Late on parade.
John Dempsey Birdblog
by JD
11h ago
Me that is, not the Wheatears – the first ones came through the coast at about the average time earlier this month, but I only bumped into my initial five of the year as I went to check the cattle on Ainsdale LNR today. A fine party of three full adult males, one younger male and a female, darted about amongst the cowpats just beyond the access gate to the cattle enclosure behind the Pontins site. I sat down hidden behind a low dune for five minutes and let them come to me – superb things, light in a darkening world. My first Swallow through at Ainsdale yesterday, with a singing Willow Warbl ..read more
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Drive-by guilt
John Dempsey Birdblog
by JD
1w ago
Still feeling bad about the “double drive-by” episode last week when I afforded Crossens’ Waxwing duo only the briefest of gear changes and glimpses as I motored past, I went back today to pay my respects properly. They were feeding in the same spot on Water Lane, generally low down in the shadows and oblivious to thundering traffic and pedestrians just a metre or so away from them. Lovely things, their trilling calls were occasionally audible above the engine roar, and once or twice they flitted up to the top of the bushes, when the afternoon breeze played havoc with their “wig in a windtun ..read more
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Oh Wheatear, where art thou?
John Dempsey Birdblog
by JD
1w ago
A groundhog spiral brightened up by fresh spring sun, for a time anyway, justified a stroll at Marshside today. At least one Water Pipit was out, and had the decency to stand still for a minute or so quite close under the bank on Crossens Outer – shame it was looking a bit the worst for wear during its transition into summer plumage. Two Little Ringed Plovers – one under the pull-in at Crossens, the other down around Sandgrounders and across the road. Chiffchaff singing on Hesketh Road, at the Sandplant (Goldcrests there too) and along the bank at Crossens. I was hoping for a Wheatear as the ..read more
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Right at the edge
John Dempsey Birdblog
by JD
2w ago
Fine big tide today – they’re good all week really, and a lunchtime seawatch was ok. No surprises, but plenty of activity. A few nice flotillas of Great Crested Grebes offshore, as is the way at this time of year, and plenty of winter plumage Red Throated Divers. Two Razorbills were the first auks I’ve seen offshore here since the horrors of last summer’s bird flu outbreak, and it felt like spring Wheatears were just a few hours away as parties of Mipits bounded north over the waves. Ainsdale, 1215-1315, 12.3.24 (S/SWly f2, tide high: 1211, 10.1m): Common Scoter 700+ RB Mergs 19 Great Crested ..read more
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Soggyanthus.
John Dempsey Birdblog
by JD
1M ago
For once a Water Pipit wasn’t too concerned by my presence when I stopped off at Crossens for ten minutes today. Probably the mizzling seafret that brought poor visibility had something to do with it, but the bird happily fed just beneath me in the gloom for almost five minutes, long tail pumping away in celebration of its aspirations to wagtailness. Normally they scoot as soon as they clap eyes on me. This one wasn’t bothered by my proximity, but a spot of fieldcraft never goes amiss with these critters. A littoralis Rock Pipit was hardly a surprise after the recent high tide cycle, although ..read more
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New horizon
John Dempsey Birdblog
by JD
1M ago
Impossible to ignore the behemoth that is the Rowan Norway (aka the Valaris Norway) that has been towed out to dominate the horizon at Ainsdale as decommissioning work in the Liverpool Bay gas field begins. Love it or hate it, the jack-up vessel dwarfs the Lennox rig, so long the most striking feature offshore, but it presents a handy new point of reference for seawatching. Gave it an hour over lunch today for the high tide – two nice adult winter Little Gulls at least, and reasonable views of the regulars in a gentle SEly that flattened the swell. 13.2.24, Ainsdale 1230-1330: Common Scoter a ..read more
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The Darkling Finch.
John Dempsey Birdblog
by JD
2M ago
Rachael Parks had only just emailed me with news of the first bumblebee of the year in her Formby garden yesterday (a Buff-Tailed), and three Siskins this morning. I had a cursory look at our feeders at Dempsey Towers in Ainsdale in the fading light this afternoon, and there was a fine male Siskin amongst the Gringos, Goldfinches and Chaffinches. Thanks for the heads up Rachael! Shame the light was so poor as I snapped the little finch through the window – hopefully there will be more to come in better light as they often pop up here through into May ..read more
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Like buses
John Dempsey Birdblog
by JD
2M ago
It seems to be me that drake Smews have been few and far between in recent winters, but this year they’re all over the place. I called into Lunt Meadows today to have a look at the drake hanging out with a trio of Goldeneye on the main pool. One or two more regular watchers there wondered if this bird had greyer flanks than the one seen earlier in the month – I couldn’t comment on that, having nothing to compare today’s confection with… Attractive as drake Smews are (distant video clip on YouTube here), I’m afraid male Goosanders always edge it for me – such elegant birds, classy, and curren ..read more
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How wet can a diver get?
John Dempsey Birdblog
by JD
3M ago
Not the best conditions to wish happy new year to the wintering Black Throated Diver at Crosby Marine Lake this afternoon. The rain was bouncing off the surface of the flat calm lake, and the bird was doing its usual thing – snorkelling from the north east corner down to the even calmer waters off the Lake House jetty. Stealth, semi-submerged fishing hardly seemed sensible today – the downpour made the air almost as wet as the murky waters below, and I didn’t spend any longer than was necessary drenching my kit. Hoping for better conditions next time I’m down at Crosby ..read more
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Over the bridge
John Dempsey Birdblog
by JD
3M ago
With a break in the high winds and low cloud, I scooted across the Humber this morning for a few hours at Tophill Low in sparkling sunshine. Not a mince pie or chocolate brazil in sight. The long-staying Black Throated Thrush was typically elusive for 45 minutes before the sun caught its pale undercrackers deep in the branches of the scrub beside “O” reservoir, and although the bird dropped back into cover quickly, it wasn’t too long until I picked it up flying across the cleared ground and pitching into alders and hawthorn just in front of me. Nice views as it scoffed berries before a Blackb ..read more
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