Lazy day

Starlings on the west lawn

Juvenile Starling on the Silver Birch outside the conservatory

Juvenile House Sparrow in the Silver Birch

Hen House Sparrow

Cock House Sparrow

Juvenile Robin - this character has been hanging around the garden for weeks

Juvenile Collared Dove - it is only just starting to grow its neck ring

Adult Collared Dove

Juvenile Great Tit

Juvenile Blue Tit

Frodsham Marsh - looking west along No. 6 tank with the Welsh hills in the background

Looking across No. 5 tank towards the ex ICI (now Ineos) site

The River Weaver in the foreground at Frodsham Marsh. The Mersey estuary is in the background with the lighthouse at Hale Village (centre right) and John Lennon Airport at the back, left.

xxxx

This morning after finally crawling out of my pit I decided to have a mooch around Frodsham Marsh. No. 6 tank seems to have more water in it at the moment though a lot of work appears to be taking place creating a road around the north west edge. 85 Black-tailed Godwits were present, all huddled together a few feet from the shore. 56 Dunlins were scurrying around and a single Ringed Plover was the only other wader of note. The dodgy hybrid Ruddy Shelduck was still around with 86 of its common cousins, including a fairly recent brood of nine. No sign of the BNG or any Ruddy Ducks. At least 2 Reed Warblers were still singing in the reed beds and lots of Goldfinches were flitting around.

xxx

At HGF this morning the numbers continue to fluctuate. 60 Coots, 30 Tufted Ducks, 5 Pochards, 4 Little Grebes (2 juveniles), 3 Black-necked Grebes and 13 Great Crested Grebes were present along with the two sub-adult Mute Swans who seem to have been present now for months and the drake Wigeon who is now well into eclipse plumage. I watched the female Yellow Wagtail feeding young nr Midhops; the ploughed section has now been harrowed and is attracting Skylarks, Linnets and various other little borwn jobs. At least 55 House Sparrows were in the hedges nr Midhops, a Buzzard was also perched on a telegraph pole.

xxx

In the garden at least 65 juvenile delinquents (Starlings) present for most of the day, continually squabbling and generally hammering the fat balls. Far from being irritated by the noise I actually find their antics entertaining. A couple of Coal Tits, juvenile Robin and Blackbird and 5 Goldfinches were also mooching around the garden and two Swifts flew around the house - rare for these birds to be actually inside the garden!