Wide awake at 4am this morning, listening to the wind smashing into the belfry at Dempsey Towers and the rain ricocheting off the windows - superb.
I was almost too excited to stay in bed, but I resisted the temptation for a dawn seawatch, instead bumping into my first Leach's Petrel of the day just before 10am, as it fluttered south along Ainsdale beach in torrential rain.
Managed another six later in the day, all at Ainsdale, either over the beach or the mountainous surf of the high tide.
Bright sunshine at 1pm meant the birds were easier to watch, but I doubtless missed a fair few as I was working down at Albert Rd in Formby for the majority of the day.
After work, the Leach's were still going through the surf at Ainsdale, with 6-10 Manx Shearwater, many Kittiwakes, and Gannets offshore too.
Lot of Guillemots and Razorbills speeding through the spume filled air today, including several exhausted ones - expect corpses tomorrow, but that's what proper autumn weather does to the weaker youngsters.
With a NWly force 8-9 possible tonight, there's gotta be a good chance of more seawatching action tomorrow - and about bloody time.
There are certainly more Leach's to the north and south of us, and with a report of Little Shearwater off Meols and Long Tailed Skua off Hilbre, alongside the start of the Leach's wreck, who knows what is lining up to come through the troughs???
Hang on a minute, we don't have a belfry.....
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Hi John, This afternoon small flock of Pinks on Marshside Two.
Wryneck at Leasowe and Red Crested Pochard on Southport Marine Lake.
Kingfisher on Fine Janes Brook on the south side of Benthams Way around 2pm today. Between the road bridge and the wooden footbridge.
I may be able to get down to the beach between meetings tomorrow John. Where would you suggest I plonk myself and what time. The website I have been consulting for tide times hasn't been that accurate lately.
Hi Mike - tide is high at Ainsdale just after 4.30pm tomorrow (but not very big), anytime in the run up to that maybe good, although if you have the time, Formby Point or the Mersey mouth from Crosby or New Brighton could be more productive.
The way the wind is blowing seabirds could be showing throughout the day...or not, but that's seawatching!
Hi
Chris F I was wondering if the Kingfisher you spotted on the 14th was on Town Lane community woodland. If so It would be good to put on the Town Lane facebook page
Hi Andy,
I don't know what the boundaries of the TLCW are, but I assume that is on the north/east side of Benthams way? If so then this falls outside that.
Cheers.