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Black and white | John Dempsey Birdblog
Pesky science robbed me of the last Collared Fly at Spurn - cue grumpy old man fist shakin’ n hollering “curse you DNA!!!!” There were no such difficulties with the sparkling first summer male trapped and ringed yesterday and thankfully still cavorting along the hedgerow in North Field this morning. Mitochondrial mullarkey not necessary with…
Warmed up nicely | John Dempsey Birdblog
The first hot day of the year saw the summer arrivals finally performing properly at Ainsdale LNR today, before the mercury plummets again tomorrow. Redpolls buzzing north (I had at least 15 at Larkhill Meadows in Formby yesterday evening, but have only seen three through my garden so far) and one, possibly two, Tree Pipit…
Treading water | John Dempsey Birdblog
The biting wind meant it felt more like February than April over the tide at Ainsdale today, but a quick seawatch made a change from the futility of willing migrants through the arctic-chilled dune system. My first Manx Shearwater of the year (a single bird heading south at range) was the only thing of note…
Little dark. | John Dempsey Birdblog
The wind had a keen edge to it once the sun went in this afternoon and spring shut down again at Marshside. I huddled down to watch three second year Little Gulls on Crossens Inner as they swept up and down the main ditch, frustratingly distant in the poor light, but mesmerising to observe as…
In Transit | John Dempsey Birdblog
The monthly survey between Hall Road and Hightown was blighted by the apparently unending westerly winds of the past week - even in the sun it was bitter enough to turn a Whimbrel's legs blue. Four humbug heads shivered in the teeth of the wind over the tide before moving up the coast to feed.…
Pretty colours | John Dempsey Birdblog
The loud "sweeet" call was audible above the constant traffic drone as the Yellow Wagtail bounded over the road by Crossens Outer before pitching back down on to the marsh amongst a carpet of White Wagtails. At least 70 White Wags there this afternoon, with Little Ringed Plover and a particularly fine and particularly pink…
Creeping spring | John Dempsey Birdblog
Seems to be one of those springs that creeps in gradually this year - Willow Warblers have been singing in the dunes for almost three weeks now, but they were finally starting to get showy today. No sense of a major arrival of a range of species yet, just a slow build of birds sneaking…
Wild as the wind | John Dempsey Birdblog
Looking as splendid as they always do, the young male Ring Ouzel foraged on a distant dune slope on Ainsdale LNR earlier today. Not wanting to spook this most wary of spring migrants I watched from 200m range as the bird probed the mosses and sand on the dune ridge - moving in a creeping,…
Late on parade. | John Dempsey Birdblog
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…
Drive-by guilt | John Dempsey Birdblog
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…
Oh Wheatear, where art thou? | John Dempsey Birdblog
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…
Right at the edge | John Dempsey Birdblog
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…
Soggyanthus. | John Dempsey Birdblog
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…
New horizon | John Dempsey Birdblog
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…
The Darkling Finch. | John Dempsey Birdblog
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…
Like buses | John Dempsey Birdblog
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…
How wet can a diver get? | John Dempsey Birdblog
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…
Over the bridge | John Dempsey Birdblog
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…
A fresh breeze | John Dempsey Birdblog
With town as frantic as the fall of Saigon yesterday, giving all that last minute mullarkey a wide berth seemed a good plan this morning, so I headed up to the marsh. The strong wind was still blasting across the site from the south west, and most things were keeping low, with groups of Wigeon…
Snakehead | John Dempsey Birdblog
The Black Throated Diver had moved a little further out onto Crosby Marine Lake by the time I called in between meetings. A fine bird, it snorkelled and dived frequently with an easy fluid action, its big white flank patch and dazzling white throat obvious at range, before it came in closer off the Lake…
What lunchbreaks are for #5 | John Dempsey Birdblog
Barely counts as a lunchbreak - 30 mins down to Southport beach today for a quick gander at the Snow Bunting that turned up yesterday. Nearly stood on it as I walked down the ramp, but the bird just ignored me, scampering up onto the seawall, before scurrying back down onto the tideline where it…
Catching flies | John Dempsey Birdblog
Misty and murky for a quick spin up to Preston today to have a look at the party of Waxwings on Stocks Rd. With many recorded to the north, east and south of us already, I hope for better conditions and bigger flocks as the winter unfolds. As it was, today's trio were in the…
Rough with the smooth | John Dempsey Birdblog
Staring back from the fenceline, the Black Redstart swished its orange tail at me through the window, as if secure in the knowledge that my camera was locked in the boot of my car, just metres from the bird, but a world away from me. Flashy flibbertygibbet. Frustratingly the Black Red - the first I've…
What lunchbreaks are for #4 | John Dempsey Birdblog
