A rare day off work and by a complete coincidence there just happens to be a large Spring Tide forecast.
Heswall, Hoylake, Point of Ayr, Marshside I quickly ran through the list of high tide roosts before deciding on a trip up to Southport, Lancashire. In the past we’ve been lucky to enjoy some excellent views of the thousands of over-wintering waders as they’ve been forced to flee the rapidly disappearing saltmarsh and seek refuge in the various scrapes and pools of RSPB Marshside. With a couple of hours to go plenty of time for a walk down to Nel’s hide.
Plenty of birds to be seen, or perhaps more accurately bearing in mind the blinding light reflecting off the water plenty of bird silhouttes. Interesting to see a female Scaup, a couple of Rats fighting over some food and the return of the Avocets. Rather bizarrely a Meadow Pipit crashed into the hide and dropped into the water. No sign of a Sparrowhawk – perhaps it was an omen….
A walk back up the road and behind the sand plant. Fortunate enough to witness an amazing close-up view of a Merlin relentlessly chasing a Meadow Pipit to death.
Who needs a hide?
Hmmm…….. not much water around. At least the Little Egrets are making the most of it.
Here it comes………….or rather it would have done if there hadn’t been a large area of High pressure sitting over the country.
Still, plenty of Redshanks
.
Curlews….
another Curlew..
more Redshanks..
and finally with all the other waders now in their Arctic breeding grounds – a Spaniel.