A number of factors (not least going to a birthday party in the affluence of south Wirral last night) converged today to mean I didn't get down onto the marsh till well after the high tide, which was frustrating.
However, while I know there'll always be another high tide, I'm sure it'll be awhile before I get me gob round cake like the stuff on offer last night again.
Anyway, hordes of Avocets about at Marshside, with at least 23 on Polly's Pool; likely that there were more elsewhere, and good numbers of Blackwits too, with Merlin on the outer marsh and the usual Little Egrets, some getting very plumey now, and occasionally flying about in neck outstretched "sub-display" mode.
Walked up towards Crossens, where a few thousand geese were cropping the short turf, but I'd no sooner arrived than some numbnuts in a microlite circled over the outer marsh and spooked the lot of 'em out into the vegetation.
This was irksome not least because there were 30 Eurasian Whitefronts amongst the Pinks at the time.
For a few moments I reflected on whether the Wildlife and Countryside Act has a clause that permits the use of surface-to-air missiles on assholes, and concluded that, if it doesn't, it's high time for a reform.
The island on the Sandplant lagoon was a cacophony of bowing and scraping BHGs, but apart from three more Avocets and a few Tufties, it was uneventful.
Compound was untroubled by birds too, so I headed for home.
Time for a Wheatear.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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I had the Glauc heading south about 1.30 over the Coast Road opposite Ocean Plaza today (as I drove in the opposite direction). Yesterday male Stonechat, Raven, Water Rail (flushed by a dog from inner green beach) over the tide at Birkdale along with a good wader roost off Taggs Island which included 9000 Knot, later joined by another 1000. There weren't huge amounts of gulls though.
Also the hospital Mandarin appears to have paired now with a female Mallard!
A nice male Stonechat in the dunes at Hall Road this morning (Monday). It was perched next to the 4th tee on the West Lancs golf course.
Formby Point seawatch, 1140-1340:
Sea like a mill-pond and light not bad, but most birds half-way to Ireland.
Common Scoter c600
Red-breasted Merganser pair
Red-throated Diver 13
Great Crested Grebe 5
No discernible movements
Pair Nuthatches again in trees by Freshfield Station
Two Stonechats at Cabin Hill today, plus a Short Eared Owl nearby.