Sefton Coast Landscape Partnership hoping to watch autumn bird migration along the coast.

Enigmatic is as enigmatic does, and with the wind shifting into the south west there was no sign of any Leach's Peterels at Ainsdale beach this morning - but that didn't deter a good turn-out of eager "vis miggers", hoping to watch autumn bird migration along the coast. The legacy of yesterday's gale was obvious in a resting male Common Scoter on the channels on Ainsdale beach - there will be many tired birds like this on the coast over the next few days, so please give them a wide berth (the pic was taken with a telephoto lens at full stretch) and please keep dogs away from them - often these storm-battered birds will only be able to fly a short distance, or not at all, until they regain their strength and are particularly vulnerable. A Swallow (heading north - wrong way!!!) and a few Meadow Pipits over reminded us that migration was still ongoing, and large numbers of gulls and waders were feeding out on the low tide, where schools of Cormorants took a breather from the gales. Conditions are forecast to be VERY wild tomorrow morning for the last of our Vis Mig walks, leaving Ainsdale Discovery Centre at 9am, so if you're thinking of joining us, please wrap up warm - and don't forget your binoculars!