Working over on Birkdale LNR earlier this week - where the Kestrels are quite used to us by now, perching up to watch as we toil.
Water Rail squealing away over there, and in the last few days two Bullfinches calling and one or two Redpolls buzzing overhead in the murk, alongside small numbers of winter thrushes.
Over the weekend I was back in the frontal dunes and on the beach - a pair of Stonechats and a Chiffchaff south of Shore Road yesterday, and a Short Eared Owl flapping about in the gloom there this morning.
Black Headed Gull moulting into summer plumage on Ainsdale beach yesterday afternoon was decidedly premature - talk about tempting fate.
Mipits and a single Redpoll through there today too.
Another pair of Stonechats down at Cabin Hill.
But that's not really why I'm blogging tonight - I need to ask a favour (and let's be honest, this is something I rarely do).
As an employee of the local authority's Coast and Countryside team, I am hardly disinterested in the budget cuts that Sefton faces yet again this year.
For the powers that be to guage public opinion on where the latest round of savings should and shouldn't be made, Sefton Council has embarked on a consultation exercise, and part of it involves the Coast and Countryside operation.
Here's the business end of it:
Do you care about Sefton's coast and countryside?
Sefton Council is currently reviewing how it spends its money in relation to its budget in 2012/12 and trying to make sure that this is targeted to provide the best and most appropriate services for the budget available.
The Council has to make a further saving of £20 million next year as part of the budget reductions required by the Government. This follows the £44 million saved this financial year.
You are probably not aware that the Sefton Coast and Countryside Service was significantly reduced as part of the budget savings for this year by £370,000 and this included rangers, summer litter staff and budget reductions.
Councillors will consider a wide range of options to further reduce the budget. These options will amount to more than the £20m required but it allows them a genuine choice in the difficult decisions they have to make in deciding how and which services are provided in the future.
As part of this process, a number of saving options are being considered and consulted upon which effect Sefton's, coast and countryside, parks and green spaces.
As part of the £20 million Council budget savings for 2012/2013 we need your views on the potential budget cuts that may affect our special coast and countryside. You can do this in the following ways:
On our website:
http://www.sefton.gov.uk/ and follow the Transforming Sefton link to the consultation pages and questionnaires,
Or
www.engagespace.co.uk/sefton
If you're having difficulty finding a specific questionnaire under 'Search Our Consultations' keyword type: COAST
Click on E4.11 & E4.12 - Landscape Services - Coast & Countryside Services site management and visitor activities and Merger of Coast and Countryside Rangers and Park Rangers.
Or
Link Straight to Survey https://www.engagespace.co.uk/sefton/consultation_Dtl.aspx?consult_Id=698&status=2&criteria=I
Any support you can offer would be much appreciated - if you value the litter collection, habitat management, byelaw enforcement, sand clearance and general all round fabness we try to provide, please fill in the questionnaire.
And even if you don't - fill it in anyway!
Muchas gracias amigos.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
- Post to:
del.icio.us
Digg
Newsvine
Nowpublic
Reddit
« Previous | Home | Next »
(Saturday) The Great White Egret was in the Marine Lake north island roost by 16.20. Along with 22 Littles.
I had a drive round the mosses this afternoon, no Gyr unfortunately. Plenty of Geese 6000+ with about 2000 behind the farm adjacent to Heathy Lane Bridge in an unviewable field. A good 4000+ between Barton and Downholland fishing lake, most of which were not really viewable but I managed to sift through a small portion of them, with nothing unusual. 25 Curlew off Jacksmere Lane near Shirdley Hill was nice plus a flock of 25 Meadow Pipits on wires along Plex Moss was noteworthy. No raptors besides 7 Kestrels scatterd around and a single
Buzzard on its (regular) perch on wires by the drain on Heathy Lane.
John,
Have tried to help with the survey using the third option "straight to survey". I completed the questions, was directed to the last page only to find I couldn't send it on completion!
Regards,
B.M.
Bernard - Thanks for filling in the survey. Once you have hit "complete survey" on the last page of the questionnaire, it is automatically sent off, and you are returned to the home page of the survey site.
Regards,
John
Questionnaire completed, John.
I too was out on Plex yesterday and saw much the same as Chris F (save the Mipits). Lots and lots of activity for such a dull afternoon peppered with dozens of Goldfinch in particular.