A tern for the better.

Sunday saw the Wirral sea watching team meeting in the Meols hide and spending a happy few hours scanning the sea and the large flocks of waders and terns on the foreshore. At least 3 Arctic Skua's were seen harrasing the terns fishing off shore - including one nice pale phase bird that looked decidedly bigger than the two dark phase also present.

Mr Conlin was first to get his name on the finders list with a fine Black Tern roosting amongst its commoner bretheren. Mr Duff was next with an Arctic Tern whilst I weighed in with a juvenile Little Gull.

News from Ian Barber of a female Red-crested Pochard at Sandbach had me scurrying off to pick up Malc, aka Le Donis, Curtin before setting off for the short trip to the Flashes. Another species for the Cheshire year list.Saturday afternoon was spent in horribly windy conditions at Frodsham with Groucho Payne who excelled himself by finding the first of two Curlew Sandpipers amongst the Dunlin / Ringed Plover flcok on No. 6 tank. Two Sanderling were also present but no Black -necked Grebes although we did find one juvenile later on the Weaver. The grotty Ruddy Shelduck hybrid was also still present.

More locally a Hobby caused the usual havoc amongst the House Martins near the house this morning -100 metres from the last sighting. Few warblers seem to be remaining with Blackcap, Common Whitethroat and Chiffchaff being the only ones although Frodsham still has both Reed & Sedge Warblers seemingly feeding young.