Blog readers like Colin Gould (see recent comments) are right when they highlight the difficulty of dealing with grey winter day heebie-jeebies, after a stonking trip like the recent one to Thailand.
But the blue skies and astonishingly early Swallow* seen by Dave Pennington galvanised me and got me down to Marshside this afternoon - and after a truly grim few recent visits, it wasn't half bad.
The Spoonbill was sifting and sweeping along a drain at the back of Crossens Inner, and largely out of sight, and a cracking male Hen Harrier was quartering the outer marsh.
It came fairly close, but it was too fast for me, and the only digiscoped shot I got was its rear end disappearing into the wobbly haze...
Plenty of Little Egrets and some nice Golden Plover in full summer plumage, with one or two Rock Pipits in flight over the outer marsh, and Merlin, Peregrine and Sprawk out there too.
A mixed flock of 15-20 Mipits and alba wags at the back of Marshside Two was encouraging.
Growing numbers of BHGs squawking round Sandgrounders.
Met up with Bazzo and we walked up to Crossens Outer.
A few thousand Pinkies strung out towards Banks and diminishing numbers of wildfowl, habitually spooked by marauding GBBs.
This was much more fun than recent trips to the mosses, which have just been black soil and grey skies a go-go, enlivened only by the odd group of Fieldfares or gulls following tractors.
The walk back to the Sandplant today produced a second Hen Harrier - this time a ringtail - so it was a worthwhile afternoon.
Back at Dempsey Towers, a male Blackcap has been joining the finches at the feeders, although attempts by a small group of 8 Redwings to come into roost early evening are being thwarted by an opportunistic Sprawk.
No such problems with raptor hassle for "Percy" the male Pheasant, which has been in residence now for a month or two, and has won Mrs D's heart by beating seven shades out of a cat dumb enough to jump on him a week or so back.
All power to the fella....
Watched him taking the early morning rays on top of the hedge yesterday morning - the thing is indubitably in fine nick, if only we'd got such good views of Hume's on Doi Chiang Dao....sigh.
Raven knocking about the Birkdale dunes this week, with occasional Bittern sightings round Slack 20 still.
Chaffinch, Robin, Reed Bunting, Wren and Dunnock in song out there.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
* Earliest Lancs record for Swallow before today was 10/3/97!
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Rare lagoon habitats could soon be created at RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh thanks to a funding boost of £48,786 from The Veolia Environmental Trust.
The reserve, near Southport, will use the funding to carry out saltmarsh restoration work, which will involve enhancing the lagoons to hold water at low tide. In addition, habitat ‘refuges’ will be created, in the form of ridges and bunds, to provide elevated areas at high tide.
The project will also deliver a comprehensive monitoring programme, which will document the plants and animals that are found on site and monitor the changes as they take place.
Tony Baker, RSPB Ribble Sites Manager, said: “We are extremely grateful for the generous donation from The Veolia Environmental Trust and the work it will enable us to do at RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh.”
As part of the project, RSPB reserve staff and volunteers will also be involved in monitoring wintering and breeding bird populations on site.
The Executive Director of The Veolia Environmental Trust, McNabb Laurie, said: “Saline lagoons such as this are critically important for a number of specialised species and habitats, as well as having a significant role in flood control. I’m so glad The Veolia Environmental Trust is able to support the RSPB’s work to enhance the Hesketh Out Marsh reserve for wildlife and the visiting public.”
Woodcock in Birkdale dunes this morning.
Had a nice walk down at Birkdale LNR today, didn't get over to the wet areas to look for the Bittern, I'll get over that way soon but I headed along the main path for the old Birch woods beyond "death hill" and it was nice.
Only my 2nd ever Treecreeper on the reserve in a mixed flock of lots of Long Tailed Tits, other tits and at least two Goldcrest.
A couple of the regular Bullfinch there too and a few Siskin flying over on and off.
I did hear distantly what sounded suspiciously like the yaffle of a Green Woodpecker (from Hillside GC), but it was too far away to be sure.
I'll keep my ears open over the next few weeks.
Most of the berries now stripped around Birkdale Common yesterday, but one 'probable' Blackcap disappeared into the dense cover as I approached, several there until recently.
At least 4 Fieldfare still getting at the remaining berries along with the usual common birds.
Good numbers of waders on the beach off Weld Road and south towards Taggs Island (yesterday) but I didn't find anything in amongst the gulls this time.
This morning I had 5 Lesser Redpolls in our St Helens garden feeding on nyjer seed.
50+ Waxwings in Towerhill, Kirkby - been there a few days around the corner of Pingwood Lane and Headbolt Lane, feeding on cotoneaster trees in the gardens opposite, or if not there, try Moorefields by the Farmers Pub off Shevington Lane, where they've been on the field, drinking water.
Hi John, had a quick look for the Spoony at Marshside on Friday evening but no sign, but a wonderful Barn Owl close to the NNR pull in.