Marshside and Martin Mere

At Martin Mere today there were about 200 black-tailed godwits of which about 40 were right in front of the hide feeding and being generally aggressive towards each other. They're starting to look really good now. 

On the Mere two cracking Mediterranean gulls were on the rafts. Perhaps they'll stay to breed. Also on the Mere about 30 avocets.

Earlier at least 180 avocets were at Marshside, with a couple of spoonbills there also. I remember the excitement of going to Minsmere with my Dad in 1981 to see my first avocets and while we were watching a spoonbill dropped in. It seem like the stuff of dreams back then, who could have imagined scenes like this on the Sefton Coast today?

Let battle commence!