The one that got away?

More Redpoll action at Stanney over the weekend with a Friday afternoon visit throwing up a tantalising glimpse of a 'poll with completely white underparts. The bird was seen briefly with a flock of Lessers and then disappeared. Only the underparts were seen well as it hung upside down feeding on birch catkins. Allan arrived about an hour later and the bird was glimpsed briefly again before dusk. Any one who knows Stanney will realise how hard it is to locate a small flock of birds feeding high up in the dense canopy!

Redpoll sp on left with Lesser.

My first reaction was Arctic but even with the Wirral's premier Redpoll team of AC, MT out and about Saturday and Sunday the bird wasn't seen again. B*llocks. At least Molly enjoyed wading through the muddy trails.

Deciding to brave the weather Al Conlin & yours truly decided to head out for a spot of seawatching at Hilbre Saturday afternoon. Fortified by Allan's special 'Hilbre fry-up' we spent 2 hours in the seawatching hide before retirng to the relative warmth of the Obs. It was bitterly cold and we managed a grand total of 8 Red-throated Diver, 2 Common Scoter, 8 Gt-crested Grebes, 3 Guillemot & 2 Razorbills! We failed to see the Gt-N Diver that apparently swam in front of the hide whilst we were watching a close-in Red-throated Diver..........

Wanting a respite from craning my neck in Stanney I took a quick trip to New Brighton Sunday morning in the hope of finding Mervyn the Med Gull to photograph. No luck with 'him' but a cold looking Sanderling provided soem camera fodder whilst sitting in the warmth of the Landrover. The poor bird was trying to keep warm by dragging on Egor's butt-ends!