Wild, wild wind today effectively killed any chance of significant passage, and yet Swallows were still hurtling through, and good numbers of Swifts were feeding over the copses on Plex this evening, which was all very Wheateary, Whimbrely, Whitethroaty and White Wagtaily, but sadly nothing beginnning with "D" there, and we're heading out of prime time for another year...
A Peregrine mobbed a Common Buzzard for a time, idly swooping and gliding away from the bigger raptor until the buzz lashed out with its talons - no one likes a smart*rse.
Earlier in the day a young female Sand Lizard was out on a dune ridge at Ainsdale, and on the edge of the Green Beach north of Weld Road a good group of six Dunlin, two Ringed Plover and three Wheatears proved that even if the wind was flattening everything, a few birds kept on moving.
Working down in the long grass at Formby over the weekend, with all the commoner warblers in the dunes and a scattering of Wheatear.
Some cracking clumps of Star of Bethlehem blooming at the moment, but the real floral action will be starting in a few weeks.
Interesting to read recent comments about Redpoll - a fine male was displaying around the entrance to Lifeboat Road car park in Formby yesterday afternoon.
Perhaps they're gonna have a good year for once.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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A special hotline has opened to encourage people who live or spend time in the English uplands to report sightings of England’s rarest breeding bird of prey, the Hen Harrier.
Refreshed and updated for its fifth consecutive year in operation, the Hen Harrier Hotline is being relaunched by the RSPB in the hope of discovering more about where these birds are potentially breeding in northern England.
The Hen Harrier is one of our most awe-inspiring birds of prey with the male harrier performing a magnificent aerobatic courtship display in spring known as skydancing, and providing food to the female in spectacular mid-air food passes.
Sadly, the species is also affected by illegal persecution, a fact reinforced by the government-commissioned review – the hen harrier framework - which concluded that illegal killing and disturbance is the biggest single factor limiting the population of this species in Northern England.
It is estimated that the heather moors of England have the potential to hold at least 320 pairs of nesting hen harriers, but in 2011 there were only four successful nests, all of which were confined to one area of Lancashire.
Amanda Miller, the RSPB’s Conservation Manager for Northern England said: “Hen harriers in England are very rare so we are interested in hearing about any sightings of these amazing birds. By receiving information about possible nests, we can help give hen harriers the best possible chance of breeding successfully.”
The Harrier Hotline number is 0845 4600121 (calls charged at local rate). Reports can also be e-mailed to henharriers@rspb.org.uk. Reports of sightings should include the date and location of sighting, with a six-figure grid reference where possible.
The Hen Harrier Hotline is part of Skydancer, a four-year RSPB project aimed at protecting and conserving nesting hen harriers in the English uplands. The project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, United Utilities and SITA Trust, with additional support from the Forestry Commission.
For more information about Skydancer visit www.rspb.org.uk/skydancer
Two Whinchats, 5 Wheatears and a male Stonechat at Cabin Hill, with a few Redpoll over yesterday.
Graham Clarkson and I did a migration watch/birdspotting stint at MBO and the other Marshside mega-sites, from 06:00 until 09:00:-
21 Wheatears; 16 Goldfinch; 3 Redpoll, 108 Swift; 107 Swallow; 72 House Martin; 12 Sand Martin; 5,204 Dunlin; 2 Little Egret; 415 Blackwits, 2 Barwits (on Rimmers is unusual); 307 Ringed Plover; 6,660 Knot; 335 Grey Plover; 212 Sanderling; 3 male Eider; 21 male Gadwall and 2 females; 1 Curlew Sandpiper; 1 Curlew; 1 White Wagtail; 5 Tufted; 2 pairs of Teal; 3 male and one female Wigeon,1 Ruff; 5 male Shoveler - also Greenfinch displaying at Woodchat corner and 6 broods of Canada Geese.
Gropper reeling in Birkdale frontal dunes this morning; Reed and Sedge Warblers, plus 14 Wheatear on the Green Beach.
Swifts still moving through.
I've still only heard one Cuckoo this spring - is anybody else hearing them locally?