The Safari was out at the pub last night, something we don't often get a chance to do these days. We came out at 10pm-ish and in the half light saw a Barn Owl (171) quartering the marshy area just across from the car park - seemed more like north Norfolk than Lancashire.
R'ouzel Puddle scored a direct hit today with a male Pied Wagtail trying to muscle out several bathing Herring Gulls for a bit of space. A second Pied Wagtail was on another puddle close by.
Patch 2 was a torrid affair - cold and windy \nd unusually for these conditions horribly hazy, could barely focus on anything more than half a mile away. A couple of wobbly white things were Gannets and closer in a Grey Plover flew past and that was about the sum total of it!
Then it was back on the beach with the second class of our visiting school group from Walsall. Like their friends yesterday they had a great time and found a few additional things.
White Piddocks are always a welcome sight as they are very fragile and get smashed up by the waves pretty quickly.
Some of the Green Shore Crabs we found today were big 'peelers' - ones that have moulted and haven't yet hardened their new skin. More, and larger, Common Sand Stars were found today, not sure if they enjoyed being held as much as some of the children enjoyed holding them.
What we didn't take a pic of and really should have done was the biggest egg-mass from an Edible Whelk we've ever seen - how on earth does all that fit inside one shell - it was about the size of a small football!!!
We haven't been looking too hard at the seaweeds but this one has us baffled at the moment. We're sure we've seen it before but can't put a name to it. Hopefully those clever iSpotters or our marine biologist friend will be able to help us out.
Where to next? An appointment with some small mammals - if they play ball that is!
In the meantime let us know what's being netted in your outback.
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