The Joy Of Pecs

Today fell into two neat chapters: a jaunt around Inner Marsh Farm and environs and an unexpected trip to Saughall on the outskirts of Chester.

A dreech morning down at the ‘farm was brightened up this morning by the return of Sunday’s brace of Pectoral Sandpipers. They shared the stage – a mud island, anyway – with a cracking juvenile Curlew Sandpiper; a trio of real beauties! Also on number two pool were a handful of Ruff and a Greenshank.

In truth, the diminutive waders had stolen a little of my thunder. I had found a plush juvenile Spotted Flycatcher on the way down to the hide and when I announced the news to the assembled birding brethren it barely registered a jot of interest. All eyes were on Uncle Sam’s (or Comrade Boris’) shorebirds.

Sadly, the birds didn’t hang around and flew out towards the marsh – much in the same vain as Sunday. Like the mega Puffin in Kent, these birds seem intent on playing it coy (Is it just me, or do other people hope that this bird is never re-found – can you imagine the hell it will endure).

After IMF, I and another birder, Ray, went for a quick walk to Burton Point. Two ringtail Hen Harriers having a little scuffle confirmed that there at least a pair on the estuary this autumn, but the most eventful encounter was the dressing-down we received from a irascible farmer for walking a massive hundred yards past the guard post. Why are farmers so chuffing miserable?

On the way back to Chester and under the directions of Ray, I managed to bag my first Buzzard/Red-tailed Hawk. This hybrid falconer’s bird has apparently been in residence in a field adjacent to the cycle path that runs through Saughall for three years. We located it on its favourite perch – a huge electricity pylon. A mean looking bird it is too!

Until later.