Three NFTY for me with whinchat, reed and sedge warblers on another lovely sunny day. Then I went for a sit-down on the #allotment - this birdwatching lark's harder than it looks 😂

Maybe he has - because he's blocked *me* and I mainly post about birdwatching (although I am also an AI hater but a fairly quiet one).

A path bisecting a grassy area leads down to the Mersey Estuary; in the mid-ground, there is a tree on each side, and at the end a large concrete red bull; the estuary is blue today, reflecting the blue sky.

Metal railings in front of an overgrown, green shrubby area.

A large grassy field scattered with daisies and dandelions; trees in the distance; all under a blue sky.

An allotment with a few beds and fruit bushes, under a blue sky.

Otterspool Prom and the #allotment looked lovely in the sunshine today 🌞
There were starling and linnet feeding amongst the dandelions and daisies, whitethroat singing from the brambles, greenfinch from the tree tops, chiffchaff, blackcap, blackbird, song thrush, wren from just about everywhere 😍

This is why I haven't been on social media much!

I've been horrified by what we found about Natural England pausing designation to SSSIs - and the consequent loss of nationally important sites for nature to development:

wildjustice.org.uk/unprotected-...

Common sandpiper at the marina was a good start to the day. Then off to the #allotment to be greeted by a singing willow warbler 😍 The Cetti’s piped up every hour or so, presumably patrolling his territory between here and River Oaks, and the blackbirds were in great voice, too 🖤

Rows of strawberry plants poking through black plastic.

A wide path surrounded by trees where the lesser whitethroat has been singing.

Trees full of pink and white blossom.

A blue sky with white clouds over an estuary at low tide.

Spent the weekend volunteering at the farm, bookended by birding 😁
Highlights: lesser whitethroat and Cetti’s - Southern Grasslands; sparrowhawk, grey partridge, male common redstart, whitethroat, more swallows arriving, and a lovely brown hare lolloping past me in the farm fields.
#UKbirding

A green field surrounded by trees and shrubs, under a blue and white sky, with a whitewashed house in the background.

A grey expanse of the Mersey Estuary under a blue and white sky, with a metal railing in the foreground.

Wide wooden steps fringed by trees in dappled sunlight.

A sunlit path, vegetation, trees and a bridge, with mallard and woodpigeon on the bare soil.

Back to the Southern Grasslands and Festival Gardens this morning: Cetti’s still singing away but didn't hear the gropper today. Blackbird, blackcap, chiffchaff, greenfinch, song thrush, wren all in good voice and a joy to hear in the sunshine 🌞 🪶

Rehabilitation of the Dandelion!
No other plant in the Netherlands attracts as many bee species: 107. In early spring, when nothing else is blooming, it is simply there. Meadow bird chicks that have just hatched depend on the insects that are drawn to dandelions. No dandelion, no insect, no chick.

At this time of year when I'm out birding I really try to make an effort to add breeding evidence to my records. It's really quick and easy in @birdtrack.bsky.social and adds value to my records, especially for @ukrbbp.bsky.social species. Added P for pair in suitable habitat.
#ornithology

😂😁

A cloudy blue sky above grass, shrubs and a winding gravel path.

An unbroken cloudy sky over grassland, bramble and trees.

Delighted to hear grasshopper warbler (my 1st of the year) and Cetti’s warbler (my 1st there) in the Southern Grasslands by Festival Gardens this morning.
Other highlights: raven, bullfinch, more singing chiffchaff, blackcap, greenfinch, song thrush, wren, etc.; 23 species in all.
#UKbirding

A red background on which is written: 97 15th April 1989 NEVER FORGOTTEN There is an eternal flame on each side of the 97.

#NeverForget

Finally, the #allotment where blackbird, dunnock, nuthatch and crow were stuffing their beaks with food for their young. And the blackbirds were fighting 🙄 🪶

A busy day's birding: Festival Gardens 1st, but no pied flycatcher for me today. Then River Oaks Meadows: Cetti’s, whitethroat, blackcap, chiffchaff; didn't see the reported redstart. Then Speke Hall Meadows for the great-tailed grackle; more warblers & 2 swallows the other highlights.
#UKbirding

Wow! You've had a good day 🌞

Ouch! Hope you're OK!

Thanks, Dan. Glad you saw it - and a garden warbler, I believe? Hope they stay til tomorrow!

Still here ATM. Good luck 🤞

A pond surrounded by vegetation and trees.

Pied flycatcher still at Festival Gardens this morning and showing really well over this pond (obvs not in the photo!).
#UKbirding

It's showing really well this morning, Pete. Keeps flying around the trees here.

Thank you 😁

Brilliant views of this beautiful female pied flycatcher at the festival gardens with @wordsanddeeds.bsky.social
who found it this morning , great find 🥳
It’s ringed too
Good catching up with @daveliverbirder.bsky.social
Plenty of other birds about including blackcap,willow warblers,chiffchaff

So glad you saw it - and your photos are gorgeous 😍 😍

Thanks. It was still there at 4.30pm, so hopefully might stay til tomorrow if you want to go.
Jackie got some photos and it's ringed - just need to see if the code is visible.

Thank you 😁

I know - I was absolutely astonished!

A heavily cropped photo of some trees; there is a female pied flycatcher on a branch.

The sun shining on silver birch with daffodils underneath.

Map of Festival Gardens showing location of female pied flycatcher.

Unexpected highlight of the bird walk I led at Festival Gardens today: female PIED FLYCATCHER 😍 Very poor record shot below.
21 species in all, inc. lots of singing chiffchaff and blackcap.
#UKbirding @birdguides.bsky.social

Lovely photos, especially the one with the orange background.
And congratulations!

Lovely photos 😍

The sun shining through bare trees onto a pond surrounded by vegetation.

Great few hours with @birderjack.bsky.social around Speke Hall meadows and Garston shore. Highlights: our first singing willow warblers of the year and four house martins, plus blackcaps, chiffchaffs, 2 little grebes, 2 buzzards, 2 jays, kestrel, etc.
Also saw a poor dead mole 🫤
#UKbirding