Bloody Peeps?

A couple of (half) days working on the wrong side of the river in Maghull has meant a couple of decent days seawatching from the correct side (via the mersey tunnel) at Leasowe. A good couple of hours yesterday with Alan Conlin produced 15+ Leach's Petrel including a few lingering close inshore, Arctic Skua, 8+ Bonxies including 1 over the car park, 4+ Manx Shearwater, 2 Fulmar, Razorbill, 10+ Gannet and 2 Kittiwake.
Today produced 6 Leach's Petrels, Arctic Skua, 3 Bonxies, Manx Shearwater and a GC Grebe.

Today's great excitement wasn't quite out to sea but on the shore down at Hoylake? An earlier text from Alan Conlin informed me he was checking through waders at Hoylake before doing a seawatch. This ultimately paid dividends. A call from Alan asking "was i on my way" was then met by the news he had just found a Semi-P whilst checking through the wader flock. The tide was approaching fast and even though there is only 4.5 miles between the sites the drive is less than straight forward. Arriving at the infamous Hoylake bus shelter i joined Alan and Mark Turner unfortunately the bird had typically flown, but it wasn't long before it was relocated fortunately directly in front of us (myself and Frank Duff) affording us fabulous views. Upon leaving Hoylake for home Alan called wondering if the peep was actually a Western Sandpiper. I can't add anything to the conversation other than pictures. They may help?