When one of my non-birding colleagues asked me what "the little bird with the orange tail" was around the beach entrance at Ainsdale today, at least I knew yesterday's Black Red was still about.
During my break on an evening shift I had a look round the depot, and sure enough, a Black Red was cowering from the hooley on a sheltered drainpipe.
Only thing was, this bird looked like a youngster (apologies for the awful "point and press" pic above), while the bird I saw yesterday evening, albeit briefly and without bins, looked like an adult female.
Intriguing....
Finally got better views of it as it fed around the fenced picnic area by the toilets at the entrance to Ainsdale beach on and off between 8 and 9pm, where even in the fading light, I could see this bird was a young male, complete with subtle wing panel, and lovely "flicky flicky" orange tail.
Still there when I left just after 9pm.
The fierce weather in the morning meant Ainsdale beach was relatively quiet today, allowing for gulls and waders to roost at the northern end.
Up to 25 Sandwich Terns, a Common Tern and 2 Kittiwakes huddled into the wind with the regular gull species.
Offshore, although the sea was impressive, not much passed by birdwise - just a handful of Manxies - but then Ainsdale is never the best place to seawatch from, when the waves are mountainous.
Finally, thanks to Ron Jackson (lurrve your letter in the latest issue of "Waterlife", Ron) for sending me links to two more of his superb videos, firstly of Slav Grebe in Inverness-shire, and secondly of Ringed Necked Parakeet, now a regular in his garden near Churchtown.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Stopped by the toilet block late this afternoon and found the Black Redstart almost immediately on the rear roof probably sheltering from the wind.
Very nice! My first Black Redstart. Thanks John!