Hardly enough wind to make a Small Tortoiseshell deviate as it meandered down the coast today, so a seawatch seemed pointless despite the monstrous tide.
I checked the big big roost at the north end of Ainsdale beach instead - nothing unexpected, but plenty of birds, and after a bit of crawling about on all fours, I was able to get fairly close to 'em.
Mercifully dogwalkers, horseriders etc stayed away, so the birds were undisturbed as the tide surged right up the beach, pushing gulls, terns and waders into a tight pack.
.
Light wasn't very good, but I managed a few shots of the Sandwich Terns, many of which bore BTO rings.
Birds of the year were still begging for food from adults in the roost with limited success.
As the tide began to ebb, I made way north up the coast - loadsa hirundines hawking over Taggs Island, which also had alba wags, Skylark and Linnet, as well as a medium sized gull rooost.
Up at Marshside the tide had just about swamped the outer marsh, but two juv Marsh Harriers were still quartering the sodden vegetation, and four Grey Partridges were in the Sandplant Compound.
Many waders on the lorry road, or just sheltering wherever they could find dry ground.
Small groups of Wigeon came in from the north, and a young Spoonbill was feeding in the creeks on Crossens Inner, visible from the Sandgrounders Hide, but at impossible range.
At least 12 Little Egrets, an good numbers of Snipe, Blackwit and Lapwing.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
- Post to:
del.icio.us
Digg
Newsvine
Nowpublic
Reddit
« Previous | Home | Next »
Hobby on fenceposts at Marshside yesterday evening.
Lapland Bunting on the seawall at Hesketh Out Marsh this morning.
Several people reported a Spotted Flycatcher on the hill of the Sandplant compound right of the car park.
From Sandgrounders 11/09/10, 4 Little Egret, 200+ Black Tailed Godwit, 3 Curlew, 6 Snipe, 12 Redshank, a good number of Swallows still around also.