Had a look around the pools and vegetation behind the embryo dunes just south of the Green Beach before work this morning, where good numbers of Mipits and alba wags were feeding.
One Grey Wag and Skylarks went over, with a further three Grey Wags during the course of the day.
At least one Little Stint was still with the Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Sanderling, while one or two Swallow went south.
Rafts of Common Scoter offshore and a big Cormorant roost was building further to the north, along with a few larger gulls, although most of the latter seem to be spending their days on the floods between Carr and Plex Moss at the moment, before commuting back to the shore to roost in the evening.
50+ Grey Plover in one flock and about 300 Bar Tailed Godwit.
Clearing buckthorn scrub on the Green Beach most of the day, with parties of Mipits heading through, Long Tailed Tit and Goldcrest calling in the alder line and a juv Wheatear feeding in the tidal debris.
A worn male Whinchat darted past early afternoon, which was a surprise - I don't think I've had one this late at this site before.
Fairly unco-operative, obstinately refusing to give me supercilium action in any of my dodgy digi-binned shots, and it soon moved south, flycatching as it went.
Shortly afterwards a juv Marsh Harrier came down over the reeds, occasionally dropping in after prey, before it was seen off by the semi-resident Carrion Crows, presumably back up to Marshside.
All this autumny activity got me in the mood for a post work check of the Sandplant compound, but the heavens opened as I left for the day, and the deluge didn't let up till the light had gone - but I bet it'll be worth a look early tomorrow morning.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Formby Point, 1100 to 1400: 2 Leach's Petrel the only birds of note.
Largish party of Long Tailed Tits in Aughton this evening. Impossible to count due to the incessant jumping between shrubs loudly "sri-sri-sri-ing'.
Yellow Browed Warbler with Blue Tits, Goldcrests in Sandplant Compound, Marshside at 0730 this morning.
Visitors can look for Bearded Tits at Leighton Moss any day, but there is also a special ‘Beardie Bonanza’ guided walk every Wednesday in October, from 9am to 11am. The cost is £5 per adult (£2.50 for RSPB members).
October is one of the best times to look for the birds as they come to grit trays while making the transition from insect food to a winter seed diet.
For more information on other wildlife at Leighton Moss, and other events, visit www.rspb.org.uk/leightonmoss
Juvenile Marsh Harrier on Green Beach again yesterday 4th Oct 2.30pm which spooked a Buzzard, and then both mobbed by Carrion Crows.
Sorry for late posting but have had BT Home Hub issues!!
Did an early three hour vismig again on Thursday morning, October 4th at MBO. Started off very slow, as almost flat calm. Visibilty was to Southern Scotland and any birds migrating were flying over halfway to the beautiful moon.
However, felt as if I might do well and did when at 07:55 I heard a Yellow-browed calling its distinctive 'swee-iisst' from the Nuthatch bush (rarer at Marshside than Yellow-browed). Picking it out was another matter, as there were about six Goldcrests in there, but eventually I did get reasonable views.
Excellent!
This same bush/tree, (aka from now on as the Yellow-browed bush), planted by Mr Alan Bale no doubt, eventually turns up any good birds, that somehow find themselves in the old Sandplant compound.
Another interesting sighting was a gentleman who said he had been instructed to assess the compound (my bloody garden and patio area!) for imminent levelling - with all the rubble and mounds to be cleared apparently; a deep bund/ditch to be dug all around; new 'traveller-proof' gates and fences, etc., and all at the behest of Sefton Council, with work to start forthwith!!
Told him, that if he touches the Nuthatch bush and the compound 'walls' that not just he but all his colleagues, families and even distant friends, will suffer unspeakable curses and eventual death! He laughed, but also looked noticeably nervous as if he knew of my 'mad dog' reputation.
Vismig report 06:50 - 09:50 from immediate environs of the Observatory and 'soon to be landscaped garden' only:- 6 Robin; 272 Mipits; 10 alba wags; 3 Siskin; 21 Linnets; 35 Greenfinch; 118 Goldfinch; 10 Goldcrests; 3 Collared Doves; 14 Snipe; 131 Skylarks; 3 Blue Tits; 4 Grey Wags; at least 5,000 Pinkies about; two Rooks north at 08:15 -mega; Yellow-browed- first picked up at 07:55, only four Swallows; also present Kestrel, S'prawk, Peregrine and female/imm Marsh Harrier.
IYDGOYDSN proven conclusively.