After a thoroughly miserable and Dotterel-free hour or two on Plex this morning, I decided to head over to Martin Mere to have a gander at the Common Crane and picked up Bazzo on the way.
The rain was relentless, and strong winds didn't help, but at least the bird was visible from the United Utilities hide.
Just.
Real long distance job in the murk as it fed in the cattle fields, a good 50 miles or so from the hide.
You can just about make it out in this pic - if you use your imagination.
Mercifully after 45 minutes or so, it came over all majestic and took flight, heading out of the reserve, looking absolutely Concorde as it drifted behind the trees and out of sight.
We figured it wouldn't have gone far and after a bit of moseying in the Baby Black Death, found it feeding in a ploughed field off Curlew Lane.
A detour down Mere Lane and we managed to get within 250 metres of the Crane as it strutted its stuff in the driving rain.
The downpour and strong winds conspired to produce some pretty dire digi-scoping conditions, but as cranes are such nice big grey hoovers, it would have been rude not to try.
Thought about trying a dance down the lane to see if it would react, especially when it opened its massive wings, but Bazzo wisely counselled against it.
Mere pretty quiet otherwise, although it does seem to be awash with Blackcaps if nothing else.
Left the Common Crane feeding in the field late afternoon and headed for home.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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How on earth did you manage to find the Crane in Curlew Lane, John ,it could have flown anywhere ?....unless of course you've mastered more than the dark art of digi-binning by adding Avian Sat-Navving to your repetoire ?
Hi John,
Male Hen Harrier sitting on the first line of wooden fence posts just north of the sand plant (Crossens outer?) this morning 7.45
Eric
Mega-migration morning at Marshside -well at least by recent standards.
Started on Hesketh Golf Course at 07:00 and finished by Nels at 12:45.
Swallow 65, straight through in small parties, 3 Whimbrel, 2 Redpoll, 3 Siskin, 4 Jays, 18 Goldfinch, 2 Sedge Warbler, 17 Ruff (much reduced), NO Golden Plover, Tree Pipit (Colin Bushell), Whitethroat,3 Swift, 12 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover, 4 Common Sand, usual Med Gull, 34 Wheatears around the sandplant plus-saving the best for last- a stonking male Whinchat just below the coastal road, opposite Nels at 12:15.
Wasn't there earlier, which was the feature of today's migration; stuff just dropping in and then moving rapidly northwards in between the heavy showers. Excellent morning, but not one of the Arctic Terns seen through the N West today and yesterday.