Absolutely superb bit of weather on the coast today, raging force eight south westerly, mad as a lorry, that whipped the incoming tide into a frenzy this morning, and sent carpets of sand racing along the beach in the afternoon, brilliant.
All the smart birds were cowering behind any hummock they could find.
Only problem with a big bad south westerly at Ainsdale is that it isn't great for seawatching - mountainous seas, bottomless green troughs...and too much sand blow to sit in the dunes to get a decent vantage point.... I know, I know, I'm never satisfied, but for Ainsdale, give me a screaming north westerly every time.
Despite all this bitchin', and in between sandblasted working duties, I did manage one Leach's Petrel south at 11.38am, rising up above the troughs just offshore, before it was lost in the maelstrom forever.
Apart from that, it was confused Cormorants all the way, one adult Gannet, and a small roost of Sarnie Terns (23 birds) with two young Common Terns hunkering down with 'em as the tide receded.
A party of three Arctic Skuas resting on the edge of the Green Beach halfway between Ainsdale and Birkdale at 4pm suggested all is not lost however.
The two knackered dark phases and single light phase bird headed off to sea again at about 4.10pm, scaring the bejaysus out of roosting gulls as they went...so get ready for more tired seabirds tomorrow, unless the hooley starts to falter.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
- Post to:
del.icio.us
Digg
Newsvine
Nowpublic
Reddit
« Previous | Home | Next »
The drake Mandarin still present at the hospital and a drake Ruddy Duck at Sands Lake this evening.
Hi John. The 3 Humming-bird Hawk-moths emerged successfully over the past week (1 male 2 females) and they've been released back where they came from.
Hi John, This morning. 3 Gannets resting on Crossens Inner, also 14 Grey Partridge by fence between Crossens Inner and Marshside 2. Mike.
13/9, Formby Point seawatch, 1045-1345:
Great Crested Grebe 1
Manx Shearwater 3
Gannet 42
Leach's Petrel 2
Common Scoter 180
Kittiwake 117
Sabine's Gull 2
Sandwich Tern 28
Common Tern 22
Arctic Tern 68
Guillemot 4
Razorbill 3
Persistence rewarded!