At last and not before time!

The Safari was out on to Patch 2 like a shot this morning conditions were bob on. Crisp, clear and hardly a ripple. The tide was out and we found a solitary Bar Tailed Godwit with the few Oystercatchers on the sand. A flock of about 30 Golden Plovers flew past but we couldn't find anything out of the ordinary on the sea. Common Scoter numbers were good, over 1000 it's amazing how many come out of the watery woodwork when the sea calms down.

Lunchtime came round and conditions were now even better, absolutely mirror calm. The scoters in the distance looked to be floating in an ether. An uncounted number of Great Crested Grebes was only about a dozen - very lazy of us! A single Red Throated Diver and a fly by Shelduck entered the notebook.

In the middle distance we found two Grey Seals. Wish we could have stayed out much longer there was surely a cetacean out there to be found.

A phone call from CR gave us an invite to join him at the Starling roost after work. By now the clouds had rolled in and the chance of a murmuration against the fire of a Blackpool sunset was lost. Not that the murmurations have been any good yet this season. Numbers have been very disappointing so far.

Thankfully today was the exception! Best of the season so far - hazard a guess as to the numbers there anyone.

Interestingly a small passerine was seen to flit round the roof of Central Pier on the drive down to meet CR - never see anything like that there, wonder what it was - hmmmm???????

It's obvious we're not the world's best wildlife film-maker, our camera technique needs 'some work'.

Where to next? There's a cetacean watch with SMcC tomorrow from the Norbreck Castle promenade lower walk 2 - 3pm wrap up warm and bring your bins - we can't be there unfortunately.

In the meantime let us know who's been swirling round your outback.