cold wind, although two Swallows scooted north over the dunes at Ainsdale at about 2pm.
The sea looked promising, but I couldn't pick up anything out of the ordinary beyond the surf as I worked the beach in the pm.
With rain forecast for early doors, then drying up, tomorrow could be far more productive.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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My first pair of spawning Natterjack Toads of the year in slack at Ainsdale today.
My first Swallow of the summer seen yesterday morning (Sun 4th April) over the house at Marshside.
I took my visiting family to Croxteth Park yeaterday afternoon. While they 'did' the children's farm thingie I had a chance to wander up through the woods with bins poised to see what might be afoot (or awing?).
Lots of tits of various sorts and all our other normal birds - but I thought I heard a Whitethroat singing? I am not great at bird song but I heard a lot of Whitethroats last year and this seemed about right. But is this not a bit early? Or do they overwinter?
Nice snaps as always John. I'm stuck on bird calls even with my pair of newish aids. It's the "syballants" apparently. Maybe I ought to pick up the 'ick" if not the "ic".
Ron
ps albas normally swarm through Banks marsh this time of year plus loads winter in the area and a fair few breed but v v quiet so far.
2 Med Gulls still on Polly's this morning. 6 Ruff at Nel's and still a handful of Golden Plovers. 3 Water Voles in the golf course channel, a Stoat on Hesketh Rd.
An early and unmistakable Willow Warbler at the Crematorium woods, in a fall of four birds in the same tree at very close quarters, heard singing too.
Hi Jim - it is a little early for Whitethroat (but nothing is impossible), and they don't overwinter, preferring to head south of the Sahara.
This afternoon, Marshside produced a Greenshank at Nel's; also one Bartail, 2 Knot and 5 Ruff with the flock of Blacktails. A pair of adult Meds was near Polly's and I counted a total of 85 Avocets.
I had singing willow warbler and chiff-chaff in the same patch of trees/bushes a couple of days ago