An excellent text from Bazzo at 12.30pm today saw me scurrying down the path to Nels as fast as my stubby little legs could carry me 20 minutes later for a butcher’s at the Pectoral Sandpiper he’d just discovered.
Don’t know why it happens, but whenever you’re trying to get down from Marshside Road to the hide quickly, the path seems to get longer with every step you take.
Anyway, I got there and Bazzo explained: “It’s okay, it’s right in front of us….sh*t it’s just flown!”
Luckily it didn’t go far and we ‘scoped the Pec Sand as it fed with Ruff, Dunlin and Ringed Plover in the wet grass south of Nels for half an hour or so before I lost it in the vegetation.
At least 200 Dunlin on Marshside One, probably more, but restless.
Truly dreadful digi-scopage ensued.
The man they call “Mr Marshside” (if they don’t, they should) is certainly on a roll this spring with Pec Sand, Redstart, Wood Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler and Ring Ouzel all nailed by himself on the patch.
Nice work Bazzo… and my first Swift of the year into the bargain, just squeaking into April and arc-ing south.
At KBO this morning – 2 male Whinchat, 1 Wheatear, 1 Redstart. 2 Groppers, 5 Sand Martin, 1 Willow Warbler and plenty of all the other stuff.
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Tried to grab hold of the coat-tails of what appeared to be quite a significant passerine spring “fall” (by local standards anyway) today, and got out for an hour early afternoon, managing two fine male Whinchats and a male Stonechat in Wheatear Corner at Marshside (with background Whitethroat squawkage), plus a White Wagtail and Wheatear at Weld Road.
Steady movement of hirundines (3 sp) north over the dunes at Ainsdale all day.
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HOLY COW!!! Female Redstart flycatching in the back garden at Dempsey Towers, Ainsdale. Best. Garden. Tick. Ever.
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Marshside/Crossens, 0930-1445
Pectoral Sandpiper performing well late morning among an increased throng of Dunlins, 400+, much to the pleasure of a steady trickle of visitors. Even greater pleasure for me though in a fall of 14 Whinchats, including a group of 4 males and 3 females in Wheatear Corner c. 1045. Marked influx of ‘new’ Whitethroats (16) and Sedge Warblers(9): traditional breeding habitats gradually being occupied.
Other new arrivals/migrants:c. 40 each Swallows and House Martins, 3 Willow Warblers, 3 Wheatears, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Swift.
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8 Whimbrel on Ainsdale beach and 4 on the beach at Freshfield this morning.
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Marshside 02/05/15 All from Sandgrounders Hide
1 x Little Egret
At least 20 Swallows, only 1 House Martin
3 x Dunlin
1 x Redshank
12 x Avocet
2 x Ruff. One of which was a striking black bird with cream chest.
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Drake Garganey, Marshside One, now.
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Marshside/Crossens, 1230-1615:
Apart from a fine drake Garganey out in the middle of Rimmer’s Marsh early afternoon, quiet on the migration/new arrivals front today: 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Sedge Warblers, 2 each Whinchat, Wheatear, Willow Warbler and Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff and a handful of Swallows and House Martins.
Pectoral Sandpiper seen earlier from Nel’s Hide, but when I arrived the much-reduced Dunlin flock (c. 50) were all fast asleep in longish grass, so I couldn’t find it. A winter Bar-tailed Godwit with the small remnant flock of Black-tails unusual at this site.
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