Proof for King Kenny and the solving of a mystery.

Not Dalglish but the other King Kenny of Merseyside - Mr. McNieffe. The Union flags been flying at the Hilbre Obs indicating Royaltys in residence! Just for Kenny here's an uncropped shot of my muddy cow field to show the abundance of avian life really has occured on this for green corner of suburban Ellesmere Port and not somewhere more exotic!

After seemingly going missing the Little-ringed Plover are back and showing no signs of wanting to leave even though the water is rapidly evaporating. It also looks as if at least two pairs of Lapwings may also be attempting to nest in this field as well. A quick trip down tonight with Mark Turner got him the plovers for his Wirral list.

Interestingly the birds were seen copulating again and the bird with the narrowest breast band appears to be the male! Other birds using the area include at least 15 Linnets still flying around in a single flock and this smart looking Song Thrush.

Meanwhile back on Hilbre the resident Linnets are already nest building as are the Meadow Pipits. Not much else on the Island at the moment but a reeling Grasshopper Warbler was a nice surprise.

After much ribbing from 'two phones sioux' and the 'blog meister' I'll come clean and announce I've brought my own green wellies to replace my leaking old Dunlops! Hopefully they'll bring me as much luck as they've brought the Mackerel mudering skipper of 'Miss Molly', although I was very reluctant to scratch them in the Blackthorn today. Maybe when they're not quite so new and shiny.

The LBO team searched the Lighthouse area this evening for that rarity that may have eluded Hilbre and pitched up on the mainland instead. Nothing major but my first Reed & Sedge Warblers of the year along with several Common Whitethroats and a highly vocal Lesser Whitethroat. All nice birds to see - we even managed to solve the conundrum of the elusive Wirral Ring Ouzels. With so many being reported on the Wirral and having only seen two of them (one at the Lighthouse and one on Hilbre) I was beginning to think my eyes and ears were going . However, all was explained to the team when one of the paddocks was seen to hold a black rabbit with a white crescent on its upper belly - looking for all the World like a long eared four legged buck toothed Ring Ouzel. Mystery solved. An easy mistake to make at first light.

What I didn't mention in my last post was Friday's White Stork found by Chester Zoo's two Sarah's near Malpas and searched for later by Roger W and my good self to no avail. Photographic proof has been sent to the Rarities Committee and the same bird may have been seen flying over Northop Hall Sunday afternoon. Along with the Helsby White-throated Sparrow thats another BBRC rarity escaped the Cheshire Listers this year. Bu*ger.