Nipped down to Marshside during my lunchbreak to have a look at the drake Green-Winged Teal that Dave Nickeas found this morning on Fairclough's Pool. After all, last one I saw at Marshside was the Crossens Channel bird in March 2020. Both Dave and the Yankee were still present when I arrived today, although the…
Between downpours | John Dempsey Birdblog
Between downpours that stole the light I spent a bit of time at Marshside this afternoon. A fine spread of waders and wildfowl feeding on the floods of Crossens Inner, with what appeared to be very large concentrations of Blackwits especially. The big Golden Plover flock was dug in distantly behind Polly's Pool, and once…
Autumn’s last hurrah! | John Dempsey Birdblog
With October '23 tucked up in bed, the start of a new month meant the Rough Legged Buzzard at Stone Creek, just across the river from Immingham, where we've been staying for the week. Down narrow lanes, flanked by swollen ditches close to busting, a magnificent area of set-aside on the edge of the Humber…
Insurance renewal | John Dempsey Birdblog
Sensible folk renew insurance online, warm and dry in the comfort of their own homes. So why does it take me three hours up to my oxsters in gloopy mud on a wind-whipped headland above the North Sea? Fleeting views of the young Red Headed Bunting near Flamborough's North Landing were all that was needed…
Grey, brown, green. Mud. | John Dempsey Birdblog
Suitably grey and murky, with a cool SEly coming off the damp fields - perfect for a trip up to Banks Marsh over the high tide today. As ever plenty of birds here, with roosts of the commoner wader species, egrets scattered like confetti (at least 5 Great Whites and two more at Crossens Outer…
Through traffic | John Dempsey Birdblog
With that nice north easterly and Skylarks, Mipits and a few thrushes moving early doors I decided to go stand on a dune at Ainsdale for 45 minutes at lunchtime today. Small parties of Starlings were skimming north east over Ainsdale Discovery Centre (checked 'em all - no Little Auks tagging along), and a few…
In the shadows | John Dempsey Birdblog
I was a bit disappointed not to be assailed by squadrons of mega-rare Yankee passerines this lunchtime when I went for a quick walk around Sands Lake today. Enticing as the habitat looks at this time of year, Ainsdale has got Ireland and Wales in the way, so tends not to be a Nearctic hotspot…
Thanks Richard | John Dempsey Birdblog
Thanks to Richard du Feu for hoicking out the gen on this flagged and colour ringed Grey Plover for me, five years old and counting, and it just can't keep away from Liverpool Bay! Ringed 16/03/2018 at Altcar as DT10510 16/04/2018 Weld Road, Southport Lancs UK08/10/2018 Altcar Lancs UK29/11/2019 Southport Merseyside UK27/2/2020 Ainsdale Beach Merseyside…
The wanderer’s request | John Dempsey Birdblog
Same old, same old. Been far far away for a few weeks and due to return to the local patch shortly. What's been about, did Blighty really sink under the weight of American vagrants in our absence? I'd love to hear from you as we barrel into the tail end of autumn and the start…
Booby Prize (Grade Two) | John Dempsey Birdblog
Way too busy with work, life, stuff etc to embark on one of those magical Scilly Pelagics to Bishop's Rock for the Red footed (Booby Prize Grade One), and today was the first chance I had to hotfoot it up to the North East to gawp at the Brown Booby on South Gare. The bird…
Snorkelling | John Dempsey Birdblog
A lunchtime visit to see the Curlew Sandpipers on Crossens Inner was rewarded with bright sun and shady company (Hi Trops! Hi Steve! Hi Duncan! Hi Craig!). 18 of the bendy bills were feeding in the lagoon to the north of Glencoyne Drive, all up to their bellies in water too deep for any Dunlin…
In the heat of the night | John Dempsey Birdblog
Tawny Owls have been a regular part of the soundtrack at Dempsey Towers for the 24 years we've lived here, hooting and shrieking, but generally invisible in the velvetty dark and tree canopy. Glimpses at dusk have been the norm, but at this most vocal of times for Tawny Owls, with adults ousting youngsters from…
Sea comes in, sea goes out | John Dempsey Birdblog
The same strengthening north westerly that threw four Wheatears into the office car park early this morning at Ainsdale meant there was little space for roosting waders over the high tide later in the day at the Alt. Turnstone numbers climbing, as is usually the way at this time of year, but not so many…
Old circuits | John Dempsey Birdblog
Took a turn round Cabin Hill this afternoon (morning is usually better here, but needs must when the Devil drives), and enjoyed a smattering of soggy phylloscs calling in the willow clumps. Mainly Chiffies, but still one or two sherbetty young Willow Warblers, while along the fenceline on the west side of the reserve a…
Your feet will never reach the pedals | John Dempsey Birdblog
Couldn't work out what was tripping my car alarm all morning... As I executed the tried and tested "switch it on and switch it off again" manoeuvre after the alarm triggered for the umpteenth time I noticed this wee chap sitting quietly on the driver's arm rest. Don't know how long the Goldcrest had been…
Hunger | John Dempsey Birdblog
Time was, Arctic Skuas would be a given during any seawatch on our coastline, but they seem much scarcer these days. So this dark phase youngster off Ainsdale was welcome as I 'scoped the waves over the tide at lunchtime today. It spent most of the time bobbing about close to snoozing Common Scoters -…