After checking through the Sandplant Compound and coming up with nothing more than a few Long Tailed Tits and a Willow Warbler, I moved down towards the Junction Pools this evening.
Paused to chat with Marshside warden Alex, who told me the Pec hadn't been seen at Nellys for several hours following a Sprawk dread (maybe it got lucky?), and we watched as Little Egrets flapped ultra bright white against an angry purple sky.
Parting, I had a quick look at the Junction Pool and came across this sneaky Garganey at the back - preening and dozing before it went off snorkelling in the shallows like they usually do.
This was good, as I'd missed 'em in the spring.
Presumably the same bird as reported a few days back.
Interestingly there was another eclipsy duck near it which resolutely refused to wake up and show itself properly which looked a touch Gargelly, so there could be two of 'em.
Common Sandpiper by Sandgrounders too.
With the leeches shimmying around my wellies I'd checked some of the slacks in the afternoon and at one favoured site, got good views of a male Great Crested Newt, before coming across a youngster, which it must be said looked like the Creature from the Black Lagoon at best.
Caught it, measured it, papped it and had it back in the water in seconds, where it slunk back into the vegetation.
This particular pool has already produced good numbers of Natterjack toadlets this year, so although the Great Crested is a predator of Natterjacks, maybe the two species can exist in the same water body.
I dunno how many tadpoles the ugly devil has already scoffed though.
About 75 terns in the roost on Ainsdale beach over the tide today, with six Great Crested Grebes passing, and a decent roost of Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Sanderling.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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12 Little Egrets in channels on beach at Fisherman's Path this morning, also 4 Wheatear on beach at Albert Rd.
Hoylake (King's Gap) at high tide. 19th Aug.
At least 500 Ringed Plover. 2 Arctic Skua harassing terns.
At least 1 adult Black Tern.
No sign of the 'supposed' Aquatic Warbler at Red Rocks Marsh.
Good numbers of Willow/Sedge Warblers.