Chat Alley lives up to its name

The Safari was excused Frank early morning duty which was nice as it was drizzling quite heavily. Later he re-awoke for his second breakfast and we saw it had stopped raining. As soon as he was fed and watered and gone back to bed (he has the life of Riley!!!) we made the decision to hit Chat Alley rather than try for something at the Nature Reserve or along the North Blackpool Pond Trail.

We only had about an hour as we had family commitments later in the day. The sun was just coming over the houses and it was good and warm. Not a great deal was happening - we thought there might have been a bit of movement after the rain had stopped but all we heard going over were a couple of 'Alba' Wagtails and Meadow Pipits. The sea was flat calm and we counted over 30 Eiders scattered over a few small flocks. A Shelduck flew north at quite some distance but we couldn't find any mammals at all.

The cliffs provided some entertainment with the camera.

Look at the scaps on that!!!

Lovely sunlight just coming over the brow of the cliffs.

The Redshank roost was counted at 102 but no Purple Sandpiper today, was it hidden from view or has it flown the coop?

We were almost at Pipit Slab without seeing any of the hoped for migrants when a splash and a bit of movement caught our eye...result a cracking male Wheatear (127)!

Wot a beauty!!!

But then it happened - we spotted another bit of movement, this was the movement we'd seen earlier, the splashing was the Wheatear bathing in the puddle - the other movement didn't have any white - a crackin 1st winter Stonechat (128)- RESULT!!!

Not a brilliant pic but it was a good way off and a struggle for the camera to differentiate from the background - excuses excuses!!!

Very happy now we turned for home. A Turnstone kept one step too far away but we snapped away regardless.

You lookin at me?

Close by a small flock of Starlings combed through the cliff side for tasty morsels and judging by the pic they were successful, or at least this one was...they don't half move quick though.

We were racing now in our new trainers - the sole of which have absolutely no grip what-so-ever on the algal film on the Prom - we nearly ended up on our fat backside a few times - - nippin up the steps we took one last look at the sea and saw this interestingly very white in the primaries Herring Gull, a very long all white tip to P10. We failed to get a flight shot but in flight there was hardly any black on show at all - the mantle however, didn't look dark enough for an 'argentatus' but there must have been some northern genes in there somewhere, might have been nice have seen it without the bright sunlight.

Look at the size of the primary tips on THAT!

Thank you Chat Alley.

Where to next? Hopefully a full day out on safari tomorrow and maybe somewhere a little further a field.

In the meantime let us know where turned up the trump card in your outback.