Just a few square feet of water on an otherwise parched Plex Moss, yet, the flooded edge of a bit of set aside was more than enough for a tired Little Ringed Plover this afternoon.
The delicate little migrant bobbed gamely and kept on feeding for the two hours I sat and watched it - and the other critters that swept in to take advantage of the standing water.
The plover paddled away to bring food to the surface of the mud, but also tilted its head to one side like a thrush after worms on a damp lawn, almost as if it was listening for prey.
Obviously a tired migrant, it didn't shift when a Peregrine tazzed through the moss, spooking all and sundry.
Lovely little thing.
I was so into LRP world that I really resented the noisy arrival of a pair of Oycs onto the puddle - fer God's sake guys, show a bit of dignity.
Two pairs of Grey Partridge was almost (but not quite) reassuring as they scurried through the Spring crops, and two Ruff joined the Lapwing on the tilled fields.
Three groups of Pied Wags dropped into the puddle as I ogled the LRP, but no sign of any Whites.
Further up the lane, 30 Corn Buntings were on the bend west of Haskayne Cutting, but only five Yellowhammer were there, now the rich feeding of the winter stubble has gone.
Mucho syncronised thermalling from several pairs of Common Buzzard, otherwise situation normal on the mosses.
Back at Dempsey Towers, a nice Early Thorn blundered into the bathroom late on, suggesting it'll soon be time for a bit of mothing.
Finally, apologies for the great big intrusive and uninvited Echo masthead at the top of the Birdblog - although my access to Trinity Mirror servers allows the blog to remain vast and top of the global pile, is it enough to stop me blogging?
Combined with a general lack of comments, apart from a few wonderful stalwarts, (c'mon readers, a Ring Ouzel for two hours at Marshside on Wednesday, and no one could be bothered to post it??!!!) it probably is.
Watch this space.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Sorry, no comments to post about the Marshside wildlife as we live in Manchester and only get up there every so often, but please DON'T STOP BLOGGING! How will we know what's going on up there?!! And anyway, we just ignore mastheads so it's all wasted on us. Cheeky blighters, all the same.
Yep, pretty poor behaviour over that Rouzel. No manners, some people! But don't give up John.
Don't give up the blog John. We all love the info, pictures and tales of birding. Went in search of "birdies" on North West National golf course off Rainford bypass today. Sadly, playing golf is as difficult as getting a decent snap of a peregrine on the green beach, but I did get plenty of upclose buzzards 50ft overhead, chiffies everywhere and even a couple of oycs. Shame about the rouzel - I have never seen one myself. Also, pair of little owls on the farm shed roofs just down the road from the Pheasant pub on Little Crosby-Hightown bends.
Regards,
Eric (6th go at the captcha!)
Please John continue your excellent blog.
Even though comments may be low numbers, I've no doubt your blog is read by many many people.
This along with the Marshside Facebook page are my only source of what is going on in the Sefton coast
And thanks to your excellent info, I saw my first ever Glauc Gull a few weeks ago!
Don't give up John.
There must be lots of people like me who read your blog with interest even though we have never been to the Sefton coast.