12 Whimbrel still present in roadside field along Plex Moss Lane. Assuming they're same birds from last week, flock spread out a bit, scattered in ploughed field v close to road.
Cracking views of 14 Whimbrel in a grassed field on Plex. Bit flighty but eventually settled down v close to the road. Hoovering up some choice items (possibly worms?) in field.
Also one Wheatear; 2 pairs of Grey Partridge and lots of Red Legged.
One Bean Goose [plus two other possibles] thanks to Ian for the confirmation :) - in with a very large flock of Pink Feet. Also two Whoopers feeding in the carrot fields.
Excellent views of 18 Dotterel this afty,including a few stunning females.Birds were a bit flighty which was nice,don't often see Dotterel flying around.
After leaving Crosby this morning paid a short visit to Plex Moss to inspect the field where the Dotterel had been on Monday. Of course we knew they were long gone but hoped to find the reported Whimbrel which we duly did in the set-aside next to Gettern Farm - we counted 11 birds plus several Wheatear and a Grey Partrige.
On the way to Plex Moss we had done a bit of a sea watch at Formby Point and that's what we did - we watched the sea. There was very little to spoil our view of the raging waves apart from a couple of distant Gannets, a small flock of Grey Plover and a great Crested Grebe.
Marshside was then equally quite with the only birds of note - a couple of drake Gargeney, lots of Dunlin in summer plumage and a Lesser Whitethroat next to Sandgrounders hide. Then back to Crosby.
first visit to this site looks very good got the 2 cattle egrets and a few curlew , wimbrel, one buzzard and another birder said he had a marsh harrier.lots of jackdaws and crows about but no signs of the hooded crow reported yesterday Nice to meet you Ian
Two cattle egrets still there - with the cattle [!] behind the caravan site - 300m from Plex Moss Lane wasn't cheeky enough to walk through the caravan site but got a closer view from the cul-de-sac with the bungalows nearer the main road.
Also loads of wheatear in the carrot fields, partridges of both types, stock doves, lapwing and a lifer for me - Whimbrel feeding in the adjacent fields!
Never been to this area before, so the presence of two Cattle Egrets gave me an excuse for an evening visit :
2 Cattle Egrets on the farm near the caravans off Plex Moss Lane, 32 Whimbrel, 10 Wheatear, Whitethroat, Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, Linnet, 6 Red-legged Partridge, many Skylarks & Stock Doves.
After Seaforth yesterday on the way to Marshside went across Plex Moss to look for the reported Marsh Harriers - not dissapointed three birds seen - one juv and one male - not sure about the third as it was quite distant.
Plex Moss - Station Road 10 whimbrel (with curlew in usual field near junction with Plex Moss Lane) rt hen harrier (attempted to catch a partridge - either missed or failed to hold, too far away to tell)
Downholland Moss - Moss Lane 2 ravens (one landed very briefly)
Weld Road beach carpark - between Ainsdale & Southport 30-40 white wagtails (counted 23 before they flushed) 1 female wheatear 2 little egrets (9 here a couple of weeks ago, a record for me at this location!) Several small groups of swallows passed through plus steady but sparse mipit movement overhead
Booths Lane - nr. Aughton 30+ corn buntings, 8 yellowhammer, 2 goldfinch (feeding on new drilling)
Poppy Lane - Scarth Hill 70+ fieldfare
Jonathan
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 7th of January 2012 11:02:20 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 10th of June 2012 02:41:02 PM