As part of my week off, Thursday was my big day out. Unfortunately there were two slight problems. Firstly, there wasn't too much around left to see, and secondly, it was forecast to rain all day - which ever part of the country we chose to visit.
We started off at Westport - fully waterproofed up - and we ended up getting soaked. A quick check of the latest BBC Weather forecast revealed the NW wasn't as rainy as we first thought. We headed first to Frodsham for the drake RING-NECKED DUCK. It was raining as we arrived, but a search through the Tufted Duck revealed no sign of the RND. Missing the first target bird is always a good way to start the day.
Next stop was Parkgate on the Wirral. And it actually stopped raining. Luckily, the Great White Egret was showing quite well in the middle of the marsh.
Great W Egret at Parkgate
We headed off to Wales next. Our target were the breeding LITTLE TERNS at Gronant. We parked by the caravan park and walked through the dunes to a deserted beach. The Little Terns showed a treat as they flew in and out to sea directly over our heads.
The fenced off area at Gronant
It also rained all day Friday, and was still raining Saturday morning. As we walked round Westport for the third consecutive morning in the rain, the Fowlea Brook was beginning to show the effects of all the rain. I haven't seen it this high for quite some time.
We made a brief visit on Saturday morning back up to Frodsham, and this time, the Ring-necked Duck was more obliging.
Drake Ringed-necked Duck at Frodsham - my first since the Westport bird of 2009
