Marshside RSPB,
I nipped up to Southport after work today to see the great white egret. It was a timely arrival of this bird as I was thinking of going to Lieghton moss to see their great white egret at the weekend. Saved me the journey. I was the only birder there and had the reserve to myself. I was expecting to see a few regular faces . It showed on polly's pool and then flew over the road onto the salt marsh. An impressive bird and a lifer for me.

Garden Wobbler at the res yesterday

Prescot reservoirs,

A female marsh harrier seen at 8.05 heading s.w. by BH was an excellent bird for the res. Several years since the last but given the number of marsh harriers in the north west lately it was no suprise. A juv artic tern was also on show early am.

A report from AS of an eclipse drake garganey next door in the safari park was another good bird for the area.

Prescot reservoirs,

An adult med gull today on no4 res. 10 buzzards up in the air together. 2 common sand, 2 little grebe, yesterdays female redstart was still present, 2 garden warblers and juv stonechat. The red breasted goose went over no4 with 30 barnacles.

Spotted flycatcher at prescot reservoirs

Prescot reservoirs,
A greenshank over no4 and then landing on the causeway and stayed for 30 mins. A spot fly still, in the ranch now. 4 wheatears were new in by the camera mast and the juv stonechat still. 3 pochard 2m 1 f, a pair of ruddy duck. 2 swift 40 swallow and 60 house martins.

Prescot reservoirs,
A spotted flycatcher was showing well today on the electric fence. A greenshank over no4 was a good bird as was the hobby BH had earlier in the day. Also 4 common sandpipers, 2 drake pochard, 10 pied wags 4 grey wags and a flock of 100 goldies. The juv stonechat still present in the ranch.

Ayrshire, Scooootland.
A weeks family holiday in Largs, just a wee bit west of Glasgow was a very nice break. The holiday apartment was right on the harbour with excelent views across the forth of Clyde and the islands of Cumbrae and Bute. The gannets and manxies were constantly on show with a supporting cast of eiders,shags, guillemots, black guillemots, goosanders and gulls.
Best bird of the holiday and most unexpected was a golden eagle just north of Ardrossan from the coast road. I was driving back from a day out, along the coast road when I noticed this huge bird floating over the hills just inland. I quickly pulled in, grabbed my bins and camera and enjoyed this magnificent bird of prey for a couple of minutes before it closed its wings and stooped down at a steep angle out of sight.
It is not very mountainous in this area just hills and moors so this bird was a supprise. I spoke to a Scottish birder later in the week and he said that they ocassionally come across from the isle of Arran to feed.

Prescot reservoirs,

1 Artic tern and a common tern were on no4 this morning. The artic tern seemed to be fly catching swooping up and down with bill open. A kingfisher fishing from the edge of the concrete walls into the resevoir was nice to see. 2 pochard m+f, 2 drake ruddy duck, 3 little grebe, 2 gadwall + 1 duckling. The redshank still present and the juv stonechat also. 1 common sandpiper and 3 buzzard also.

Prescot reservoirs,

A hobby over no4 today mid afternoon. Redshank on causeway,300 lapwing, 48 barnacle geese,3 common sand, 2 bullfinch, 2 ruddy duck ,1 teal, 2 pochard, 200+ tufted duck, 90 coot and 2 cormorant.

A partial albino juv lesser black backed gull made us look twice this afternoon.

Prescot reservoirs,
A juv cuckoo again today in wheatear corner but did not stay for me to see it again. Also juv stonechat, 3 common sand,1 gropper calling in meadow,5 pochard, 190 tufted duck, 120 coot, 4 ruddy duck 2 little grebe, 2 gadwall+ duckling, 6 grey wagtails, redpoll , 2 linnets and BH reports ring plover over and kingisher early am. Buzzard, sparrowhawk f, and kestrel.
8 artic terns through yesterday.

juv stonechat

Alaw estuary, Anglesey
An early morning visit to prescot res and the gropper was still present, a pochard was new but I just missed the best bird a juv cuckoo on the fence of no 2 but being chased off by a group of magpies before I could get to see it.
Positive news of the Black Stork on Anglesey again and I thought I had better pay it a visit. It would be rude not to. It had been present for about a week now so only a handful of watchers today but it was showing very distant on the far side of the estuary. It was a coincident that all 6 people there were from merseyside. A lifer for me.

Goldfinch in the meadow

Prescot Reservoirs,
A grasshopper Warbler was still reeling in the meadow today after 3 being present throughout the week. A flock of 60 goldfinch with many juvs amongst them was flying around the meadow also. A juv Stonechat was on the ranch fence doing its best to imitate a flycatcher. 6 mistle thrushes were on the covered res. A drake ruddy duck, 1 female gadwall with a single duckling in tow and 1 common sand. A couple of juv black headed gulls looked smart in thier rusty plumage. BH reported 2nd w med gull earlier today.

Duckies and warblers in

Manchester city centre,
For the second time this week I found myself in Manchester. On Monday I was at the MEN arena to watch a group of duckies called the SISSOR SISTERS. A great night out. Then on Thursday 2nd August the chance of an eastern olivacious warbler had me flying up the m62 yet again. This bird was in the most unlikely of places, a car park in China town. I arrived at 19.00 and only got the briefest of views as the light was fading and really had to wait too see some photos before I could get a decent view of it.It was very very elusive. There has been an excellent id dicussion going on in birdforum and I now think the general view is that it is a reed warbler with the likes of Killian Mullarney and Lars Svennson getting involved.