The wind ripping over the marsh from off of the snow-dusted hills beyond Preston could only be described as vicious this morning - probably the coldest I've felt this winter, on a date when I would normally be thinking about Wheatears and Chiffies!
I don't usually feel sorry for the noisy Avocets when they return to the marsh each year, but seven of the blighters looked truly miserable as they huddled up at the back of the Sandplant Lagoon today.
The Spoonbill was still doing its thing on Marshside Two, with a few very dapper Golden Plover, while on the outer marsh a ringtail Hen Harrier was patrolling.
Clarko had seen a male too earlier on, and a Stonechat when he braved the Siberian blasts.
At least it was a tad warmer, if considerably wetter yesterday on Plex, where about 1,000 Pinkies were feeding on the ploughed fields, Skylarks and Corn Bunts were attempting to sing and Lapwings were getting all tumbly.
What looked like a family party of Whoopers were near New Cut Lane as I sped off the mosses.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Hi John ,
Decided to allow my wife to drive me across Plex Moss on Sunday as her mother's day treat before our son turned up later in the day.
She loves this challenging path, oops sorry, road, though I find it a bit disconcerting when she's watching out for birds as well and ditches appear to be a bit too close for comfort !
The temperature in the car was bad enough but opening the windows to allow in the Siberian blasts makes you realise what all those tiny birds have to suffer.
As we trundled along I spotted a large flock of small birds flying in and out of the trees, alas they were only Chaffinches and the flock looked to be entirely female. Lapwings were twisting and wheeling close to the road until a Buzzard appeared and distracted them.
Two Red-Legged Partridge were mooching about in one of the fields along with a couple of Pheasants and I spotted two Wrens going about their business in the shrubbery.
Apart from that it seemed pretty quiet so we headed home to a nice cup of tea.
Hi John,
4.15 this afternoon---Barn Owl flying down old seawall towards Marshside Rd.
Mike.
The Mandarin remains on the Hospital Lake. Also there today 8 Cormorants, I've never seen one there previously.
Great White Egret heading north over Birkdale dunes at 0930 today. Also one Raven over.
Great White Egret landed at Marshside at 0940.
Erm - which Hospital please?
Tony
JD: Southport and Formby DGH on Town Lane, Southport, Tony.
Barn Owl back of the hospital at 7.15 pm last night
Hi John, Male Hen Harrier flying over Churchtown Moss this afternoon. Mike.
Thanks John.
Hi John,
A Pipistrelle Bat was out at 2.30 this afternoon circling the pine trees on Birkdale NNR next to Hillside Golf Course.