Poco Vis Mig

Some – albeit small – signs of visible migration at the Point of Ayr this morning with a high, wide and handsome Great Spotted Woodpecker, a couple of Siskins and a handful of Chaffinches moving through.

It was interesting to note that Richard Smith’s article on visible migration contained in the latest newsletter http://www.deeestuary.co.uk/news.htmstates that some birds move towards the POA from the north Wirral area. In my experience, the birds passing over the dunes at Talacre are generally passing in the opposite direction – from west to east and over towards Hilbre??

Not much in the dunes to write home about, but the return walk along the beach was a little more interesting producing thirty-four Grey Plover and my first Sanderling of the winter – a flock of four flying along the shore.

On t’other side of the Point, the Kingfisher is still milling around the bridge near the entrance to the scrap metal yard and a peek through the bins revealed the massive flock of Blackwits picked up by Denzil (patch invader!!) at Ffynnongroyw few days ago to still be on the manor.

Less productive was an evening raid to the rifle range to look for some Shorties.

Score:

Wildfowlers 9 – Short-eared Owls 0

A distant ringtail Hen Harrier and a Sparrowhawk was as good as it got on the marsh, but of more interest was a probable Black-necked Grebe on the pool adjacent to the Steelworks roundabout. I say probable as it was getting dark and I was viewing the bird from the guard post. Unfortunately the bird sloped into the reeds as I moved to get a closer look, but I’m pretty sure – not much mistaking that steep forehead and upturned bill…

Until later.