A lucky Rabbits foot.

February the 13th. Unlucky for some but lucky for others. My Mum's birthday! Not so lucky for the Rabbit as this local Buzzard seems to be carrying the whole leg along and not just the foot as a good luck charm!

The local Dunnocks are beginning to sing along the hedgerow and doing what Dunnock's do with lots of chasing and wing flicking on the ground.

Signs of spring are definitely in the air even though the temperature is barely above freezing. A quick look at the Shotwick fields for Swans Friday afternoon was rewarded with a mixed herd of Whoopers and Bewicks relatively close to the road. Using the Landrover as a hide ensured they didn't get spooked and fly off.

An early morning trip to Hilbre Saturday morning with Steve & Colin proved to be a good move  -despite having to get up in the dark! It was one of those beautiful February days when there was still a chill in the air but defineite signs of spring and things to come. Only another 3 weeks and we'll be seeing the first Wheatears......

The long staying Velvet Scoter was to distant to photograph but showed gave good 'scoped views for most of the morning. The Brent's reached record numbers for this winter and the flock held two Dark-bellied amongst the more numerous Pale-bellied. Sea-watching was successful with good numbers of Great-crested Grebes, Red-throated Divers and Red-breasted Mergansers.Passerines were represented by the first (for me) Linnets of the year and the over-wintering Rock Pipit. The regular peregrine was soaking up the early morning rays debating its next move whilst all the Obs members saw a Harbour Porpoise off the north end. Great stuff.

As usual the Purple Sandpipers looked unbelievably cute as they roosted over the high tide.

With bacon butties and Clare's chocolate melting moments what more could we want....................

Scaup. Thats what! On leaving Hilbre I took the oppurtunity to catch up with the long staying 1st winter drake Scaup on West Kirby marine lake. It was quite happy at the N end leaving the dinghy pilots at the other end.

Don't forget: http://southernseasseawatchers.blogspot.com/