Mad dogs and Englishmen

Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun, but the lunatic birdwatchers of Liverpool RSPB go out in the eye of the storm, or so it seemed as the icy sea spray lashed us as we battled on Ainsdale beach; But then once our target was sighted we were glad we'd made the effort, for there where the beautful Snow Buntings searching the strandline alongside several Turnstones, a parcel (where do they get these collective names from) of Linnets and a party of 4 Skylarks ....this was to be the highlight of our visit to Marshside, (that and the little gull flying off the beach..well as best as he could in the gale!). Earlier.....

Bracing, Dreich, Gloomy, Blustery, Wet...just a few weathery adjectives to give you the idea.

A trek round the sandplant and a scan out to sea showed up lots of gulls, Black tailed Godwits, Cormorant, Reed Buntings, Robin, Starlings, Magpie, Wood pigeon and a solitary little Egret. The disused sandplant grounds are crying out to be put to good use...you can just picture a nice cosy Reserve visitor centre with shop and cafe nestled in it's sandy arms........

Still Sandgrounders hide was dry and the volunteers had made a sterling effort with free mince pies for their visitors, well it is Christmas after all.

Pies ate, we all (there were 6 hardy adventurers out today) settled down to peruse the marsh...Pintail ....everywhere..lots and lots of the handsome ducks seemed happy enough to sit out the inclement weather. Other duck family members were present, striking Widgeon, Pochard, Mallard, Teal and Shoveller as where the perpetual Coot and Moorhen. Of the Goose family (those that has not been tempted by Martin Mere's meals on wheels):Greylag, Pink foots and Canadian's . What else was there: A Heron being mobbed by crows, Curlew meticulously probing the mud, lots of wheeling Lapwings, a couple of snipe over head, a Blackbird munching on berries close to the hide, more Godwits, a Kestrel hovering over the road, brooding greater Black backs with their cousins lesser Black back, Herring and Black headed Gulls. Did I mention little Grebe, oh! and a mammal, our loping Mad March Brown Hare.

So all in all not a bad little trip despite being soaked to the skin. Hope you enjoyed your day out Carol. Thanks to Chris for trooping us round.....he got his reward.. Liverpool won 4-0 today.

Laura