The Safari was undecided where to go on Monday morning with a bit of a wind still blowing but not quite as howling as of late. It was dry for a change too so off to dunes we went but dull so it as bins only, no camera today. It always makes us giggle at the rate Monty flies up the steep loose slope while we're lagging behind puffing and panting slipping our way to the top. He's on the beach before we're half way down the the side. Once on the beach we had a quick scan along the toe of the dunes and any strand lines just to check ho much food/seeds might be available for the Snow Buntings. Today the wind had blown fresh sand over everything at the bottom of the dunes so there'd be no seeds there, time to check the strandlines. Plenty of fresh washed down the rivers/off the marshes/dragged off the lower dunes by the storms vegetation so a good chance of seeds here. Only one thing to do walk the beach from end to end stopping every so often for a through scan. fortunately there were very few dog walkers out and those that were were ell out down by the waters edge so we had little disturbance. We only had two black and white birds to show for our efforts unfortunately they were a pair of Pied Wagtails and not a pair of Snow Buntings - we wonder where they have disappeared to and will they miraculously reappear???
In the afternoon the sun tried to come out and the wind dropped a little too so we did take the camera out this time. We decided to have a look at the notoriously doggy Fleetwood Nature Park aka dog toilet but at least Monty could have another bit of a run. He'd have a few friends to run with too there were dogs everywhere when we arrived and the grassy areas are like a minefield where lazy owners haven't lifted the sh*t. It's a wonder there's any nature in the nature park but there are a few dog-conditioned ducks, Mallard, Tufted Ducks and Coots (OK not a duck) and bizarrely a tame-ish drake Shoveler. We headed for the edge of the marsh, the tide was coming in so we didn't want to venture far for fear of disappearing down a deep creek. There was a big flock of Linnets too that didn't want to be disturbed.
That was about it though apart from a couple of Magpies hunting for lordy knows what out on the marsh. They were a photo opportunity for our Photo Tear List Challenge being out in a somewhat unusual habitat but they were far to wary out in the open to get anywhere near.
With no wildlife to point the lens we had to all arty and aimed it at some long derelict ships slowly rotting away where they'd been abandoned many years ago at the far edge of the marsh.
Tuesday was a windy wash out in the morning, we went to the cliffs at the north end of town and got very wet. We went there again is drier but still very windy conditions in the afternoon. The tide was crashing over the wall and gave exciting views of gulls dodging the spray as they flew low along the wall on their way to roost to the south. We decided to take the camera the next day to try to get some action shots and the bins to see if there were any Little Gulls and Kittiwakes to be found blown inshore by the gales.
This morning we went to briefly join the volunteers on the North Blackpool Pond Trail. We'd intended staying longer but had chores to do which curtailed our available time. The walk down to the pond had us passing a singing Coal Tit and Mistle Thrush by the houses and very little at all along the 'countryside' part of our walk. Close to the pond we thought we heard a Snipe but looking up didn't see anything, it may have been disturbed from the pond by the other vols. A Frog was also seen in the pond, the first of the year.
In the afternoon we did take our bins and camera but the waves weren't as powerful as yesterday, the tide being less high and the wind less strong and the gulls were flying higher in the lighter wind. Although we'd had a chat with JS who we'd seen with his scope further down the prom and he told us he'd had a few Little Gulls but distant we couldn't find any.A couple of Great Black Backed Gulls came past with the multitude of Herring Gulls.
On the way back the sun was shining righteously on a small flock of Starlings working the grass at the side of the tram track. We fired a few shots off and luckily got a pic of one lifting a leather-jacket out of the grass. We've been waiting for a different pic of a Starling for our challenge and this one we reckoned was different enough from last years so on the list it goes at #65.
Where to next? Back on the North Blackpool Pond Trail in the morning...to a different pond.
In the meantime let us know who's riding the wind in your outback.
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