Loonacy

No white whales today or indeed any sign of the Pequod, but enough action for a decent seawatch from the dunes at the Point of Ayr.

A steady stream of auks allowed me to get my eye in and before too long I was treated to spanking views of a winter-plumaged Great Northern Diver flying along the shoreline. A probable second followed a few minutes later, although it was miles out to sea and kept low in the troughs.

Duck was next on the menu; six Red-breasted Mergansers flew powerfully out of the estuary tailed a couple of minutes later by a drake Eider – uncommon birds in Liverpool bay.

As expected there was a good count of Common Scoter. Well over a hundred birds in total and as per usual they were flying in all directions of the compass.

Next it was the turn of Great Crested Grebes with three birds moving west along the coast accompanied by another distant loon that looked like a Red-throated.

Point of Ayr Seawatch: 02.11.09, 08:30 to 10:30.

1+ Great Northern Diver
1 Red-throated Diver
3 Great Crested Grebe
6 Red-breasted Merganser
1 Eider (drake)
100+ Common Scoter
10+ Razorbill
2 Guillemot
1 Gannet
1 Kittiwake

Today I received an unconfirmed report that a Catbird has been present near the small pool next to the path that leads to the razed hide at the Point of Ayr. For those familiar with the area it is where a Kingfisher normally resides in the winter.

The gentleman I spoke to claimed the bird has been present for two weeks; he says that he has heard it calling and seen the bird on one occasion during a total of 30 hours looking for the bird.

The chap in question is a well-known local birder, but after recent conversations with him concerning other birds he claims to have seen this autumn, caution is advised. Pass the salt.

Until later.