20.06.15. Birdlog
I arrived on the marsh to a blanket of low cloud heavy with drizzle. The main body of water on No.6 tank had an increase in the numbers of ducks but I wasn’t prepared for counting 114 Gadwall today!
7 Common Teal, 7 drake Pochard, 24 Tufted Duck, 9 Shoveler, 100 Common Shelduck and 34 Mallard made for duck central.
194 Black-tailed Godwit were present on the flooded areas on the tank and several Ringed Plover were about but obscured by the tall vegetation. The Barnacle Goose was again with the Canada Goose flock.
A male Marsh Harrier was again quartering the reed beds while a female was over No.5 tank and later passing through Marsh Farm. A Hobby zipped passed briefly before disappearing over No.5 tank (PR).
A tweet from Dave Craven over the river at Pickerings Pasture had us racing to Marsh Farm and with our scopes we were very fortunate in picking up the four Sandwich Tern heading back out of the Mersey Estaury…A nice find by David and Frank owes you (a pint) for finding it and me for relocating them for his Frodders tick!
A small blanket of Southern Marsh Orchids were in flower at the end of Moorditch Lane/Lordship Lane and a few stalks of Bee Orchid were found at another location.
A Robber Fly spp caught its prey and conveniently perched close by to suck out its innards.
Observers: Paul Ralston, Frank Duff, WSM (images 1-5 & 7-8).
Image 6 by Dave Craven.
