Remarkably, a large element of what's left of the unit managed to get itself organised this morning, and resolved to give Marshside a good seeing to.
I'd picked up Er Neill and Bazzo by 8am, and we were on the golf course 15 minutes later, on a crisp, blue sky April morning.
Despite a slight fuzziness behind the eyes brought on by a night of excess with Mrs D AND a distracted Monday morning motorist rear-ending the Baby Black Death AND the fact that one of our number (no names, no pack drill, but he wasn't out today) seems to firmly believe you can see Scotland from the Sandplant compound (???? - perhaps I should at this point make it clear that that's not the Eiffel Tower across the estuary), we meant business.
Unfortunately, no one told the birds - 4 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap plus Greater Pecker and Sprawk were on the golf course as we wandered over the dew damp fairways, and a few Siskins and Redpolls called overhead in the infinity of blue.
Things looked up as a single Tree Pipit buzzed over our heads on the way north, but it was hardly edge of the seat stuff.
We moved up to the Sandplant, which was striking mainly for a singular lack of birds, but at least we established neither Ben Nevis nor the Big Grey Man of Ben Macdhui were visible, even on a clear day.
The Med Gull was still in front of Sandgrounders Hide, occasionally displaying to BHGs (wrong), but it was too shimmery and distant to take any reasonable pictures.
Few Swallows ripped through (with more later in the day), and a single House Martin was over the back of the reserve.
The Med flew off high inland late morning, so we headed down towards Nels Hide.
On the way, this superb Merlin came sweeping off the outer marsh and landed on the old post by the car park.
Don't often get views as good as this of these little beauties, but it seemed quite happy, peering down at the traffic and shuffling round the top of the pole.
Gorgeous wee falcon.
Marshside One was frustratingly Garganey free, but a Little Stint was with the Golden Plover flock from Nels, and a Little Ringed Plover came in briefly, before going south.
Few more hirundines through from Nels, including three Sand Martins, and two Speckled Woods on the path outside the hide.
The Goldies were dapper as always, despite the shimmer.
We headed back up to the Sandplant (just in case Scotland had appeared in our absence), and found two male Wheatears had dropped in, alongside the Linnets, Skylarks and Mipits.
Not a bad morning after all, but if the weather forecast holds true, tomorrow should be better migrant-wise, assuming the rain comes.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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John,
You cannot stop your blog – I need my morning fix. I too have problems recording things on the site but usually resort to emailing you.
Rachael
Small party(7/8) of White Wagtails and 3 Wheatears in ploughed field on Gorsey Lane, Hightown today. A single male Siskin in trees on Sandy Lane but not much else! Where are all the warblers?
Please don't let John stop the blog. His nightly two-hour stint upstairs on the computer is the only time I get any peace!!!!
Many thanks.
Mrs D.
Wot's this stuff, cancelling the blog? How else will the "Unacceptable Face of Birding" see the light of day? Discipline, buddy, discipline!
2 or 3 House Martins going north through Upper Moss Side, Moore, this morning. Getting distracted by 3 hares together on nearby Pheasant Pen Field. Plenty of Chiffys and Willows about with 2 Bullfinch at least [hopefully 2 pairs?]. Not Sefton, but hey... it's heading towards you!
Morning John,
I totally agree with all previous comments, DON'T stop your blog.Yesterday we went to Trough of Bowland and did the walk behind the cafe in Dunsop Bridge.Loads to see, not all the list but we saw:
Pied Flycatcher,Grey Wags, H.Martins, Swallows, Dippers, Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, W.Warblers, Chiffchaff etc etc and maybe a R.Ouzel and Hen Harrier
Garry