The wind was dropping away, and the blue sky was beginning to show through, but I thought it was still worth a few hours at the Tobacco Dump this afternoon.
The low end of the tide cycle didn't help matters, but there was mercifully little in the way of sandblow, so it was a pleasant enough two hours, from 2pm to 4pm.
The sea was clearly much quieter today, nowhere near as many birds here - often the way at Formby Point after a big storm, even if there are goodies over the surf elsewhere on the Merseyside and Wirral coast.
Cormorants and Common Scoters were moving back in to reclaim the bay until the next major hooley, but there were still a few Leach's out there.
In fact, had it not been for the amazing movement of birds off here yesterday, I'd have been quite happy with what appears a relatively modest bag in comparison.
Leach's Petrel 3
Guillemot 6
Gannet 2
Arctic Skua 1
Sandwich Tern 37
Kittiwake 2
Common Scoter 25
LBB 35
Mebbe I shoulda gone to Marshside to ogle the Pec after all, although the weather looks to be turning nasty again, judging by the streaks of rain on the window pane at Dempsey Towers now, so there might just be one more seawatch left in this yet.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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A Great Skua harrassing gulls over the Mersey at Pickerings Pasture just a mile from Runcorn Bridge was a surprise this afternoon.
Nel's on top form 1pm today in the sunshine. Pec and Curlew Sand, Red and Spotted Red, Snipe and Blackwit all in the same scopeful. In fact all on the near island !!! What a way to spend your lunch hour !!
40 Pinkies over Rainford at 8AM this morning...must mean autumn has definately arrived
Pec Sandpiper and Little Stint at Martin Mere from the Ron Barker Hide today (Saturday). Both birds in company with a Ringed Plover as well. Also 1 Marsh Harrier, and approx 4000 Pink Footed Geese.