Right, so I know it's not a funky monkey pigeon like the one driving residents mad in a certain Oxfordshire village this last month or so, but the arrival of a pair of Stock Dove at Dempsey Towers this week was a cause for major celebration - a garden tick!!!!
Ain't had one of them for a year or two, so Stock Dove was a cool, if unexpected addition.
FIrst picked a singleton up in the fading light of a calm evening a few days ago, and was pleased to be able to digiscope this notoriously flighty critter at relatively close quarters, but it joined another bird and to a Serge Gainsbourg/Jane Birkin soundtrack began snogging before indulging in x-rated suburban rumpy-pumpy...
Although you can barely see it in my poor shots, the metallic green on their necks was really obvious - hopefully they'll give up the fields of the mosses and stay put in the middle of Ainsdale - time will tell.
"Our" Bramblings are resolutely refusing to clear out as the days get warmer as well - up to 15 of 'em are chasing every other finch off the feeders to scoff sunflower seeds.
At least six of the flock are males, with some starting to head towards spiffing summer plumage, hopefully they'll stick around long enough for a good "Quinky Inky male" shot.
If only they didn't make such a godawful noise at first light - it's enough to put a chap off his Java.
No warblers at Dempsey Towers yet, which is odd, although Goldcrests are singing away.
Meanwhile, Ralph Jones sent me these great shots from a trip to Moore near Warrington on Sunday.
Over to Ralph:
"Hi John
Great Costa Rican trip reports - enjoyed them very much.
Had a lovely Sunday morning visit to Cheshire.
An early start at Marbury Country Park looking for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker produced around 500 Sand Martins over Budworth Mere plus a House Martin and Kingfisher but no Lesser.
Moved on to Moore Nature Reserve and spent some time admiring a dozing Tawny Owl. Eventually saw a male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Showed very well until a Great Spotted chased it away.
Best regards Ralph"
Ralph tells me that this male is the only Lesser Pecker at Moore at present - and his reference to the Greater Pecker's behaviour is a good clue as to why, and also one of the reasons why the species in general is doing so badly in the UK - great shots though Ralph, thanks very much.
Meanwhile Phil Smith updated me on the latest Natterjack Survey training session in the dunes, also on Sunday - and kindly e-mailed these cracking shots of a female Natterjack (superb camouflage baby).
Phil explains: "We had a very successful training session for the new Natterjack monitoring volunteers on Sunday, finding about 30 freshly-laid spawn strings and three adults which, unusually, were all females.
"One posed for photos (under license of course!). A male Smooth Newt and several Common Toads also obliged.
"About 30 White Wagtails, a Wheatear and 100+ Meadow Pipits added to the interest."
I look forward to listening to those "Birkdale Nightingales" again soon, ta Phil.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Hi John,
Just had a flock of 30+ White Wagtails on a ploughed field at the back of St Mary's Old Boys playing field, nr Hightown. Also there were lots of Meadow Pipits, Linnets and a very colourful male Yellow Wagtail.
Ian H
Just thought you maybe interested to know that I saw a Mandarin Duck on Kew Woods Lake this afternoon. Never seen it there before..!! Very beautiful.
The lake (in Southport) is at the side of the main general hospital on Town Lane, down a footpath.
Hope this is of interest to you.
Regards,
Christine Bannister.
Male Sand Lizard in full breeding colour in dunes at Ainsdale today. Also 2 Common Lizards.Bird wise nothing more to add to what we talked about this afternoon at Shore Rd besides a Swallow over dunes near Green Beach and another singing Willow Warbler at Ainsdale station.
At least 70 White Wagtails on Ainsdale beach this afternoon.
Hi John thanks to your web page and Ralph Jones, I took a trip to Moore Nature Reserve today and got superb views of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. I had never seen one before so if anyone else hasn't, I would recommend them to go. Thanks again.
Hi John, Marshside this afternoon: Comma, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue, Peacock and a small number of Small Tortoiseshell. Mike.
Hi John,
6th March. Had 1 tree pipit, 1 willow warbler at New Pale wood back of Netherley Sewage farm. Have you finished with the Costa update? It has been a great read and fab pics....I think you should start planning for the next one!!
Hi John, a flock of 20 trilling Waxwing flew low over my Walton garden this evening, and a little earlier four male Holly Blues were flying around in the sunshine. Yesterday there was a male Emperor Moth zigzagging over Leasowe Common and plenty of Drinker Moth caterpillars sitting around on the grass tussocks.