The weekend started well with a trip across the border into N Wales where I was allowed to assist in the ringing of Pied Flycatcher, Redstart & Blue Tit pullus in boxes as part of an long term study on the survival rates of adults. It was nice to see (and hear) birds in this area of upland woodland were doing so well with a calling Cuckoo providing an almost constant backdrop to the singing of Pied Flycatchers and Redstarts. An amazing 20 + pairs of Pied Flycatchers and 3 pairs of Redstarts nest at this site with many being in boxes. A great day out.
Sunday, by contrast, was less pleasant (weather wise) with Hilbre still suffering from persistent winds from the north and west. Not a single migrant passerine was seen on the ground but a seawatch was rewarded with good numbers of Gannets, Manx Shearwaters, Guillemots and a handful of Arctic Skuas - we also had one very small dainty unidentified Skua to far out to identify with any confidence but with a Long-tailed Skua being seen a bit further up the coast.................................
The leucistic Moorhen appears to be sitting on eggs so it'll be interesting to see what colour the youngsters turn out to be.
It seems Manchester United fans have a complete sense of humour failure when the boots on the other foot. Having put up with a constant stream of jokes and texts when their team managed to surpass Liverpools total of 18 league titles the dummies were well and truly spat out when reminded Liverpool had 5 Champions Leauge wins to their credit whilst Utd still only have 3. Oh dear- if you can't take it don't dish it out. Its a shame an English team didn't win but Barcelona comprehensively outplayed Utd causing some impartial commentators to comment that 19 wasn't only the nuumber of league titles Utd had won but the number of times they touched the ball against the greatest European team seemingly ever assembled.
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